Are drugs, alcohol, and smoking as far as addiction goes? In this day and age, with technology rising at its peak, we are finding ourselves addicted to more than we expect. As professionals who work to achieve their goals, this problem may be less concerning. We as adults can work our way through certain situations.
However, the youth these days are not yet fully developed in their minds to take on the burdens of life. And in the mix, they are found experiencing multiple distractions that are leading to an unhealthy form of addiction.
In this blog, I will take you through the modern-day addiction of the youth that no one is talking about.
Five Modern-Day Addictions of the Youth No One Is Talking About
If you think keeping an eye on your teenage kid for weed or a cigarette is the worst of your problems, think again. Kids these days are encountering more problems than you can imagine. Why? The world is filled with distractions that are turning into an addiction.
Sometimes, parents are so caught up in their troubles that they fail to notice the struggles their kids are enduring.
It’s easy to give a kid a mobile or a videogame to keep them from troubling you with their wants and expectations. However, there comes a time when digital technology is keeping your kids from experiencing valuable development. This is what I call modern-day addiction because that’s how our lifestyle has transformed in the cities.
Let’s look at the five modern-day addictions of the youth no one is talking about:
- Social media
Millennials these days want to make a difference at an early age. Their first source is social media where they can add comments on public posts. It makes them feel empowered to be able to share their perspective and probably create a so-called revolution. However, social media is addictive, and 86% of millennials are using social media every day. Of course, not every use of social media can be condemned as a waste of time.
However, their need to stay up-to-date with the latest news and current events creates a void when not fed with enough information. Social media has without a doubt become one of the most useful tools for today’s consumer, but the rapid rate at which the youth is consuming their time on social media is alarming and needs to be addressed.
- Mobile
Are social media and smartphones considered apart from each other? Maybe yes, but at the same time – mobile phones have turned out to be an addiction too.
Gone are the days when mobiles were invented to make a phone call and text a friend. Gone are the days when mobiles were only used for purposes of work. Nowadays, competition among mobile companies has raised the bar on which mobile can help click the best selfie on the highest resolution. How many cameras can one mobile manage? Well, apparently three to four, last time I checked – including front and back cameras.
It’s great to have a mobile that can download significant apps to help make life easier. However, the youth these days feel severely affected when their mobiles are not with them. They are unable to decide what to do if they don’t have their mobiles with them. This kind of addiction is not good and can take them away from the true nature of living things that are already so scarce in life.
- Show-off
The need to show off in this day and age is ever-increasing. Great shoes, branded wristwatches, branded fashion clothing, the best haircut, the best hairstyle, that selfie at the edge of the cliff, and so on, are a way to gain validation from the world.
This world loves to consume content, and we thrive on giving content. Our Instagram accounts are filled with the photos we want to share with near and dear. This is fine! But, the negative side of technology rubs off on us in an unhealthy manner.
However, the youth want to show more, do more, and portray more about themselves. The next party they went to, where they went clubbing, “right now at the Mumbai airport, on my way to Amsterdam” – happy moments are shared publicly – which is dangerous.
I am not trying to spread worry but just a word of caution so that one can identify if they are going overboard with their need to want the world’s acceptance.
- Fast success
Patience is wearing thin and the world is becoming smaller and smaller where opportunities are abundant.
Who doesn’t want fast success? We all do, but sometimes success leaves easily, especially if we obtain it with the wrong approach or illegally.
The youth these days is devoid of patience and is constantly looking for new ways to find success. Consistently looking for new opportunities is good but the fact that you expect fast success means you may be ignoring the lessons that you learn along the journey to make you stronger for the challenges of life.
Working smart is good, but working hard and being patient to achieve your goals is always going to be your pillar of strength and character.
- Relationship with only attractions
The youth these days do not want to settle for less, but unfortunately this ‘valuation bar’ is what may get in their way. Some people want to date someone only because of their good looks, regardless of how they are being treated. It’s a toxic and unhealthy way of approaching and maintaining a relationship.
Attraction should be looked at only as one aspect of a relationship. Many factors make a relationship, like bonding because of the person’s nature, like-mindedness, values, morals, sense of responsibility, commitment, loyalty, and so on.
Watch out for signs where the youth may be blindsided by their desires, but fail to see the bigger picture of life. There are innumerable distractions and it is important to help the youth understand that life goes beyond these five addictions.
