I’ve been thinking a lot about what to write, and it’s a bit challenging because I’ve never really written about my family before.
I have two nieces. The elder one, let’s call her X. She’s seven years younger than me. The other one, Lets’ call her Y, is thirteen.
X was born in the early 2000s, which is why we don’t have a much age gap between us. However, it’s fascinating to note that despite the age similarity, she is more emotionally mature than I am.
And as for Y, despite her young age, she’s emotionally little bit mature for her age too.
Now, ever since I had selected the topic, I keenly observed Y for what similarities they have with Gen Z. Until now, the result was zero. But recently, we were discussing something that happened in 2020 before the lockdown. This happened in Y’s school.
She is an ardent footballer, and she had a group of friends who were very active on Instagram. Now, someone posted something mimicking the school on Instagram, and everyone commented. She just liked it. It was seen by the school authorities, and all the students involved—the one who posted, the one who commented, even the one who liked—had their parents called in. Fortunately, Y had always been a good student as well, so she was let go with a warning.
Now she has learned her lesson, and she rarely uses Instagram. She’s preparing for her +2 boards.
My niece, Y’s experience, highlights the challenges that Gen Z faces in the digital age.
Navigating social media can be quite challenging, given the presence of peer pressure, cyberbullying, and the ever-present need for validation. It’s a tricky space to maneuver, and even the most intelligent young individuals like Y can find it tough at times.
We need to understand and teach one thing that emotional wellness is not only about feeling good, it is, when we learn how to save ourselves emotionally.
Sometimes, stepping back from social media and focusing on real-life goals can be the best decision.
So, how can we help Gen Z? I found this answer from my sister and brother-in-law. Although both are very busy, they take out time for them, especially Y. I’ve seen both of them encouraging my nieces to find a healthy balance between the online and offline world.
From what I had learned by observing my own family is that adults should make Gen Z feel welcome. It’s really important to let them know they can always talk to us about internet stuff or if they’re going through tough times. Building trust is key, even if it’s not always simple.
We should also make sure they understand it’s perfectly fine to take breaks and focus on their own well-being.
I truly think that, as a group, we can all help Gen Z with their emotional health, whether they’re online or not. We should teach them that it’s okay to take breaks and look after themselves.
In my opinion, if we team up, we can help Gen Z be happy and healthy, both online and offline.
P.S: I miss our pre-lockdown days when I’d come home during vacations, and Y would take me on a loooong walk. Yes, I had to get her ice cream and chocolate, but those days were beautiful.
Kids truly grow up very fast.
This post is a part of Truly Yours Holistic Emotions Blog Hop by Rakhi Jayashankar and Roma Gupta
Finding a balance isn’t easy for anyone, especially younger kids who don’t understand. I’m glad my boy’s elementary school has a class that teaches them about the internet, right and wrong, cyberbullying, and balancing online and offline play. My boys are 8 and 10 and they aren’t allowed on any social media and won’t be for a while.
Such an interesting read – thank you for sharing. Yes, nurturing all generations is important. Given the values and technology placed on each generation we should be more accepting and helpful.
There is bullying from every angle these days from physical to cyber. They need to understand that they don’t need to stay glued to devices and that breaks from these are a good thing.
I love this. I do want them to be happy. Life is hard! I always support however I can.
I totally agree with this. It’s all about building trust. Our family needs to know we’re a safe space to come to us with anything.
Well-being is so important. Sometimes I have to take breaks from social media too just to get some balance back.
You are a great role model for them, you are lucky to have them!
Certainly wonderful to hear you putting in the thought, effort and time for your family, which I hope more will do the same.
This is very well said, We do need to take care of our emotions.
I agree to the healthy balance between the online and offline world. Like you pointed out, it can be so overwhelming.
In today’s age, gen z really need more emotional support I feel. Everything is online and nothing is private anymore. Everything is for likes and validation. Building trust is so important.
Being online and exposed to so much is such a big concern when it comes to their protection! Thank you for sharing this, it’s great to keep in mind.
