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The Citizen
6 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Gen Z is not okay, the internet is making it worse
Research shows that Gen Zs are the loneliest generation, despite having it all. Gen Z is the first generation that has grown up completely immersed in a digital world. But it's not just a world of convenience and technological progress. Instead, of simply getting dopamine hits from swiping, doomscrolling, cancel culture and a host of other anxiety-causing conditions have surfaced in substantial volumes. Loneliness, disillusionment and depression are becoming the mental health scourges of modern times. Clinical psychologist and medical doctor Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said the signs are no longer subtle. 'They are not just moody teens. Many of them are genuinely unwell. Anxiety and depressive disorders are presenting earlier and more severely than we've seen in previous generations,' he said. Gen Zs were born between 1997 and 2012. Smartphones, social media and streaming culture have shaped their reality from birth. But hyperconnectivity, what Gen Zs grew up with, has come with a toll. A 2023 Pew Research Centre report found that nearly one in three teens said social media had a negative effect on their mental health. 'It's not just the content, it's the comparison. Gen Z is constantly measuring themselves against filtered, curated lives online. That's incredibly damaging,' Redelinghuys said. His observations match published research in the American Journal of Health Behaviour in 2020, which found that the more time adolescents spent on social media, the more likely they were to report mental health challenges. The American Psychological Association reported that 91% of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 23 experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom of stress in the past year. That's a lot higher than the general adult population, where the figure was pegged at 76%. Overstressed Gen Z's In South Africa, the numbers tell a scary story. Youth unemployment remains high, with StatsSA's 2024 data showing nearly 45% of South Africans aged 15 to 24 are without work. 'There's a sense of hopelessness. Many Gen Z's feel like they are climbing a ladder that is missing rungs,' Redelinghuys said. Add to this the escalating cost of living, student debt, and an increasingly competitive academic environment, he noted. 'The consequence can be mental burnout before life's even hit the fast lane.' ALSO READ: 7 reasons Gen Zs choose friends with benefits The American College Health Association's 2023 assessment noted an increase in academic anxiety, insomnia and emotional exhaustion among US college students. 'The pressure to succeed is immense. They are expected to perform like machines, while also navigating identity, climate fear and digital overload,' Redelinghuys said. A 2021 global study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that 59% of young people surveyed were 'very' or 'extremely' worried about climate change, with over 45% saying that those fears affected their daily functioning. One respondent noted, 'It makes me anxious, like I have no future.' Redelinghuys said this kind of future-looking dread is increasingly common. 'They are not imagining it. They're growing up in a world where adults seem paralysed, and the problems feel insurmountable.' Gen Z – the loneliest generation Gen Z has also been labelled the loneliest generation. Research from Harvard's Graduate School of Education in 2021 found that more than 61% of Gen Z adults in the United States reported profound loneliness. Remote schooling, lockdowns and a lack of in-person social development during crucial years have left many of them socially fragmented. 'It's likely no different in South Africa,' said Dr Redelinghuys. It's a generation pedestalled for its openness, inclusivity and focus on self-expression. The McKinsey & Co report on generational trends noted that while many Gen Zer's explore diverse identities, they also face backlash, online harassment and internal conflict. It can become a major source of stress though. 'They are brave and honest about who they are, but society is still catching up. That creates tension,' Redelinghuys said. According to Dr Redelinghuys Gen Z's need a different approach to how generations prior was managed and psychologically healed or counselled. 'In a sense, they have inherited a rotten world of real-time conflict, environmental collapse and social disintegration. Couple this with a hyper-connected digital multiverse, and there can only be challenges,' he said. 'Interventions need to go beyond mindfulness apps and social media breaks. Schools, parents, policymakers. Everyone has a role to play. Gen Z is telling us they are not okay. We need to listen.' NOW READ: Why Gen Z fears phones
The Citizen
28-07-2025
- Science
- The Citizen
Is your brain lying to you? Here's why your memory may not be accurate
