OUR thoughts are extremely powerful catalysts. They are the fuel that powers the genesis of every form of meaningful evolution. As we grow from children into adults, one of the most important skills we learn is taking command of our thoughts and focusing them in a productive direction. Often, we do not acquire this skill intentionally, but develop it subconsciously in response to the new responsibilities of adulthood. Through acquiring this skill, we gain the ability to focus and complete tasks even when we have thoughts about procrastinating. Through gaining this skill, we are able to make difficult decisions, even though our initial thoughts tell us that it is simply easier not to.
Nevertheless, sooner rather than later, we will realise that the most important thoughts do not come after redirection or control, but rather as an instinctual response to the new information and experiences that we gain every single day. These thoughts reflect the basis of the qualities that differentiate human beings from other organisms. It is the very fact that every one of us can have a different opinion that makes us so extraordinary.
What if, however, we lost the ability to think? What if we spent less and less time forming ideas about new things until we simply forgot how to do so?
Generation Z is one of the generations born into a world where its members are continuously being fed new information at every moment of their existence. We are surrounded by various forms of media that are constantly seeking our attention or time. The very act of stepping out of our homes often leads to exposure to new information in the form of advertisements, posters, or billboards. Even so, the majority of our exposure to mass media and social media comes from our voluntary engagement with technology. In an attempt to connect with the world around us, we have accepted a lifestyle where we spend hours every day in front of a computer, television, or smartphone to consume content. There are even studies that indicate members of this generation may watch hundreds of short-form videos within the span of just a few hours.
This intense connection to media and technology has merged our minds, creating a syncytium where ideas and thoughts are so intertwined that they can scarcely be distinguished from one another or attributed to a single person. We can no longer even tell if the opinions we hold on a subject are solely our own or influenced by the things we view and hear on social media. It is almost as if every thought we have is being taught to us even before we have it!
Although the feeling of realising how inseparably entangled we are with technology can be quite frightening, attempting to extricate ourselves from it fully is a primitive solution that will dampen our development as much as it will reduce our dependence on it. After all, the media and technology are not all bad! For instance, our engagement with technology does not always arise from a need to entertain and stimulate ourselves. For many people, their connection to technology stems from a need to facilitate their education or earn a livelihood. People do not only consume content—they create it.
As a generation, we must find a way to ensure that we do not lose the originality and creativity of humankind. At the same time, we must also ensure that we do not completely discard the useful connections we have made with technology. The key is balance.
As we engage with content and encounter new concepts through technology, let us remind ourselves to pause occasionally and attempt to unravel each new idea through a lens that is uniquely ours. If we happen to spend a few hours viewing videos or reading content, we must spend the next few hours forming our own thoughts on the information we have received. Most importantly, we must find ways to connect with the world that do not rely on technology every once in a while. We must cultivate thoughts that are not just reactions, but products of genuine curiosity.