I found this post really interesting I never really looked into Generation Z before. Social media does have a lot of good but equally can cause a lot of pain and affect mental health
Kids truly grow up very fast ! So true! And with all the past years they have also been burdened, thanks for writing about their emotional wellness…it’s not easy really.
Great post! We learned very little about emotional wellness growing up but now is the time to change that, and do what we can to protect it!
Thank you for sharing informative information with us! This is an important awareness for all of us!
Thank you for sharing such an interesting family story. Your nieces have taught you a few things as you have them!
Agree Monidipa. Parents like us must find the balance and walk the path with GenZ . We should neither be too strict nor too liberal but listen to them, understand their problems and be with them each step of the way. It’s not too easy but certainly doable.
It’s wonderful that you’re delving into writing about your family, especially your nieces, X and Y. It’s fascinating how age doesn’t always determine emotional maturity, and your observations about their emotional development are intriguing. Exploring the generational differences and similarities, especially in light of events like those in 2020, adds an interesting dimension to your story.
There is no denying that since technology has become more prominent in our daily lives, the rate of depression and anxiety has skyrocketed among younger generations. I’m a millennial but Im still old enough to remember life before the complete takeover of social media. I had my childhood and teenage years free from that pretty much but I feel for the new generations coming up who have built their lives online and can no longer differentiate reality from virtual and for many, those two are the same. It’s important to raise awareness of this issue and encourage people to learn to live without social media 24/7. To encourage human interaction and connection again. Thanks for sharing!
Although I embrace social media I can appreciate that it wasn’t a thing when I was growing up. I see my niece’s struggles with the pressures of socials and online in general. I agree that taking a step back from social media and focusing on real-life goals can be very helpful for both the younger and older generations.
I believe regardless of which generation we are born everyone needs to have a break whether it’s offline or online. I realize that social media plays a big role in our lives these days but it is so important to take care of ourselves and to hone in on what makes us tick. Because only then can we know when something is affecting us or not.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Addressing Gen Z’s emotional wellness both online and offline – an important read for all!
It’s important to support the emotional wellness of all generations both off and online, I think!
Yes, we need to find the right balance between online and offline. And we are the example for the Gen Z.
These are all really great tips! It is tough growing up right now, there is so much these kids have to deal with!!
It is good to keep this in mind and have tools to help address emotional wellness and health. This is definitely something that seems to be more prevalent these days, such as social issues and depression.
I agree that it’s really important to keep the lines of communication open between parents and their Gen Z kids, especially when it comes to social media.
I do think that teens need to take breaks from social media if they are feeling bullied. My son realizes that social media can be harmful for self image.
I think it’s important to teach all children, no matter what generation, how to safely use social media and what is okay and not okay to do online.
I think the younger generation is definitely craving unplugged attention more these days and yes. We think back fondly about quarantine when we spent a lot of time together and slowed down. It helps a lot.
I believe that it is so important to maintain a balance between the online and offline worlds. Thank you so much for sharing this story. I really love this!
I absolutely agree with this. This is a really great and very informative post. Thanks for sharing this
Wow! What a really nice article to read, I agree that if we work together we can definitely help Genz with their emotional health
I totally agree with you that stepping back from social media and taking a break is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.
Also, I agree with you that we play a crucial role in helping the GenZs in coping with life online and offline.
I agree Moni, Gen Z though seems to be fast-paced and know-all, suffers greatly on the emotional front. As a mother of two, I find it challenging to bridge the gap sometimes. They do not need us for advice for they have plentiful on the internet (some of that is harmful too). They do suffer from trust issues and feel vulnerable so I think what they need from us is unconditional love and support.
My ME time is important to me and I told my son that it’s okay for him to prioritize self-care as well. And he’s a Gen Z.
It was so good to read about your relation with your nieces. Yes I agree we goudo take more breaks and work on our mental health.
How rightly you have said, that building trust is the key. The way you have shared about your nieces and their personal experiences of facing emotional turbulence, I realized that it’s crucial to share everything happening in their minds and keep a check on their emotional wellness. Thanks for bringing a crucial topic to us and sharing your personal experience.
