Over the past few decades, automation has massively affected the generations that flourished in them. Findings from various research indicate that the world of constant connectivity and advanced robotics is helpful and hurtful. Generation Z (Gen-Z) comprises individuals born between the late 90s and early 20s. The age group is the first to have internet access since birth and continuously interact with other technological devices.
It consists of youngsters and teenagers attending schools, colleges, or universities. Modern innovations have paved the way for realizing multi-functional gadgets such as computers and smartphones used for various purposes, including learning and entertainment. In the provision of education, teachers are urged to use the developed items to establish fruitful schooling surroundings. The way people interact has been dramatically altered with invention, making communication much faster and easier to conduct. Without proper care, internet use is likely to be addictive. Overusing machinery is expected to lead to physical and psychological health complications. Technology has positively affected the learning and interaction of Gen-Z through various innovations; however, it has shortcomings to the well-being of individuals in this category.
Digital inventions and knowledge have changed several aspects of human life, including communication. Gen-Z consists of many school-going individuals, and the innovations made in the online world have facilitated easy learning and interaction. The benefits of mechanization greatly outweigh the drawbacks brought about by addiction. When teenagers spend most of their time staring at their smartphones or playing video games, automation can feel more of a burden (Ajmain et al. 82).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the resultant impacts of telecommunications have been significantly seen. Different learning styles and tools have been established, enabling learners to access education even if at home (Ajmain et al. 85). Increased connectivity, from computers to social media, makes the world a small village. Knowledge and information can now be accessed in a brief period with the use of internet services (Poláková and Klímová 2). It also allows the modern generation to keep in contact with the community, friends, and family. Apart from making schooling better, types of machinery keep Gen-Z busy. Websites and applications are still expanding, giving people more options in robotics.
Technology has become integral to educating and directing students in the classroom, whether at home or in physical learning institutions. Learners and teachers can learn new concepts, creatively express their ideas, and develop critical thinking skills. Three common styles: visual, kinesthetic, and auditory, can be accommodated in teaching and learning due to mechanization (Poláková and Klímová 86). Through visual learning, Gen-Z students discover best through seeing a demonstration or reading instructions. Concepts and facts are visualized through charts, diagrams, or pictures, making information acquisition much more manageable (Seymour).
Technology is used by instructors to produce perceivable aids, thus making the lessons more understandable (Seymour). In auditory schooling, listening and speaking are central to knowledge acquisition. Gen-Z comprehends and remembers information that could be heard and not necessarily seen. Public speaking and presentations at home, within the community, and at school accommodate this style. Under the kinesthetic design, interactive activities get performed to learn about new concepts. Automation provides a range of ways to adjust the learning method.
Apart from the many learning techniques adopted by Gen-Z, educational tools are also vast in number. Each style requires equipment to facilitate its use in providing information at home or school. Various appliances that effectively promote the provision of knowledge and meet each student’s specific needs include computers, iPad, projectors, and laptops (Poláková and Klímová 6). In schools, PowerPoint presentations can be projected to the learners. It promotes focus and enables the students to understand the materials taught much better. YouTube videos are helpful, especially in complex chemistry and mathematics subjects (Seymour).
Here specialists elaborate on the challenging sectors, thus promoting learning. The videos integrate both auditory and visual techniques making them far better useful; furthermore, they are easily accessible for free. With the invention of skype, Gen-Z can connect with classrooms globally and listen to remarkable speakers on particular topics (Ajmain et al. 501). Smartphones are portable computers that can access all materials from the internet. They are considered the most vital equipment as they are cheap to acquire, unlike other tools such as laptops and projectors.
Automation has impacted not only the educational sector but also the social department. Teenagers and young adults can now communicate with peers from all over the world. Connectivity has increased significantly after social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were invented. The boomers’ world has opened up, thanks to mechanization, encouraging them to collaborate and connect with others around the globe.
Young adults constitute the most significant population owning electrical gadgets that have access to internet services (Seymour). Through various channels from sites like YouTube and Instagram, celebrities can interact with the younger generation, who tend to be more obsessed with the spotlight. The majority have access to all mobile wireless services, including data, voice, and messaging. All possess at least a smartphone, with some having several gadgets and sporting devices (Ajmain et al. 82). Some games facilitate interaction with other players from other regions, facilitating communication. In this digital era, instant messages and emails have surpassed traditional communication forms that involve sending letters. Contact is currently much faster and more instant, making networking attainable.
