Although I have long written critiques of digital culture, I can say my perspective on younger generations is shaped by the belief that “Nothing could be more natural than them being different from us.” In fact, I even smiled at the idea of my students carrying a banner reading “Long live ChatGPT!” at their graduation. Generational conflicts have existed throughout history, but the rapid pace of today’s technological, economic, and social transformation makes it meaningless to expect young people to resemble us.
However, this does not mean we should ignore the problems created by a system that turns technology from a ‘tool‘ into an ‘end in itself‘. Research shows a rise in psychiatric diagnoses such as unhappiness, aimlessness, narcissism, depression, and anxiety, particularly among the younger generation.
Even more striking is that youth unhappiness is more pronounced in affluent countries. Statistics clearly reveal that in many developed nations—from Japan, known for its “ikigai” philosophy (often regarded as the formula for intergenerational happiness), to Scandinavian countries celebrated for their social welfare models—the delicate line between happiness and unhappiness in the digital age is far from reassuring.
These developments underscore that rather than placing the blame solely on young people, we need societal introspection. After all, labeling youths as ‘lazy’ or ‘narcissistic’ does nothing but sweep problems under the rug. The real issue lies in providing them with a world where they can build meaningful lives.
Mental health and happiness are shaped more by societal dynamics than individual choices. The crisis young people face is exacerbated by factors such as education systems struggling to keep pace with the speed of technological comfort, the uncertainty of work life, and the digitization of social relationships. Thus, the solution requires an interdisciplinary approach, spanning education policies to urban planning, rather than relying solely on psychological support.
It also seems unrealistic to attribute the problem solely to technological advancements. Digital tools have now become indispensable comfort zones. However, we need a societal design to evolve these tools into roles that empower rather than consume us. For instance, how can we transform social media from an addictive platform into one that nurtures creativity? Or what steps must be taken to ensure artificial intelligence generates new employment opportunities instead of unemployment? These are just a few of the many questions we must seriously address.
In upcoming weeks, we will continue exploring answers to these questions.