We live in a very technologically advanced world, meaning less physical and verbal connections, and
more remote forms of communication. The generations nowadays don’t have the same experiences we
had as pre-teens and teenagers. I can remember getting a note passed to me in 6th grade, from my
friends, while changing classes that read, “Do you want to be my girlfriend? Check yes or no.” I checked
yes, and then the note went back to the boy via his friends. And then I had a boyfriend, well, that is until
he broke up with me the next day. Our generations now and to come will never experience that. Part of
that makes me sad for them, cause there’s nothing more charming than to get a written note.
Generation Z kids are the first to be born into a world where they know nothing else besides being
constantly connected to one another, albeit through phones, screens, and tablets. However, like
millennials before them, Gen Z’ers are often environmentally conscious, inclusive accepting of
others, and extremely politically aware—despite many of them not yet being of voting age.
- A Year-by-Year Guide to the Different Generations, Sarah Cotterell, Parents.com
With the different choices in social interaction with teens today, we need to be aware of what we as a society need to do to keep them in a safe environment, hoping that they do not experience domestic violence in dating as a teen, or anywhere else in their life. In an article written by the Center for Disease Control, they write, “During the pre-teen and teen years, it is important for youth to begin learning the skills needed to create and maintain healthy relationships. These skills include things like how to manage feelings and how to communicate in a healthy way.”
When thinking about Generation Z and dating, the process of getting to know one another is much
different than when we were kids, as most of the communication is done through texting or social
media. There are good and bad ways of communicating, especially when it comes to teen dating
violence.
First, social media communication and texting are, recorded, for lack of a better term. So we gain a paper trail when it comes to psychological abuse and stalking. That is if the teen being targeted feels like they can confide in someone when it happens. The issue with this form of communication is whether the targeted doesn’t want to tell someone what is happening to them, we have to hope others understand and see the red flags, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, unhealthy behaviors (drugs and alcohol), and thoughts of suicide. That goes to say that red flags need to be noticed by both family and friends. In an article written by the Center for Disease Control, they write, “During the pre-teen and teen years, it is important for youth to begin learning the skills needed to create and maintain healthy relationships.
The second would be an in-person, physical connection. At school, work, or just in the general public. The interesting part of this is that Generation Z is more likely to take action by catching it on video and sharing it on social media. Katie Hood, One Love Foundation, in an article entitled, Count on Gen Z Not to Look the Other Way When They See DV, states:
“Taking action is also hard when we don’t have the resources, education, or language we need to
even identify abusive behavior and call it out before it becomes violent. Gen Z could change this. As
a whole, they are more involved and engaged in social issues than previous generations. About 70%
of Gen Zers believe that the government should be more active in addressing problems, reports
the Pew Research Center.”
Therefore, word gets out faster, thus allowing for one more victim to be saved. When putting all this
information together, one has to think, is Generation Z going to be the game changer? With that being
said, how much faith can we put back into a generation that we have criticized over the years for being
stuck staring at screens? Won’t that be a game changer for our society?
