Understanding why the usual dialogue said by old-school parents “Humare Zamane Mein Aisa Hota Tha” (How we lived in our times, or things used to be) is irrelevant for modern-day application.
August 27, 2022
By Anirbaan Hritiq
The term Generation Z or commonly known as Gen Z refers to the generation that was born between 1997-2012, following the millennials. A generation that basically grew in the booming phase of the digital age which have seen all aspects of progress in terms of technological advancement.
Especially, growing up in a developing nation like India most Gen Z folks have witnessed step-by-step progress of technology, for example, starting from using cassette playing tape recorders to using extremely compact modern-day secure digital cards (memory cards) to play music and for carrying necessary data.
This was a huge leap both technologically and psychologically as well for a generation that grew within an environment of more virtual connections rather than physical or real-life connections.
A generation that found befriending someone on social media platforms was easier than talking to them face to face, which was a tough job for the older generation where there were lesser scopes for interaction and more vulnerability.
If we give examples in terms of love affairs, the generation before Gen Z had very limited options and if they found someone it was a tedious task to materialize the same, they had to approach whom they loved in real life and were more vulnerable towards facing rejection and even other dreadful consequences such getting hackled by family members, being judge by the society and even getting caught by your own family.
But, these problems seldomly created any hindrances for the modern-day Gen Z who can even say, “I love you” to someone they admire sitting thousands of kilometres away within a fraction of a second. As well as the exposure was way wider than it used to be back in the time.
Undoubtedly, the digital age has reduced the hustle and struggle of Gen Z in many ways but has also generated new issues, as we know everything has its own devil hidden inside. Similarly, the problems being faced by the current generation are being misunderstood by their old-school teachers, parents, and people coming from previous generations.
The digital age has emerged with many real-life issues, which include social detachment, falling into honey traps, data surveillance, adaptation of materialistic aspects of life, and being victims of fake news, advertisements as well as expectations.
Bluetooth remote controllers and voice commands may have replaced the traditional infrared controllers but the basic function still remains the same. Just in the same way, people belonging to Gen Z are also emotional and triggered by changes in their life and environment.
The definition of friendship and love has changed with an adaptation of a materialistic lifestyle, where people ascertain you more on basis of your possessions rather than appreciating what’s within you.
In today’s time, love is more than what it used to be 20 years back people are more intimately linked with each along with being technologically linked, social media connectivity has reduced the distance and made the process of communication, even more, easier due to which some relationships also go through the phase of trust issues, resulting in the traumatic ending.
The suicide rate has also tremendously grown in comparison to the previous generation due to the rapid growth of depression amongst the current generation. Perhaps, the fear of being judged and misunderstood by society has led the current generation towards the trench of depression.
In today’s world, where families don’t dine together, youngsters are more into glamourizing their lives rather than being realistic, a larger portion of the world is living an adulterated life and intoxicating substance have taken control over the market.
Dialogue such as “Humare Zamane Mein Aisa Hota Tha” is completely irrelevant and its uses should be stopped immediately by the old-generation people while addressing the youths.
Time demands psychological evaluation for all youths going through depression, and love and support for those who can be prevented to go through the same.
If Gen Z, is considered rebellious and hard to understand, then the problem lies with the previous generations as well which have not taken any concrete measures to upgrade themselves as well as to evaluate the real-life issues being faced by the current generation. The overall balance of life is only possible when there is a mutual understanding between both the generation, accepting each other’s pros & cons.
