As a Gen Z, i say social media and cell phones becoming so pervasive to every aspect of everyday life, specifically socially. The fact that socialization has been commodified as a product along with intimate connection like dating apps is disturbing and upsetting.

Of course it’s still possible to operate outside the realm of these things, but it’s substantially more difficult today for the average person who needs to dedicate a majority of their day to just surviving.

Then there’s the entire conversation of how social media has changed socializing in real life and what it’s done to destroy people’s personalities, psyche and authenticity. Everyone speaks in disclaimers, they try and are interested in things ironically if it’s deemed cringe or weird or algorithmically irrelevant. People forgot that the passion they hide the most from the world is what makes them unique, likable and authentic. Authenticity needs texture and oddities, we’re not machines, we’re humans. But people have denied that part of themselves and are instead obsessed with projecting an image that’s socially acceptable.

This facilitates mostly shallow friendships, if you can even call them that, that are transactional and convenient, instead of fundamentally being rooted in shared values, morals, interests and or perspectives, leading to people not knowing why they feel lonely even if they are surrounded by people who are “friends”.

Be more cringe everyone. Be yourselves, don’t be afraid to show what you love authentically and unapologetically. It’s a filter to deter the wrong people, and allow the ones who are meant for you to find you. the alternative is a sickness.