The brain has evolved to prioritise processing speed, efficiency and emotional stability over factual accuracy. Seeing is believing. Thinking is believing. But not quite. Because even though you may be convinced of a certain reality and truth, it may not be the same for anyone else. Your brain is an expert editor and, if your life was like a movie, thank your largest organ for customising it to a personalised box-office hit. This is, because despite its brilliance of design, the brain is not a reliable narrator. It is less of an objective observer and more of a creative writer instead. It's always snipping, molding and rearranging stuff to suit the story it wants to tell you, and the rest of the world, for that matter. The human brain is designed for survival, not truth. Your brain is not wired for truth Psychologist and medical doctor Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said that the brain has evolved to prioritise processing speed, efficiency and emotional stability over factual accuracy. However, by doing so, it often distorts reality through illusions, biases and misremembered events. These selective edits are not acts of ill intent but rather protective mechanisms that help us make decisions quickly and feel better about ourselves. Dr Redelinghuys said we hardly ever realise that our brain is duping us. 'Our brains aren't trying to deceive us out of spite,' he said. 'They're doing their best to keep us functional. But shortcuts for efficiency's sake can come at the cost of accuracy.' One of the more common ways this mental sleight of hand shows up is through cognitive bias. It's like a mental trick that feels like logic to you, but it isn't really. American psychologist Raymond Nickerson said in a research paper that people are far more likely to notice and remember information that supports their own beliefs, while conveniently ignoring anything that doesn't. This kind of bias meddles in almost everything in your life from who you vote for, to your opinion on load shedding, rugby, ham, or asparagus on pizza, and even the loud music your neighbour plays on a Sunday afternoon. Same experience, different memories Dr Redelinghuys said this is one of the reasons two people can have entirely different accounts of the same event, and both believe they are right. 'It feels like common sense at the time,' he said. 'But it's just your brain telling a story it wants to hear.' ALSO READ: 7 reasons Gen Zs choose friends with benefits Endemic to many politicians is the Dunning-Kruger effect. Psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger ran a study 25 years ago that showed how people with limited knowledge or skill in an area tend to overestimate their competence. Ironically, people who know their stuff, often underestimate their own abilities. 'It's not arrogance,' said Redelinghuys. 'It's that people who don't know enough are also the least equipped to notice how little they know.' In line with misplaced convictions, a 1975 study found that people often believe they can control outcomes that are purely random. This is why gamblers always think they are in for a win in the next spin or hand and why, somewhat stupidly, people who tap elevator buttons more than once believing, deep down, it will come faster. Dr Redelinghuys said the brain prefers a world that makes sense, even if it must invent that order entirely. 'We want predictability,' he said. 'So, the brain edits in control, even where there is none.' Memories more like scrapbooking than library Memories too, are not filed as if it were books in a library. Scrapbooking is a better description of what really happens. American cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus said that people could be led to form entirely false memories. One experiment convinced participants they had been lost in a mall as a child. This even though that never happened. 'Memory is not a record of the past,' said Redelinghuys. 'It's a reconstruction that changes every time you call it up.' And then there is something called a flashbulb memory. It's recollections from emotionally charged events like for example, the 11 September World Trade Centre attack in 2001. While people reported on their own memories of the day and events with great confidence, researchers found the details often inaccurate. 'Confidence and correctness are not the same thing,' said Redelinghuys. 'You can be absolutely sure, and absolutely wrong.' More than a party trick Neuroscientist David Eagleman wrote in a 2001 study that visual illusions are not just party tricks either. They reveal how much of what we see is actively constructed by the brain. The famous blind spot in our vision is a literal gap in the data coming into our eyes. The brain just fills in the blanks without telling us. 'You're not seeing everything that's there,' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'You're seeing what your brain has predicted should be there. 'Once you realise how much of your reality is constructed, you can begin to question your assumptions and become a better decision-maker,' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'It requires rewiring your way of thinking to compensate for your brain's flaws, and then to use them effectively and impactfully in your life.' NOW READ: Why are we so negative? An expert answers
