Generation Z: The Dumbest Generation
A Research Paper
In
English A5-8 (College English 2)
English Department, CASS
Submitted by:
Jay Mark T. Paracue lles
Roymie M. Mamburao
Submitted to:
Prof. Rabindranath S. Polito
March 2011
Thesis Statement
There are three mainly reasons that are attributed to the dumbness of Generation Generat ion Z. Outline of the Study
I. Introduction A. Background of the Study B. Controversy C. Statement of the Problem D. Significance of the Study II. Discussion of Thesis A. Reading and Social Commitment of Generation z B. Helicopter Parenting and Generation Z C. Digitalization and Z¶s Psychological State III. Result of the Study A. Summary of the Findings B. Conclusion
Background of the Study
Today¶s children are growing up in a very different world. In a world that is almost undesired by most of the manly authorities. Generation Z is the best classification of kids born in this world between late 1990¶s and the early 2010¶s (Fleming, 2010, ¶ 3). Also dubbed as the µNet Generation¶, kids born in this span of time are specifically attributed to the rampancy of wireless technologies like cellphone and the World Wide Web. Other connotations for this latest generation are µ@ generation¶ by Rory Winston and the µDigital Natives¶ by Marc Prensky. Controversy
Generation Z members have been adapting to this wired world. They have learned to process information more quickly through virtual games. It has even taught them how to practice decision making (Tapscott, 2009, p. 291). Even internet has taught them how to multitask which is very essential in the modern world. With these breakthroughs, Zers have acquired µfast response time¶ that enables them to respond rapidly and µAttention Deployment¶ that enables them to shift attention from one task to another (Prensky, 2005, p. 6). Despite of this, Generation Z still holds the title as being the µdumbest generation¶. Dumb, as defined by the New Webster¶s Dictionary (2004), means µinarticulate¶ or, in the popular context, µstupid¶. Because the t he modern world has provided them a world of information at their fingertips, they have forgotten the value of struggle and synthesis (Tapscott, 2009, p. 231). Because of emerging digitalization, Generation Z¶s mind has been manipulated to the extent that society itself dubbed them as the generation of lost childhood and the generation of ambition while lacking hard work (Barcelon, 2010, ¶ 1).
Statement of the Problem
The study ought to put emphasis on the negative characteristics of Generation Z. It is whereby the researchers hope that t hat authorities will give attention to the core purpose of the study. The study sought to answer the following question: 1. How does members of Generation Z deals with his/her social environment? 2. What makes µmodern-day parenting¶ a co n to the growth process of Generation Z? 3. How has psychological state of Generation Z been manipulated by emerging digitalization? Significance of the Study
Youth encompasses a substantial percentage of world scale population. Observing and studying this new breed of millennium will bring and open prospects of how will these generations shape the future society. Generation Z, which is the latest group of generation is the prime subject of this study. Understanding the said generation will enable concerned authorities to trace points of Zers that need ample attention. It is from this study that will enlighten parents and teachers to fit their teaching strategy to their children who among belong to the Z bracket. From this study, also, that government will benefit as they go t hrough effective social planning for the society. Reading and Social Commitment of Generation z
Cyber media and screen entertainment are things responsible for the dramatic change of society¶s present status. In fact, several studies (Barcelon, 2010; Godwin, 2008; Bauerlein, 2008; Barnes, et.al, 2007) have already been published to form a conclusion that cyber technologies incurred a great civic literacy crisis to toda y¶s generation. In a study conducted by Bonamici et.al, (as cited by Barnes, et.al. 2007), shows that by the time Net Generation reach the age of 21, they will have spent 20,000 hours watching
television, television, 10,000 hours on cell phone and only 5,000 hours reading( 2). With such such wide disparity ratio from reading made Drutman (2008) propounded that ³brazen disregard to books and reading will essentially result to a collective loss of context and history, a neglect of µenduring ideas and conflicts ´ ( 3). Meanwhile, Barcelon Barcelon (2010) also agrees that it is is not only lack of reading that yields illiteracy but also the cyber communication itself that deteriorates one s language and civic knowledge. As surveyed by Bauerlein (2008), lack of capitalization and IM codes dominate online writing and useless cyber content continues to outgrowth civic issues (p. 168). With these observations associated with the decline of civic awareness, prospects will be generation Z will have the difficulties in handling future national politics and in management of society. Another attitude attributed to Generation Z is their lack of social competence. Subsequently, as youth continually engaged to frequent interaction with televisions and computers, they become less aware and concern about their face-to-face relationship (Sigman, as cited by Fleming, 2010,
5).
