Final assignment subject sociology the lonely and fragile generation

The consequences of this problem...14III.THE CONCLUSION...16REFERENCES...18 Trang 3 OPENINGGeneration Z, by some logical definitions, is the generation that grew up in moderntimes, is c

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

�㵣�㵣�㵣 FINAL ASSIGNMENT SUBJECT: SOCIOLOGY

“THE LONELY AND FRAGILE GENERATION”

Teacher: PhD Đinh Phương Linh Student:

Đào Thanh Thủy

Mai Anh Thư

Nghiêm Đức Anh Quân

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc

Lê Thị Khánh Hòa

Đặng Diễm Quỳnh

ID:

:20030078 :20032702 :20032695 :20032708 :20032607 :20032696 Kinoshira Takeshi

Class: Management Science – SOC1051-E TT23

Hà Nội, tháng 6 năm 2022

TABLE OF CONTENT

OPENING 3

I THE DARK REALITY OF THE MODERN GENERATIONS 4

1 The background information 4

1.1 What Is Generation Z (Gen Z)? 4

1.2 Understanding Gen Z 4

1.3 What Are Generation Z Characteristics? 4

1.4 Generation Z in the Workplace 5

2 THE PICTURE OF GEN Z 5

2.1 The land of loneliness 5

2.2 The virtual world blends into the real world 6

2.3 A fish on a land 8

2.4 The pressure on “need to be perfect" 8

2.5 Alone in the crowd 10

II THE ROOTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM 10

1 The reasons for “The lonely fragile and stressed generation” 10

1.1 The external factors 11

1.2 The internal factors 12

1.3 The consequences of this problem 14

III THE CONCLUSION 16

REFERENCES 18

2

Generation Z, by some logical definitions, is the generation that grew up in modern times, is constantly evolving due to access to the Internet and digital devices from a young age (citizens of the digital age) or can also be understood in a simpler way as

"the generation that carries within itself the dynamic nature of youth and a mission to continue the achievements of previous generations" They are the ones who will change and orient the future, as they dare to do, value themselves more, create trends, and have great influence on many areas of life such as entrepreneurship, fashion, music,

At first glance, it may appear that Generation Z is an optimistic generation living freely and expressing its self-confidence freely But this is also just the surface of an iceberg that everyone appreciates and cares about because people only like the glitz of

a new thing rather than its dark hidden corners In fact, when we take a more inclusive multidimensional perspective on Gen Z, we realize that today's younger generation is still facing many of the negatives surrounding their daily lives, loneliness being one of these

A recent study has indicated that young people in the United States, known as Generation Z, have experienced feelings of loneliness greater than any other generation in modern history This can be attributed to the unprecedented access to information and knowledge provided by the Internet and an increased reliance on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for updates about relationships with friends, family members and society at large The UCLA Loneliness Scale, developed

in 1996 by psychologist Daniel Russell, is used as a benchmark in surveys The scale rates loneliness on a scale from 20 to 80; however, the average score is 43 According

to a survey conducted by Cigna on 20,000 American adults in 2018 (U.S Loneliness Index Report, Cigna, 2018), 18- to 25-year-olds in the survey scored 48.3 points on the UCLA Loneliness Scale—higher than millennials (45.3 points) and Gen Xers (45.1 points) This raises the question of why we feel more out of place and alone than ever before when we live in an age of technological achievement, such as when refrigerators and coffee makers are connected to the Internet

I THE DARK REALITY OF THE MODERN GENERATIONS

1 The background information

1.1 What Is Generation Z (Gen Z)?

Gen Z, also known as iGen or Centennials, is a term used to describe young people born from 1997 to 2012 and therefore encompass the majority of children currently in elementary and secondary school The term is used to differentiate people born after Generation Y and Millennials The oldest members of Generation Z have reached age

25, with many now out of college, getting married, and starting families They follow

on the heels of their millennial predecessors (born 1981 to 1996), many of whom are now reaching those same milestones The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected members of Generation Z, who will inherit a world more uncertain than that which previous generations encountered

1.2 Understanding Gen Z

While previous generations have been involved in social issues, Generation Z is more socially conscious than its predecessors The Annie E Casey Foundation reported that Gen Zers have a strong interest in seven key social issues: health care, mental health, higher education, economic security, civic engagement, race equity, and the environment Many Gen Zers will soon be ineligible for their parents' health insurance coverage and may struggle to pay for their own This problem is further exacerbated

by increased mental health treatment among members of Gen Z; as noted by the American Psychological Association, 37 percent sought treatment in 2015 Gen Z members also prioritize education; 57 percent of those aged 18 to 21 were enrolled at either a two- or four-year college Members of Generation Z are fighting for social change and racial equity in greater numbers than previous generations

1.3 What Are Generation Z Characteristics?

As a generation, Generation Z is the most diverse to date The rise of technology has been accompanied by a drastic increase in the amount of time spent online or on smart devices for this demographic In fact, one study showed that 98 percent of Gen Z members own a smartphone Research indicates that financial stability is an important issue for this group; many grew up during the recession of 2008 and watched their