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- The Citizen
Why Gen Z fears phones
Dr Redelinghuys said telephobia presents as a form of social anxiety. The phone is no longer just the phone. It's becoming the damn phone. This, because the massive amount of spam that South Africans are being subjected to has created substantial anxiety, particularly amongst Gen Zs. But it doesn't exclude the rest of us. Telephobia, or the fear and concomitant anxiety associated with speaking on the phone, has become a recognised condition and a sign of modern times. While the condition was first discussed in psychological circles in the 1990s, it has gained momentum recently with global search spikes for the term, according to netnographer and cultural trends analyst Carmen Murray, recorded in June 2023, July 2024, and March 2025. Murray said that the pandemic played a major role in reshaping how people communicate. 'During lockdown, people became used to messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Teams and Slack. Direct phone calls started to feel disruptive and often unwanted,' she said. It's now embedded in popular culture. Phone call anxiety is real Phone call anxiety is not limited to inconvenience. According to Murray, increased robocalls, scam attempts using AI-generated voices and unlabelled call centre numbers add to this. In South Africa, the trend is compounded by what Murray called Hassle Culture, where frequent unsolicited calls and aggressive marketing have made consumers wary. 'There's reputational risk now when you call someone. Trust in the phone as a communication tool is eroding.' And all this has contributed to widespread distrust. 'Many companies now call from mobile numbers too, which are often the same format scammers use,' she said. ALSO READ: Why are we so negative? An expert answers Outside of personal preferences, South African consumers report high volumes of unsolicited calls. Murray said that there isn't a day that goes by when she isn't hassled several times by pretend-familiar salespeople trying to push their wares. 'They come in waves, and if you don't answer the first time, the robot just keeps calling you until you give in,' she said. 'This, despite POPIA, despite strict regulations, they just do whatever they want with no consideration to the consequences or impact on someone else's day.' Spam calls are shortsighted Psychologist and medical doctor Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said that hammering consumers with calls is short-sighted. 'The aversion that an individual can develop towards a certain product or brand can become more damaging to a business than the actual call was worth,' he said. Murray said that the result is that people have stopped answering altogether. That is, unless they know the person on the other end of the line. Dr Redelinghuys said telephobia presents as a form of social anxiety. 'Not seeing someone's face or body language during a call creates uncertainty. People fear being misunderstood, judged by their tone, or freezing mid-conversation,' he said. He agreed that telephobia may be fuelled by past experiences. 'Some people associate phone calls with bad news. Others are self-conscious about their voice or feel they need a script to handle live interactions. Others just feel it spoils their day and gets their blood boiling when it is the umpteenth sales call in a day.' ALSO READ: Huawei unveils Pura 80 series smartphones with innovative camera system [VIDEO] Text is best This avoidance of Alexander Bell's invention is increasingly visible in younger workers, said Murray. A 2024 Uswitch survey found that 61% of 18 to 34-year-olds prefer texting or WhatsApps to phone calls, and 23% of them never answer unknown numbers. In the UK, coaching sessions have been introduced to help students overcome phone anxiety. 'They've grown up using asynchronous communication,' said Murray, 'where responses can be thought through and edited. A phone call does not allow that level of control,' she said. The impact is also being felt in the workplace. Dr Redelinghuys said that communication expectations are changing, but not everyone's on the same page. 'In some environments, avoiding calls can affect job interviews, client meetings, or collaborative work. It's important to recognise that these habits don't mean someone is unprofessional. It could just be that their communication style is different.' Murray added that in the absence of POPIA enforcement against harassment, consumers are beginning to automate their own defences. 'Apps that block spam or screen unknown numbers are now standard. Increasingly, people are setting their phones to silent by default and choosing to engage on their own terms. If at all.' She said that as businesses automate client interactions, consumers will follow suit. 'Agentic AI will allow users to deploy personal assistants to handle calls, negotiate services, and interact with companies directly.' Dr Redelinghuys said it is important for businesses and institutions to adapt. 'Phone calls are still useful in many cases, but the way people use them is changing. Understanding these behaviours is essential if we want to maintain clear communication across generations.' NOW READ: Never say these 7 things on a first date
