For a long time, I have always viewed social media as a risky area. Even though it has become a dominant tool for communication in today’s society, I have shied away from it because of concerns about personal privacy and fear of online violence. But for my current research project on Gen Z, I took a brave step into this uncharted territory.
I am worried about social media mainly because of the issue of personal privacy. We live in an era of information overload, where every action and interaction may be recorded, forming a packet of data that can be analysed and decoded. This has always made me suspicious: Is my privacy being protected? Is my data being used for improper purposes? Is my digital footprint being left with people who shouldn’t see it? It also keeps me constantly thinking about how the perception of privacy as a concept has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. Whereas in the past, privacy a closed box where others were often prying eyes, privacy is now more of an open box where people are keen to show off their colourful privacy in social media.
I am more worried about cyber violence. There have been many incidents that have taught me that once something happens on social media that is not in line with the public perception, I may become the target of criticism and attack. The situation of being “named and criticised” by tens of thousands or even millions of people is a nightmare for me. Because in the Internet, “zero-cost” malicious harm, like a zoom lens of human nature.
But a recent interaction with Gen Z on the Internet has been an eye-opener for me. Gen Z has a strong and diverse relationship with social media. For them, social media is not just a means of communication, but an integral part of life. They are active on multiple platforms, seek authenticity in their content, are highly influenced by social media influencers and often use it as a primary source of information. This generation, in such an online environment, has shown a sense of privacy that has surprised me. They seem to have developed a filter of their own, knowing exactly what can be shared and what needs to be kept. They move freely between the digital and real worlds, displaying different identities, but these identities are not compartmentalised, rather they form a unified and complete self. If a person is made up of different pieces, Gen Z can better put those pieces together, with digital pieces in their hands. In the real world, they show a part of themselves that should be shown, and in the digital world, they can show the other side completely, which is, in fact, a safer and more reliable way of interpreting the self, and so they are relatively healthier physically and mentally.
For example, I met a Gen Z user named “Enen”, who has more than a thousand followers on social media and works as an Internet anchor. He had just joined the ranks of virtual anchors. In our conversation, he made it clear that social media is only one side of his presentation, that he shows his true colours when interacting with his fans, and that he has other, more personal roles and identities. He also loves who he is now and what he does in the digital world. Over the course of this time of communication, for Gen Z, online friends are also friends, and they likewise treat everyone with the utmost sincerity, giving him the experience of truly connecting with people. This made me realise that Gen Z’s online identity is not just for show, but more about connecting, communicating and learning from others.
Just because I’ve had a pleasant two weeks of internet roaming doesn’t mean I’ve fully accepted social media. I remain critical of it. And the experience with Gen Z reminded me of the double-edged nature of any tool. How we should utilise it is something that needs to be thought through carefully.