Shutting Down the Tech

A few years ago, a Harris Poll uncovered some data regarding the attitudes of Gen Z toward technology. Keep in mind that this is the generation born between 1997 and 2012, the first of which could experience the iphone when they were ten years old. The research found that eighty percent of Gen Z was concerned that their generation has become too dependent on technology. Three-quarters of them expressed concern about how social media was impacting their mental health in negative ways. And sixty percent wished they could turn back the clock and live in a day and age before everyone was plugged into digital devices. In other words, what they were longing for was a time they themselves never experienced, but somehow knew was better. I wonder if your kids feel this way. If they share these concerns, invite them to shut down for a period to experience life without all the distractions. Encourage them to experience connections that aren’t digital.