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
7 reasons Gen Zs choose friends with benefits
Between studying, side hustles and WhatsApp storms, most Gen Zs barely have time for their own thoughts, let alone high-maintenance relationships. Romance can be overrated, and so can hours of endless swiping left and right on dating apps, not to mention the cycle of drinks at bars, buying drinks for a cutie in the corner or, for that matter, eternal date night. At least that's according to a growing number of Gen Zers who are swapping candlelit dinners and romcoms and sexting for something far more simple. Friends with benefits or FWB, is intimacy served with simplicity. It's the bring it on without the string it along. Clinical psychologist Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said that the change toward this type of intimate relationship is simply about putting your cards on the table and being straightforward about wants, desires and turn-offs. 'It is not that Gen Z fears commitment,' he said. 'They value authenticity and autonomy. Having friends with benefits allows them to explore connection without the societal script of traditional relationships.' Seven reasons for FWB It delivers sex without emotional pressure FWB removes performance anxiety of the emotional kind. Nobody has to flick-flak or tiptoe on a date or put their best foot forward to get some nookie. 'It's about sharing intimacy without the morning after 'awalkward',' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'It's a conscious decision to separate physical needs from emotional entanglement.' Friendship and trust When you trust a friend, it makes everything easier, say Gen Zs. There's no expectation beyond a good time. Afterwards, it's a slap on the back, and after her bra is fastened, you can still go out for a beer with mates. 'Being able to have regular great sex with someone I actually know, like, trust and respect? Hell yeah,' wrote a Reddit user. Dr Redelinghuys added, 'Trust is the key differentiator here. FWB isn't about random hook-ups. It's about familiarity, comfort, and honesty.' Also Read: Why are we so negative? An expert answers Diary-flexible Between studying, side hustles and WhatsApp storms, most Gen Zs barely have time for their own thoughts, let alone high-maintenance relationships. It's fast-paced, and having friends who can turn on the tap of a bit of naughty whenever cuts out date nights and emotionally draining check-ins or 'where are yous'. It's not about avoiding relationships, said Dr Redelinghuys. 'They are choosing what fits their lives right now. It's pragmatism, not detachment.' No-bungle booty Judgement-free exploration It's a space that friends create for one another where anything can go, measured against mutual consent and boundaries. A space where Gen Zs say they try new things like exploring fantasies or just getting in touch and comfy with your own naughtiness. It's judgment-free, and a subreddit user expressed it aptly: 'Allow me to finally meet, explore, control, and work on accepting my sexuality… I'm proud of myself.' According to Dr Redelinghuys, 'The Gen Z generation is highly self-aware. FWB gives them a playground for discovery without the weight of emotional expectations.' Post Breakup Comfort Who wants to get back in the dating game after a breakup, anyway? Nobody wants to go swimming with sharks right after being bitten. Instead, Gen Zs look for companionship on an emotional and physical level. It's companionship without pressure, a familiar body without the need to get into anything emotional. 'There's a psychological reassurance in reconnecting with someone familiar,' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'It allows for emotional healing while maintaining boundaries.' Forget soap operas Bye Bye Drama Gen Z does not seem into the drama of dating. It can be exhausting. The texting, ghosting, situationships, checking in, checking out. Wondering about I love yous. Friends with benefits skip the queue and go straight to fun, honesty and, well, comfort. 'The two most honest, pure, uncomplicated and beautiful relationships I ever experienced were FWB,' a Reddit user confessed in r/AskWomen. Dr Redelinghuys agreed, 'Sometimes simplicity is healthier. FWB can be a drama-free arrangement when both parties communicate openly and respect the rules.' Deeper connections without blunt force trauma Not every friends-with-benefits situation must be without strings, forever. It could start that way, but sometimes, it grows into something real, deep, and well beyond what either party may have expected. And the beauty of it would have been that there was no pressure upfront, no emotional blunt force trauma. Dr Redelinghuys said that friendship lays a strong foundation for any relationship. When intimacy is layered on top, deeper connections often emerge organically. And, according to Reddit users, it happens more often than people admit. 'It started as casual, but we grew closer because we were just so honest from the start,' one user shared.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Why are we so negative? An expert answers
