Imagine yourself walking on the sidewalk in between Cowan and Old Centre and every person you pass looks you in the eyes, smiles, and says, “hey!” What is the likelihood of you saying “hey!” back? Now, imagine that same scenario, but each person you pass has their heads down in their own worlds that have been designed by their phones. What is the likelihood of you saying, “hey!”? Most likely, you wouldn’t say anything because when people are on their phones, you can’t empathize together to know there is mutual interest. Every Gen Z knows when it’s time to get on their phone, and begin bouncing from app to app–maybe this is when you feel out of place, uncomfortable, or ignored.
Maybe it’s the awkwardness that occurs when you are the outsider in a conversation with nothing to add, so the best thing to do is to go on your phone and escape embarrassment. Or, it’s a time where you’re sitting alone in a busy room and your phone shelters you from realizing you’re the only one by yourself. So, then our phone would be considered our friend and technological shield. It’s like we put an artificial barrier up to protect the way we feel about how we are perceived by others.
So, what is changing in social exchanges between people? Well, we are gradually losing the ability to self-check ourselves in lonely situations. Instead, our phones have become our only coping skill in these uncomfortable settings. I think we’d rather stay safe behind our phones than risk awkwardness in the outside world. It makes me question what we really want. Do we want a world that is present with our feelings, or a world where we can escape these natural feelings and hide? To me, this question is in the hands of Gen Z.
Ironically, we are living in a world that proclaims this generation is more in touch than ever with the advancement of technology, but ignores real human interaction and exchanges. Maybe it’s not so bad to feel awkward at times. Maybe sitting alone gives you the opportunity to notice others or reflect on yourself. Maybe the time you spend feeling insecure sitting alone in Cowan is the same time a new friend walks up to you and says “hey!” What I know is that I am willing to put my phone down and sit alone once in a while, leave the world of designer apps and step away from its control and see what happens.