Time and time again, I find myself yearning for a time when phones didn’t exist or when music didn’t resort to claiming success due to its commodification on an Instagram reel. Many of my peers feel the same way about the world; we claim that we were “born in the wrong era” or that we’re not “of this time” — unfortunately, that’s just not true. Then again, we are only a product of our environment.

Navigating modern life means facing an abnormal amount of information, from endless homework assignments to hours of screen time. It feels unnatural to sit quietly with our own thoughts, free from distraction. When it comes to social media or excessive internet use, it’s easy to blame ourselves for a lack of self-control, but the reality is that today’s world isn’t designed to foster creativity and innovation — it often seems to do just the opposite. 

When we’re not buried under schoolwork or real-life responsibilities, there’s always something else to occupy our time. It’s not surprising that many of us choose to stare at screens during our free moments, whether binge-watching the latest Netflix series or scrolling through video edits of the same show on TikTok. 

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Our near-addiction to staying busy isn’t entirely our fault. In a culture that values productivity, those precious moments of nothingness feel like wasted time. 

Known as the first generation to grow up on the internet, Generation Z often unwinds after a long day by spending hours scrolling through social media. This fast-paced content, designed for quick consumption, doesn’t encourage deep thought; instead, it satisfies a craving for constant stimulation. 

Reflecting this trend, an Ipsos survey via Google Insights found that 83% of Gen Z have turned to YouTube for relaxation, often watching soothing content like ASMR or nature films. Even in moments of genuine rest, we remain tied to our screens.

As an avid user of the internet, these online spaces can sometimes feel like home, providing a sense of comfort I’ve never quite found in the real world. When someone I used to watch on YouTube posts a clip of their upcoming podcast episode, it feels like traveling back in time. Nostalgia becomes the root of this connection, drawing me in and reminding me of simpler times when these creators were a constant presence in my life. 

Yet, the familiarity I find online also deepens a sense of disillusionment with the world around me.

As we immerse ourselves in this digital age, we become unaware of our own reality. We’re led to believe that our lives are inadequate compared to the curated versions of others that we see online. Today, individuality feels more artificial, as we constantly strive to redefine ourselves without a true sense of who we are to begin with. 

Our lives feel like they no longer belong to us, and we struggle to find a sense of belonging in the world. It’s not that we don’t want to exist — we just don’t want to exist here, in the present reality. We live for a future that feels distant and disconnected, one that has transformed from something to look forward to into a means of escape. We’ve become so far removed from ourselves that we’ve resorted to constant distraction. 

Maybe we find common ground on “not being of this time” because we don’t feel welcome in such a time. We feel isolated and disconnected from any potential of true fulfillment. We constantly want to be something else; every day feels like a new trend to follow while also looking back into the past. We are kept stable in our instability. 

It’s a bittersweet reality — we’re united by our shared disconnection, yet there’s hope in the possibility of regulating our screen time to combat feelings of loneliness and unproductivity. Many of us recognize the need for something more: genuine friendships, meaningful conversations and the ability to work without the constant impulse to scroll for a quick dopamine hit. Noticing that there is a problem is always the first step. 

Ultimately, you’re still in control of your life. There are countless ways to use screens more meaningfully — whether reading books, creating vision boards or tapping into them as a creative outlet. Screens are powerful tools, something we know well, so why not engage with them in fresh, purposeful ways? 

Of course, this is easier said than done. But we can aim to connect with the internet more intentionally when we’re online and to be immersed and intimate with the real world when we’re offline—be it taking a walk or diving into an interesting topic on our own terms.

There’s always the possibility of shaping your life into something more, something beyond screens. But to unlock that potential, the issue must be felt deeply, even uncomfortably, challenging the way you see yourself in the world. If technology feels more like a chore than a tool for growth, then perhaps we’re using it in the wrong ways — or maybe we don’t need it as much as we think.