Also, social relationships are important for building one s confidence and several aspects of life which ironically has been re-engineered by social networking sites. Likely, instead of learning about facial expressions in the real world, Generation Z has devoted more of their time in enticing screen entertainment. This attitude has made them acquired a lower oxytocin count (hormone for for reading social expressions) than the previous generation (Fleming, (Fleming, 2010,
7).
Helicopter Parenting and Generation Z
Generation Z members are individuals known to be a product of mostly Generation X parents. Generation X, generally people born in the 70 s and 80 s is the most divorced generation with 22% of children under 15 are single-parent households compared to just 19% in 1980-1988
(Fleming, 2010,
10). Therefore, Z s, generally, are a recipe for over ±stretched, ±stretched, guilt-rider guilt-rider
parents who show too much concern giving ample affection to their kids (Fleming, (Fleming, 2010,
11).
As what Dr. Rence Mill, a psychologist said that, ³this form of parenting has led to a fixation with being µliked µliked by their kids, kids, shying away from confrontation and and punishment´ (Fleming, 13). With this so called ³helicopter parenting´ with parents afraid of being hated by their children, with parents who avoid to say µno to their children, have lost lost their children s notion to discipline and regulate their emotions. In parallel, a study has also found out that there is no evidence that helicopter parenting produces better grades among students. In fact, students with very involved parents had lower grades than those whose parents who were not so involved (Kuh, G., as cited by Matthews, 2007, 4). In addition, Z s tend to be ignorant about failures in the real world. Because of so called µpositive psychology - always praise, never criticize and talk about failures, they will be less equipped to cope with with the inevitable inevitable disappointments in in life life (Fleming, 2010,
9).
They are actively disconnected from world realities and instead encased in more immediate realities that provide no conditions beyond- clothes, pop music, sitcoms, Facebook (Bauerlein, 2008, p. 279). With such misguidance, Generation Z has become even more selfdirect and individualistic. They forget to play free and creatively outdoors with playmates because their parents restrict restrict them (Fleming, (Fleming, 2010, 17). They, most most of the time, feel different like outsider from their peer group and therefore think of themselves more as individuals (Trunk, 2009, 6). Also, since Generation Z is a generation of less-play-outdoors defines that they are not only socially incompetent but also intellectual defective in terms of learning. Physical plays,
apart from virtual games, is a vital role in providing experiences to kids from mistakes where they technically learn something something boosting their thinking thinking in the same time (Fleming, (Fleming, 2010,
12).
Digitalization and Z¶s Psychological State
With the advent of digitalization, Generation Z has also been influenced to develop both intellectual and psychological ailment. As Don Tapscott (2010) cited on his book, The Net Generation, ³« they will fail to develop intellectual skills needed for higher- order thinking. Some of them may even develop digital version of µAttention Deficit Disorder (ADD)´ (p. 39). ADD occurs as a result of neurological dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex of the brain (Gazley, 2002, p. 3). 3 ). It is the part of our brain that has executive e xecutive functions. While it is true that rates of ADD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 ± 2006 and are 5.5% per year from 2006 ± 2007 (American Psychiatric Association, 2007, 4), it will be expected that several cases of short attention span will be prevalent in society. Another effect of ADD is poor judgment, hyper-activity, chronic loneliness and lack of perseverance. Short attention span is the reason why Generation Z lacks patience. As they were born in a world seeking for instant gratification; one click for information, Generation Z s brain has been rewired too narrow. Because length is something that greatly frightens Generation Z, they do not like taking much time to read and even solve problems (Barcelon, 2010,
6). Without Without the ability ability
to focus attention on a task, educators and psychologist agree that one will have the difficulty in achieving his/her goal in life. Summary of the Findings
From this study, the following conclusions have been formed:
1. With diverse access to screen technologies, Generation Z¶s interaction to their social world has been minimized. A decline of their awareness and knowledge about civic issues has been observed. 2. Generally, Z¶ers, as a product p roduct of generally X parents, has been restr ained from µplay hood¶ and has been adultified too early resulting to ignorance and inactive critical thinking. 3. Psychologically, Z¶ers mind has been affected by digitalization. While it is true that rate of ADD is increasing through years, Generation Z tends to acquire ailments such as short attention span and hyperactivity. Conclusion
Civic illiteracy is rampant to Generation Z. As their attention has been diverted to screen entertainment, they have forgotten the importance of reading. Also as their brain has been rewired by digitalization, they tend to have short attention span ± a psychological ailment responsible for one¶s focus. If these factors will be lost in Generation Z, it will be difficult for them to stay on course on their goals especially that undesirable circumstances may arise unexpected.
References Books
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