"Gen Z, the demographic stretching from mid-teenagers to not quite 30-year-olds, have grown up in a web-focused world being "inundated like a fire hose with social media: the constant connectedness, the social pressures of posting and sharing and answering right away," said neuroscience researcher Emma Duerden, an associate professor in the faculty of education at Western University in London, Ont."
"A Statistics Canada longitudinal study released in March found that young people who met the guidelines for screen time (less than two hours daily for those under 17 and less than three hours daily for people 18 and over) were more likely to report better well-being, including mental health and stress levels, than those who logged an excess of screen time."
""A lot of teens today are trying to just cut down on constant use," Duerden said. "They're aware of how much time they're spending online [and] the potential harmful effects.""
Gen Z, having grown up immersed in web-focused environments, faces constant digital connectivity and social media pressures that contribute to digital exhaustion. Neuroscience research indicates human brains are not designed for perpetual internet connection. A Statistics Canada study found young people adhering to screen time guidelines—under two hours daily for those under 17 and under three hours for those 18 and over—report significantly better well-being, mental health, and lower stress levels compared to heavy users. In response, many young Canadians are intentionally adopting digital minimalism strategies, including cutting social media, setting app timers, using flip phones, and returning to analog tools like physical maps and pen-and-paper note-taking. This shift reflects growing awareness among teens about excessive online time and its potential harmful effects on their health.
#digital-minimalism #gen-z-screen-time #mental-health-and-technology #youth-well-being #digital-exhaustion
Read at www.cbc.ca
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