Why do we forget the congratulations but remember the insult? Doomscrolling is one of the ways we fill up on negativity. Picture: Keasha Werner Why is it that, while we all want to see the glass as half full, we tend to see it as half empty? Why do we forget the congratulations but remember the insult? What is it about the human condition that makes us default to the negative? Even if all humans were chocolate cupcakes, the salted caramel icing may taste more snarky than delectable at times. It's called negativity bias, and it seems to be baked into the fibre of who we are as people. 'Our brains evolved to keep us alive, not to keep us happy,' said medical doctor and psychologist Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys. 'In ancient times, noticing a rustle in the bushes could have meant a predator was nearby, ready to eat us,' he said. 'That kind of vigilance helped our ancestors survive. But now the same reaction kicks in when someone ignores your message on WhatsApp or frowns in a meeting.' It's fight or flight, expressed differently. Natural switch to negativity In a study conducted at the University of Chicago, participants were shown a series of images. Some were positive, like pizza or luxury cars. Others were neutral, such as a light switch or a dish. The rest were clearly negative, including photos of injuries and dead animals. The brain's response was much more intense to the negative images, suggesting we are primed to react to unpleasantness more strongly and more quickly. ALSO READ: Doing Niksen; the art of nothingness This also plays out in news coverage. Political communication researchers Stuart Soroka, Patrick Fournier and Lilach Nir studied audiences across 17 countries and found that people consistently paid more attention to negative news than to positive stories. Their research measured physical and emotional reactions to video news content and revealed a global pattern that human beings are simply more aroused by negativity. 'This is why doomscrolling on devices exists,' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'It's not that the world has become more terrible. It's that we are more likely to notice and believe the terrible parts of it.' Right now, people have a myriad of options to scroll to, like the Israel, Iran, Gaza conflict, Ukraine and Russia, Cash in Transit Heists in Mzansi, and thieving politicians. 'It's a feast of negativity made accessible by the internet and its platforms,' said Dr Redelinghuys. We absorb negativity easier The problem, he said, is that we don't just see the stuff, we absorb it. 'It colours the way we think, the choices we make and the way we relate to other people,' he said. 'A boss berating you at work sticks with you longer than a kind word from the same person. A failed job interview might haunt you for weeks. One strange look or word from someone else can ruin a perfectly decent day.' 'After that, you can give someone all the validation in the world, but it's the one piece of criticism they remember. That one moment becomes the headline in their thoughts. Online forums are full of people feeling challenged with this exact experience. One user on Reddit wrote, 'I know when something is objectively fine, but my emotions just won't accept it. I live in this loop of expecting things to go wrong.' Another shared, 'I've turned my life around completely, but I still only see the failures. It's like I only know how to function through negativity.' It's not easy to shut your mind up or to learn how to avoid the potholes of negative bias. 'You don't silence it completely,' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'But you can learn to notice it for what it is and stop letting it control the narrative of your life.' Mindfulness can help Mindfulness can work. A study by researchers Kiken and Shook in 2011 found that people who practised mindful breathing became more aware of positive experiences and developed more optimistic attitudes. Other tools include journaling, reframing and making a conscious effort to notice the good things when they happen. 'It's not about pretending everything is perfect,' noted Dr Redelinghuys. 'It's about giving positive moments a fair chance to land. The brain is already keeping score of everything that went wrong. Balance that out.' Cognitive restructuring is a big term, but an easier implementation. This is where you actively challenge negative thoughts, consciously, and replace them with more balanced notions. Another simple idea, Dr Redelinghuys suggested, is to linger longer in the good moments of life. 'Take a moment to fully enjoy the meal, the compliment, the peaceful evening. Let it register,' he suggested. 'You do not have to be blindly optimistic. But you can stop treating the negative as the only truth worth knowing fully.' NOW READ: Never say these 7 things on a first date
