“You couldn’t survive a day without your phone.”

“Your generation is too reliant on technology.”

“You spend all of your time on your phone. Don’t you have anything else to do?”

Such complaints are often heard by teenagers from disgruntled adults about teens’ usage of devices, notably their phones. 

It is hardly fair to point a finger at Generation Z, claiming that we are too reliant on technology or are too “addicted” to our devices and gadgets. Regardless of the generation you belong to, it is difficult in today’s day and age to find anyone who isn’t frequently checking their phone for new messages, looking at their social media feed, rapidly texting or simply on their phone for extended periods of time. 

Even though most people engage in similar uses of technology, Generation Z is often on the receiving end of complaints that we are too glued to our technology, mainly from older generations who argue that we can’t live a day without our phones. 

Now, not all of this is untrue: a study from CGK found that 55% of Gen Z spends 5 or more hours on their phones per day. This should not be classified as an addiction, but rather as the way our lives have always been and will continue to be. 

Look at the recent developments in tech: The laptop was created in 1981. The internet in 1983. The first smartphone in 1992. Social media in 1997. 

To understand why Gen Z spends so much time on their devices, it is imperative to consider that Gen Z is the first generation to have generally unlimited access to the internet, devices and social media since our birth. As we grew up, we became accustomed to how these devices work and the comforts that the technology provides us, regardless of how late in life we were introduced to these devices. 

MaryLeigh Bliss, chief content officer at Ypulse, sums it up: “Millennials and boomers are addicted to their phones. Generation Z simply hasn’t known a time without the device.”

I am not trying to argue that technology is completely flawless. In fact, I am the first to admit that technology has its downsides; however, it is time to start considering it has always been a part of Gen Z’s lives and has been making our lives more convenient and comfortable for years. Why would we not use technology to our advantage?

Technology serves different purposes in entertainment and educational settings. When looking at it from an entertainment perspective, technology and social media can be an issue. Teenagers are known to spend a lot of time on media platforms for noneducational purposes. Technology may not be perfect for social interactions, but it is ideal for educational purposes. 

Even at Coppell High School, students and teachers saw a transition from a paper-based curriculum to one that integrates technology. Yes, that presents its own difficulties, but in 2020 when students were moved to a completely virtual classroom environment, technology was there to help facilitate that difficult transition. CHS had minimal struggles with preparing every student for the mandatory virtual period as all students were equipped with iPads that enabled them to complete their daily schoolwork. After the pandemic, teachers continued to intertwine the use of technology into their classrooms through whatever methods they found most appropriate for their class.

It is time we face the truth: technology isn’t going anywhere and will always be an important part of our lives, making savviness an important skill. More technology use in classroom settings bridges the gap between students who are technologically proficient and students who are not.  

Current teenagers have grown up in a world filled with technology and as a result, we’ve become quite savvy with our use of it. Again, I understand that some may argue that social media may provide too large of a distraction with notifications, but we are still capable of taking steps to curb the amount of distractions when necessary. We know when we need to draw the line with our use of technology and we have the ability to do so. 

Contrary to popular belief, Gen Z is not addicted to our phones or to social media. We have just grown used to them. We’re comfortable with them. We are used to the way our life functions with them. Is it so unreasonable to want to keep that same technology in our lives?

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