4

parents struggle financially As such, they are more likely to open savings accounts early on and avoid debt later in life

1.4 Generation Z in the Workplace

Generation Z is the youngest generation in the workforce, and it is not yet known how they will be defined as employees Early research suggests that they tend to be independent, hardworking, and highly educated As children of financial hardship, they have also witnessed many economic issues and are motivated by job stability and financial incentives Because Gen Z is the most diverse generation, they are concerned with issues of equality in the workplace and want to work for organizations that prioritize such Perhaps one of their most evident workplace characteristics is their penchant for multitasking Many Gen Z'ers are used to quickly switching between apps

on their phones or computers and may take a similar approach when working on projects

Although Generation Z is constantly connected to their devices, a recent study shows that 72 percent of respondents prefer face-to-face conversations over digital alternatives This change in preference may be due to the increased use of collaboration tools like chat and email in the workplace, which could eventually lead

to a return to more traditional, interpersonal communication

2 THE PICTURE OF GEN Z

2.1 The land of loneliness

Scientific research indicates that loneliness is an unpleasant and stressful experience associated with dissatisfaction with emotional needs Simply put, loneliness is a complex emotional state that exists and has existed throughout human history and will likely continue to exist in the future Modern humans sometimes harbor that emotion that we do not seem to know whether it is ingrained in the subconscious mind or whether it forces us to accept it as a necessity and live with it indifferently We should realize how lonely we used to be when we burst into tears in an empty place for no one for any reason but only to feel lost; when we stand in the middle of a vibrant party, a sea of people who still feel alone; or when we wander the streets—the familiar alleys that in our hearts are uncertain and helpless about who is around us and whether we should continue something

Gen Z are the people born after 1995, which makes them today's youth They are the ones behind most of the trends on social media and technology These young people have more opportunities than previous generations to connect with other people and assert their personalities The oldest Gen Z is 24 years old now and the youngest Gen

Z is 12 years old now, so these young people are beginning to grow up and assert themselves Social researchers and market researchers both study them closely because they are a very important group of individuals Researchers often use these traits to describe Gen Z: Gen Z were the first true digital citizens because they grew up just as intelligent information and communication technologies began to become widely used The first iPhone was released in 2008 when some Gen Zs were already 13 years old

In a world with so many communication applications at our fingertips, Gen Z's face-to-face communication is different from previous generations Gen Z doesn't necessarily have to be in the same physical location as someone else to have a face-to-face conversation; the two people can simply video chat via Zoom, Skype or Google Meet Ironically, for an increasingly connected generation like Gen Z, they are the loneliest people In the West, many Gen Z respondents said they felt lonely often Many sociologists and market researchers consider Gen Z to be the loneliest generation ever

—but why? One prominent reason is that Gen Z spends more time socializing in cyberspace than creating real-life social relationships

Although younger generations feel most lonely, their parents and siblings share some

of that feeling This also makes sense When we look back a little at human history, we see that since the first industrial revolution—which occurred around the end of the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century—massive changes in human society began to occur People left their farms to work in factories and other places of business Village communities that had existed for hundreds of years began to disintegrate, being replaced by large urban areas full of people working in factories It seems that it is no longer suitable for those who live in such areas to have so many walls surrounding them; instead, it would be better if they lived in something like a small rural town where everyone knows everyone else and can easily talk to others or spend time together when needed

6

2.2 The virtual world blends into the real world

Although new forms of communication have developed, such as texting and instant messaging, they cannot replace face-to-face communication It is this new method of communicating that has quietly eaten away at one of our most human personalities: empathy Technology can't take full responsibility for stripping us of our ability to empathize However, it's hard to understand anyone through just a few text messages and emotional icons instead of facial expressions, voices, and gestures We'll never know if our comments or messages really comfort the other person or even hurt them inadvertently

In the past, a small community where our grandparents or parents lived was the only place we could have access to Now, the world is an infinite space in which we can communicate with people thousands of kilometers away from us We may feel excited about it, but sometimes this feeling can turn into fear when we are alone and see our friends' pictures full of radiant faces on social media These photos may make us think that everyone is having so much fun without us, and we will feel like being abandoned

by our friends This is probably why we often have a "fake" feeling with online connections In this way, we can see that human emotions are confused between real life and virtual reality because as the virtual world has become an integral part of our daily lives, it has become more difficult to distinguish between fantasy and reality For that reason, Generation Z is the first generation to face a widespread mental health crisis According to the US Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in 2019 If you look broadly at developed countries, the suicide rate is also increasing gradually among young people Depression and anxiety are on the rise In Gen Z, problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and difficulties with social interaction were also found to be on the rise Generation Z was the first generation to put a lot of emphasis on the "virtual self": As social networks became popular social communication platforms; Gen Z gradually developed the so-called virtual self: self-expression in the virtual space