Young people get themselves occupied using electronic gadgets such as smartphones and televisions. The world around this category is impacted as well as the lives of each individual as days progress. Human lives have undoubtedly been made much more manageable and busier since the introduction of machinery (Ajmain et al. 82). Automation demand has significantly grown, especially among younger adults. They tend to spend much of their time interacting with the innovations and, as a result, making themselves occupied. Games are everyday inventions that tend to make them engaged for entertainment purposes.
With internet services and a gadget, the younger generation spends time navigating various websites and social media platforms. Different options emerge when bored of reading or writing, including watching movies and series or listening to music. Songs have been identified to be better companions when relaxing and keeping oneself busy. Through the integration of modernization in various fields, everything has been sped up, making society much more engaged (Ajmain et al. 83). Most of the younger individuals spend much of their time using electrical devices, keeping them occupied and avoiding boredom.
Technology has made teaching and learning easier by speeding up access to knowledge. With a click, all information regarding a particular topic can be found with the help of an electronic device and internet services. Research has been made easier as sources for references are accessed electronically anywhere in the world (Poláková and Klímová 6). There is no need to visit a physical library and read large-volume books. Innovations provide young adults with accelerated learning, fun opportunities to practice while schooling, and easy-to-access data. New subjects are easily explored and a deeper understanding provided on complex concepts, thus improving their technical skills.
Through the use of search engines like Google, information on a particular topic is found. YouTube is also a source of knowledge, especially if there is a need to visualize the concepts taught. Learners can now quickly find accurate information and engage in personal research one-on-one (Ranieri et al. 505). In modern educational institutions such as universities, internet services are free to enable students to engage in individual learning; frequent inventions include multimedia, computers, and software.
However, despite having numerous positive impacts on the growth and development of the Gen-Z population, some believe mechanization has severe underlying consequences. Many argue that overusing technology can result in addiction, affecting the users’ physical and mental health. Younger adults are most associated with the iDisorder, a health complication that emerges from the brain failing to process data after exposure to automata (Ranieri et al. 505).
Other potential effects likely to be experienced are sleep depreciation, anxiety, and depression (Seymour). Eyestrain and reduced physical activity are physical complications that are likely to occur, which can contribute to obesity or cardiovascular disease. There is also increased cyberbullying and the inappropriate use of the internet to access unwanted materials. It is believed that young adults spend much time interacting with their gadgets for no educational reasons, which in turn wastes their precious time. Teenagers and young children still developing are at a higher risk of getting affected if they overuse technology.
Despite some allegations being true, it does not justify the categorization of technology as a lousy influence on the development of the modern population. Each possible consequence can be easily prevented, thus contributing to better growth. Parents and teachers can guide young people on the proper usage of technology to avoid addiction cases (Ajmain et al. 86). Restrictions can be implemented on adult websites, preventing young children from accessing prohibited content.
The benefits provided by telecommunication presence outweigh the disadvantages by far. It is through innovations that more research is done and new inventions are made. Since the generation was born in the era of automation, limiting their access to the gadgets and services invented is impossible. The category is far more tech-savvy than the fourth generation; they easily understand and know how to use new introductions within society. All the negative impacts identified above are not permanent as they are easily controlled, meaning they can be prevented. Instead of criticizing, possible solutions should be put in place, as mechanization is an essential addition to the success of the modern generation.
Generation Z is the most current and is more knowledgeable of the modern innovations made. The population has positively benefited from the new introductions within the society. Educational and social lives have been impacted as technology facilitates accessible schooling and interactions. It is now possible to instantly communicate with a person from the other end of the world with little time. Educators and learning institutions are adopting current inventions to establish better environments to facilitate easy learning among young students. The adoption of different learning styles and tools makes work easier.
In every household today, at least one electrical gadget is present, the most common being smartphones. Through the use of various social media platforms and applications, there is increased connectivity among the population, who also get more occupied when using the latest machinery. Knowledge is now accessed in a single tap through search engines and other resources developed. Despite opposing views on the impact of automation, it should be understood that the drawbacks can be easily prevented.
Works Cited
Ajmain, Muhammad Talhah, et al. “Impacts and Effective Communication on Generation Z in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 Era.” JETAL: Journal of English Teaching & Applied Linguistic, vol. 1, no. 2, 2020, pp. 82–87. Web.
Poláková, and Klímová. “Mobile Technology and Generation Z in the English Language Classroom – a Preliminary Study.” Education Sciences, vol. 9, no. 3, 2019, pp. 1–10. Web.
Ranieri, Jessica, et al. “Impact of Cybersex and Intensive Internet Use on the Well-Being of Generation Z: An Analysis Based on the Epoch Model.” Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, vol. 6, no. 1, 2021, pp. 501–506. Web.
Seymour, Emily. “Gen Z: Born to Be Digital.” VOA, Voice of America (VOA News). 2019. Web.