Internet use is a common way Generation Z spends their time. Gen Z often uses their devices at their house, school or other places, making tasks such as watching/purchasing entertainment much easier and simpler than what was previously the case.
A lot of students agree that streaming services that have popped up in the past few years have made watching movies they love easier than on DVDs or other forms to watch. Hand in hand, streaming services can recommend viewers other movies they may like based on what they have watched already.
“You can’t break a streaming service, but you can snap a DVD,” freshman Owen Peterson said.
However, some students suggest that the internet is not all sunshine and rainbows. Many experts recommend that those who are under 18 and parents/guardians of children under 18 should seriously consider adding extra protection to their online presence, as some people may post things online with bad intent that are clearly not appropriate for younger audiences.
Junior Lauren Drake said that she thinks that if children are online a lot, they will forget how to socialize in real life because arguing or talking to someone online is way different that arguing or talking to someone in person.
The new phone policy set to be effective next year, which will aim to crack down on device use in the classroom will present challenges to students that use streaming services when they have free time in class. While outside of school, students will still have the same unrestricted access to the internet and other services they previously had.
Junior Kingston Windschitl said that people are going to be “just as addicted to their phones” next year.
As good as streaming services appear, it has prevented some people from watching TV everyday. Most streaming services only offer live streaming of events, while it is still possible to find live, cable news, it is not common and many people part of Gen Z choose to find their news and information from either online publications, or even social media.
“There isn’t any like new episodes come out on Sundays, or conformity,” Drake said.
“It’s just a lot easier,” is a common quote many people in Gen Z respond with when older generations ask why they spend their time online. In the near future, it does not look like Gen Z will go offline any time, especially as the world turns more digital.
