As a college student, I have noticed that people on campus seem less social than I would’ve imagined. The impression I got from older generations and the media was that college was going to be some crazy social place where you immediately meet your best friends and everyone is always friendly with each other. I think many of us expected to find an instant sense of community when entering college, only for it to fall short. People just don’t talk to each other as much as I expected. Most are super friendly during the first few weeks of a new semester, but once we get into our routine, people shut themselves off. When I walk into a classroom, everyone is looking down at their phones instead of talking to each other. Is this because of technology, the pandemic, or just Gen Z?
social anxiety
For one, Gen Z has reported more anxiety and depression than previous generations. 70% of teens say that anxiety and depression are significant problems among their peers and 37% of Gen Z has seen a mental health counselor. Our generation is stressed, depressed, and anxious. For those suffering with social anxiety, which tends to be a lot of us, everyday social interactions cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment. For these reasons, many of us are struggling to talk to each other. This not only affects potential friendships, but also romantic relationships: Gen Z is having less sex than previous generations. What’s driving all of this?
lack of community + social media
While the original purpose of social media was to bring people together, it might actually be pushing us apart. Aside from the polarizing topics that get brought up on social media, many people may be feeling more detached because of what they see online. TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, and many more platforms have created tons of online communities. While this may seem like a good thing, it might actually be isolating us in person. A lot of people might feel a sense of community online and in turn don’t look for one in person, specifically on their college campus. A 2014 study showed that college freshmen are spending less time socializing and more time on online social networks and studying. The more time we spend on social media, the less time we spend on our friends in real life. This is not to say that online friendships aren’t important or real, but while we are at college we should be spending more time with the people around us.
the isolation from covid
This might be pretty obvious, but the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely affected us socially. We spent almost a year in quarantine, isolated from our friends, classmates, and teachers. For a lot of people, the pandemic has also greatly stunted their college experience. A lot of students didn’t get to start college physically on campus (including myself) and had to suffer through online classes. Having class completely virtual makes it extremely difficult to talk to classmates. Now that many schools are back to “normal” it has still been hard to adjust. Talking to a classmate might be more intimidating when everyone is wearing a mask. Socializing is scarier when we risk contracting COVID. Many activities that are integral to a university’s identity or sense of community got cancelled, moved to a virtual format, or cut short. As a college freshmen, I didn’t get an in-person orientation, convocation, or many other traditions that I’m sure I’m unaware of. These many not seem that important, but these are the kinds of things that make us feel like we are part of the campus community.
silver lining?
This is not at all to say that Gen Z isn’t socializing or making friends at college. I’ve met my best friends while at UConn, and what I’ve realized is that once we get over the fear, introducing ourselves or making small talk can make all the difference. Most people will be grateful and will respond positively if you reach out. Saying hi to people in your dorm, talking to your classmates, or joining clubs — while easier said than done — is worth going the extra mile.