As a result of Gen Z's use of social media, the generation has a different self-image than the one they present in real life This is confirmed by forms of self-image control such as selecting content and images posted on social networks, applying filters to

beautify or cover up imperfections, and being increasingly susceptible to the influence

of social media reviews by others

2.3 A fish on a land

Many young people experience difficulties in integrating into the school environment Children with artistic personalities, who love beauty and favor the "real world" over the academic one, are especially at risk of failing to adjust to school How can a fish swim on land? It's impossible to force a person who loves art and is not interested in academics to thrive in a formal environment consisting mainly of other such people While most parents are engrossed with work and cover the increasingly expensive cost

of living, they have little time for their children Children raised in such circumstances can feel lonely even in their own families

Social isolation has become a major problem for college students, and it is often most acute in their own homes A 2014 study found that nearly half of all college students felt lonely at least once a week College freshmen often feel particularly isolated from the adults in their lives—teachers, advisors, and parents They may feel they have little

in common with anyone around them, even people they've known since infancy And university life often exacerbates this isolation by providing few opportunities for students to interact with others in casual settings outside the classroom; as a result, many find it difficult to develop close relationships with other students beyond the walls of their dorm room or apartment

And, as many have noted, such differences in personality are largely genetically determined Therefore, it is not easy to talk about them Formerly, families were spiritual support systems—places where young people could go and get advice when they needed it Nowadays, however, families seem less able to provide this service Sometimes, one has just got to cry in private when loneliness has reached its peak—a level of loneliness that cannot be shared with anyone else, but that one can only solve

on one's own As the poet Luo Bai remarked: "In the lives of modern humans, crying must be done in 'vibration mode'

2.4 The pressure on “need to be perfect"

The technological age of Generation Z is overwhelming Society tells us repeatedly that as teens, they need to prepare for the future Prepare for college, prepare for

8

getting a job, prepare for a family, prepare for any possible emergency in life As a part

of Generation Z, we all have this mentality of: “I want to be special and unique” just like everyone else We were told that we can be anything we want to be if we work hard The difficult part is that society has turned the term “you can be anything” to

“You should do everything” The teenagers struggle with face dealing with technology and have an unforgiving learning curve when it comes to navigating technology There

is a dark side to technology when mistakes are made Public shaming takes the mob mentality on social media and what is called cancel culture This idea of people dropping celebrities' status is stripped when massive amounts of people unfollow someone for doing something that is considered controversial or bad We cannot automatically filter out the harmful parts of technology unless we have enough life experience or advice to be wise about our choices that can have long-term consequences They must face catfishing, identity theft, stocking and cyberbullying from a very young age - when they don’t have enough experience or wise enough to deal with those

Gen Z has been reared in a culture of social media, which has given rise to a crushing pressure to be the perfect team and be well-rounded teens They are groomed to make constant decisions from having so many options for college internships and majors in schoolwork Everything is being labeled as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Gen Zers simply can't miss out on Through this pressure for rounded teens to be good at everything—intelligent, athletic, and leaders in their community—there is an overwhelming pressure to fill up their schedules with impressive achievements Gen Zers must compete for jobs with impressive achievements on their applications, not just smarts

Today's youth are often characterized as a "technology-savvy" generation that has been exposed to an unprecedented amount of information and experiences at a very early age They often expect perfection from themselves, behaving more like adults than children Adults often put pressure on the parents of these children to explain why their child is making noise, why he or she isn't behaving the way adults think he or she should behave This results in parents trying too hard to make their child not turn into the black sheep of the family, just so they can meet society's expectations

For example, recently, Vietnamese parents tend to send their children to learn more gifted subjects, sports or learn foreign language certificates It's from the fact that social media is constantly putting information about kids who achieved a lot of outstanding achievements at a young age or constantly sharing and creating a standard

of student profiles that must have items that have inadvertently created peer pressure

to follow a pattern to become competitive and not be vulnerable This has been said a thousand and a million times by everyone, we are all good at different things But truly, have we ever truly done it in reality, when we - who is a part of society - keeps creating the standard for a perfect student, a perfect teenager and a perfect human?

2.5 Alone in the crowd

A recent survey by the U.S Center for Life Survey found that 56% of Gen Z felt lonely at least once or twice a month during childhood By comparison, only 24% of gen Z's grandparents (those born between 1946 and 1964) felt lonely growing up Evidence indicates that small interactions and social connections are important in the process of creating a fulfilling life, and many Z genes miss those moments According to the report, only 38% of Gen Z Americans said they ate with their family daily during childhood In previous generations, family meals were the norm, the only time of day that connected other members Gen Z is the first generation where both parents' commute to work becomes the norm, which in turn leads to new priorities for parents in parenting and career balance Parents put more pressure on their children to achieve academic success than previous generations, and this has led to a sense of self-importance among members of Generation Z They see professional achievement and educational attainment as a measure of self-worth, but don't blame the social media or any aspect of some culture because these high expectations often come from within their own families first Generation Z learned at an early age that they should be the leader, not the follower They were taught that they should be an influencer instead of someone who is affected by others' opinions or ideas Modern society values pioneering and innovation—traits that are often applauded today—but it downplays the importance of working together and establishing harmony This can be seen even

in the most basic part of identity: full names Today's parents look for fewer common names for their children in order to help them stand out from the crowd

10