Having grown up using technology on the daily, Gen Z-ers are significantly different from previous generations. Many spend hours on social media apps like TikTok, Twitter, or Instagram. This affinity with technology and social media is a double edged sword. There is a lot of potential to do good, but social media can also be harmful.
Technology enables people to reach out to others. Those who need help only need to post a GoFundMe or a petition, and overnight, it can reach hundreds of thousands of shares and likes. This was especially noticeable during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. Social media users posted hundreds of petitions that could be signed or introduced donation pages for families that were in need of money.
People are nearly always ready to be of assistance, but sometimes, their enthusiastic “help” does more harm than good. Struggling with depression, one social media user posted a call for help. Their post was flooded with replies, some from licensed therapists. However, most were from people with no practical knowledge of treating it. Thankfully, the original poster ended up alright, but who knows what could have happened if they followed the bogus “advice” of a social media user guised as a doctor!
Social media can also shed light on events, for example, mistreatment of people. This is seen especially clearly on Kpop Twitter. In Kpop, companies are extremely strict, and there are occasions where members in a single group are subject to bullying, either by another member or by higher-ups. Recently, this is what happened to Kpop group AOA. Former member Mina came out on her Instagram about another member bullying her and pushing her to the brink of suicide. Fans of the group quickly deciphered the bully to be the leader of the group, Jimin. Justice was eventually served, with Jimin leaving the group, and fans flooding Mina’s instagram with nice comments and DMs.
Social media users are especially prone to having “herd mindset,” where they follow the group mindlessly. This has resulted in the “cancellation” of many, oftentimes justified, but sometimes, the same herd goes back and has to apologize for their mistaken actions. Hand in hand with cancelling people is doxxing people. Famous for doxxing, which means to expose private information, is Gen Z celebrity Shai Jackson. Their actions certainly are not condoned, but in sounding the alarm bell on these people, who are primarily minors, Jackson leads a frenzy of people to cancel others. If the wrong person has been accused, even the most drastic measures won’t be able to wipe off the blot on their records.
Gen Z-ers have to be able to utilize the good of social media, whilst minimizing the downsides. Social media can allow people to reach out to a wider audience, shedding light on important matters. However, social media can also do more harm than good, whether it is by users offering false advice, or encouraging herd mindset. However, those in this generation are already starting large movements with social media, causing waves in national, even international politics.