Gen Z is embracing Millennial-era ‘offline living’ to chase something they’ve never experienced in their lifetime

The rise of social media is often associated with Gen Z. In fact, they're accused of always being on their phone, doomscrolling, and disclosing their life on 'the gram.' However, it isn't true! A survey published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) has revealed that Gen Z doesn't even want the Internet, let alone use social media. Yup! That sounds unbelievable, but that's the reality. Nearly 50% of the young people prefer a world without the Internet.

The study surveyed 1,293 young Britons aged 16 to 21. Surprisingly, a majority of them believe that a social media curfew would improve their lives. They found that 74% spend more time online, especially after the pandemic, with two-thirds reporting that they spend over two hours on social media daily. However, it's not something Gen Zs are proud of. In fact, 68% of those surveyed feel guilty and look down upon themselves after spending time online. Increasing social media presence has also kept the parents in the dark. Many kids (42%) even confessed to lying to their parents and guardians about their online activities. The scary fact is that 27% of young kids have even pretended to be someone else online, while 42% have lied about their age. Moreover, the study revealed that another 40% have set up fake or decoy accounts on social media. Daisy Greenwell, the co-founder & director of the "Smart Phone Free Childhood" movement, said it's a wake-up call that the young generation has grown reluctant towards the Internet. She said that we have made it so normal for kids to spend hours daily on digital spaces that even they are now asking for boundaries. "We have an opportunity to reset the digital world our children are growing up in. Their mental health and right to a safe, healthy childhood must come before profit," Greenwell added.

Meanwhile, Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive of BSI, also has a similar take on the issue. She said that the technology, meant to create opportunities, improve access to information, and connect people, has also exposed the younger generation to risk and a poor quality of life. "Technology can only be a force for good if it is underpinned by trust that people's privacy, security, safety, and wellbeing will not be compromised in the process. The companies creating these services must prioritize the needs of end-users of all ages, especially adolescents, to ensure their health and privacy are protected," she added. The rise of social media has also led to a significant increase in cybercrimes. The study also highlighted how online experience is for both genders. Young women reported higher exposure to online harassment than men. More women are also more likely to be influenced by others on social media.

The study reported 85% of young women compared their appearance or lifestyle to others, with 49% doing this more often than not. Compared to 59% of males, 79% of women have been tempted by social media to make a purchase. While there has been debate on whether schools should ban phones, 27% of young people support a curfew on them. Moreover, 79% urged technology companies to build stronger privacy protections that ensure kids aren't using social media before their legal age. This is important because 43% began using social media before turning 13.

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