Oh boy, don’t they grow up past our eyes? It’s good to know we have more tools and willingness at our disposal these days to grow emotionally well with our babies, the Gen-Z’s!
Leaving social media, except for business, was one of the best things I’ve done. also, I stopped watching the news and that was super helpful.
youngsters can end up getting in trouble over innocent things on social media, I do find it to be a worry, especially when people make comments on photos etc.
Your niece is so lucky to have you in her corner. Youngsters end up in some kind of trouble when they use social media. Thanks for sharing this amazing post.
Thank you for sharing your family’s story. These are difficult times to navigate right now with our young people and the internet and yes, the pandemic made. everything so much harder. I appreciate your sister and brother-in-law as I have similarly aged kids.
I agree with you Moni. With Gen X we should find a balance and we should build a trust. It is wrong to think that I didn’t have this at this age and all.
I am so glad you picked up such a relevant topic Moni, Gen Z ‘s difficulties due to the advent of social media have multiplied they struggle to find a balance as they are small we parents can real support them in this. I agree with your analysis.
Ok Moni, for me it is altogether a different type of content from your side and it focuses on a key issue which makes us think very seriously about the future, safety and life as a whole for Gen Z. Social media Indeed changed the life of many people and not just of Gen Z. In our times I dont know why there was always a gap between the parent and child when it comes to communication. If you ask me personally I used to feel scared talking about my wish or desire to my parents as most of the cases I get a NO reply from my parents. Was that their love for us or just being parents behavior on us, I really wonder. Even when I decided to disclose my affair to my parents with a wish to marry that man I was severely scared… Thank god I had an elder sister to whom I disclosed in open mind and she forwarded the same to our parents. Thankfully she could have done that as that time she was married. When I used to ask my didi why don’t she marry someone of her choice… she gave me the answer ” dear our parents will never agree and I don’t want any stress or tension in my life, i don’t have the power to fight for such things.” Now I as a mother don’t want that thing to repeat in my son’s life. I will ensure I give enough time to him to establish the bond of trust without overlooking discipline. Social Media is now an important segment in everyone’s life and so its our responsibility as parents to teach how, when and where to take break for social media and concentrate on self well-being. Balance in online and offline life is a must and we need to help the Gen Z to understand that with patience, and positivity. A brilliant post from you.
I agree with you, it is the best decision to step back from social media. Many friends did it and helped a lot.
The pressure of SOCIAL media and the craving to always be in sync with the latest trends are killing Gen Z youngsters. Social Media is becoming quite destructive because of the undue use of freedom people get there. I hope all of us get proper norms to abide by, to make social media a safe place.
Yup these kids have totally different issues in their lives… But yes, we must make them aware that despite everything, they can still have their heads on their shoulders and think for themselves.
Monidipa, your post about your niece’s X and Y is so relatable! Gen Z faces unique challenges with social media, and it’s great that your family is making an effort to guide and support them. Those pre-lockdown memories are indeed precious, and as a mother of two who knows better than me how fast kids grow up? Let’s all work together to help Gen Z find a balance and stay happy both online and offline.
I work with teenagers and young adults on a daily basis. I agree we need to support them and help them understand their emotions and express themselves in the best way.
Your thoughtful reflection on the challenges Gen Z faces in the digital age is both enlightening and heartwarming. It’s inspiring to see how your niece, Y, learned from her experience and how your family supports her. Building trust and maintaining a balance between the online and offline world are essential life lessons. Your perspective on helping Gen Z prioritize their emotional well-being is a valuable contribution. Here’s to cherishing those beautiful pre-lockdown moments with Y and many more walks to come! #GenerationZ #EmotionalWellness
My interaction with Gen Z is minimal, being a Baby Boomer and single. However, building trust is truly important within families and with parents. I see the children of my friends hiding stuff, but eventually they come back and disclose all that they do, that is when they can’t find a way out. I find social media and interner tiring, and am sure the younger generation also get equally exhausted after sometime. But as you pointed out, peer pressure might be working and they might hang on still despite tired nerves. Here, they need a mentor to tell them to slow down and enjoy being out of the digital world.
Being a parent of Gen Z kids, I get it. Luckily my daughter’s elementary school taught them school how to navigate in the digital world. The parent group worked with to school to set up educational/common sense seminars around cyberbullying and online and offline identity and mindfulness. They even had ‘Zero tech days’ where each kid took home a small bag to put away their phone inside and not use it the entire day. The school policy did not allow the use of phone in classrooms. Classrooms were taught without the use of technology. I do hear about mental health issues and experiences from Gen Z parents and it’s important to bring awareness. Perhaps schools across the board must take steps to educate the kids on the new frontier of the cyber world. Perhaps parents need to take an active role in conversations with the school to make this mandatory.
Gen Z has more to deal with than we did growing up as Gen X. Peer pressure is practically on overdrive with nothing being private anymore. Parents and teachers are stepping up to guide them but it is a two-way process. It was interesting to read about your experiences with your nieces. It indeed takes a village. They are blessed to have a guide in you.
Gen Z sees, learns and explores everything faster than we did which is both a boon and bane. They have the resources but not the maturity to handle social media, peer pressure, etc. The only way to keep them grounded is through open communication and encouraging them to use their time and knowledge mindfully.
The generation next I believe are more sensitive towards almost everything and yes are very much influenced by the social media. I agree that elders play a very crucial role in imbibing the positive value system from the beginning in children. The values walk with child throughout their life which prevents them from falling prey to gimmicky social media.
As a parent of 3 Gen Z, the hardest part is trying to parent in a world of social media & internet. Luckily, only our 22 year old is on social media, the 2 younger don’t care about it. But I’ve always drilled it into them how careful you have to be. I’m also big about self-care and mental health so they have always been open with me about how they feel and dealing with stuff. Communication is always important.
Navigating the digital world can be tough, and your insights on supporting Gen Z’s emotional health are valuable. Building trust, encouraging breaks, and finding a balance between online and offline life are crucial. Together, we can help them be happy and healthy!
In my opinion, there is no difference in the emotional problems of teenagers, no matter which generation they belong to – the only thing that may change (as in the case of digital environment) is the context of those problems. Having said that, your solution is a very sound one and can definitely be easily followed.
Yes! Everything has its own advantages and disadvantages. I also miss lockdown time sometimes, as it feels like that was a time to be spent with family. Nurturing all relationships plays a crucial role, as does respecting everyone’s “me time.”
I actually loved the way you described that ui observed them. Gen z is under peer pressure most often. We should win their trust and ensure there is open communication
I agree with your observations and suggestions, and truly is it not only Gen Z but everyone who needs to find the balance between the online and offline world.
Today it is hard to believe that one can live without the internet and mobile phones and the zillion apps, but I remember a time when we did so, and had so much more to do and enjoy.
Life needs to be defined by more that social media and it is alarming when I see the youngsters today so dialed into the online world, and everything offline also somehow is about doing more for the online… its scary to see these folks today.
it’s so necessary for parents to pay attention to their screen time from a small age oof 4 or 5 years old. I have seen my nieces and nephews holding gadgets at the age of 4 and Its post the lockdown that my cousins are realising how during lockdown this habit has taken on a bigger picture than they thought
I think in 2023 for the betterment of the children in the longer run its important to take note of screen time children spent.
At times I feel GenZ are smarter than all of us grown-ups too. They have their own thought process which is mature and that makes them more vulnerable too. Hence it is indeed important to connect with Genz Z at deeper levels and help them both online and offline. Parents can play a key role by being there emotionally for the kids to help them have a safe zone. I am dealing with one soon-to-be a Gen Z and trying to be at her level.
The habits taken up by the gen z during lockdown period need to be paid extra attention indeed.
I so agree with you on this. Of course Gen-Z have a lot of luxury and a lot of things as basics which we didn’t have in our days but, they have to face their own challenges, fight a very different battle than ours. Sometimes we can help but, at times, we are also kind of blank and can just be by their side and let them decide the action.