JECO Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No.
2,
2024, 95-102
Journal of Education
and Counseling ISSN 2747-1780 (online)
ISSN 2807-8012 (print)
THE IMPACT OF THE DIGITAL ERA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF
GENERATION Z
Syari Fitrah Rayaginansih1*, Siti Cahyati2, Irfan Fahriza3
Universitas Ma’soem
1,2,3
*Syari Fitrah Rayaginansih, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Generation Z, born in the digital age, has a high dependence on
technology and social media. This has a significant impact on their mental health.
This study examines the positive and negative impacts of technology and social
media use on Generation Z, as well as strategies for maintaining mental health in
the digital age. Literature studies were used to collect and analyze information
from various sources. The results showed that excessive use of technology and
social media can lead to increased anxiety, stress, cyberbullying, and other mental
health problems. However, technology can also provide social support, access to
mental health information, and opportunities for self-expression. Strategies such as
"digital detox" can help reduce the negative impacts of technology and social
media. This study highlights the importance of understanding the impact of
technology on the mental health of Generation Z and developing strategies to
maintain a balanced life in the digital age.
Keywords: Mental Health; Digital Age; Generation Z; Digital Detox
INTRODUCTION
Generation Z is a generation born in the period from 1997 to 2012 also known as the
internet generation (I-gen). This is driven by the rapid digitalization in various areas of life
accompanied by the emergence of various platform Social Media (Chanra, 2024). Generation
Z grows and develops in the dynamic digital era, so they have a tendency to get used to
information technology from an early age, which makes the life of Generation Z significantly
integrated with the use of technology (Fitriyadi et al., 2023).
In a survey conducted by the Association of Internet Service Providers Indonesia
(APJII) in 2024. In the results of the Indonesia internet penetration survey, there has been an
increase in Indonesia's internet usage in the last five years, where since 2018 internet
penetration in Indonesia has reached 64.8%, then in 2020 it rose to 73.7%, in 2022 to 77.01%,
in 2023 to 78.19%, until in 2024 it touched 79.5%. When calculated based on age, the majority
of users are Gen Z (1997-2012) as much as 34.40%, then the millennial generation (1981-1996)
as much as 30.62%, then Gen X (1965-1980) as much as 18.98%, post Gen Z (born in less than
2023) as much as 9.17%, then baby boomers (1946 – 1964) as much as 6.58% and pre boomers
(born in 1945) as much as 0.24%.
96 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
Generation Z as the highest user of the internet based on the APJII survey is proof
that they are a generation that grew up with technology that is fully socially and globally
connected. This provides characteristics that include the ability to operate technological
devices, communicate through social media, and access information quickly and efficiently
(Arrahmi Thahir et al., 2023). The rapidly increasing presence of technology and social
media will affect the way they interact with others.
Technology mastery skills and social connections in Generation Z can be an
unfavorable side for them, the impact of excessive use of technology and social media will
bring Generation Z to dependence, negative impact on their physical health and even on
their mental. According to Twenge (2018), high exposure to social media can provide high
social pressure, which affects increased levels of anxiety and stress. This is in line with a
study conducted by the Institute Public de Sondage d'Opinion Secteur (IPSOS) where
generation Z is said to experience higher levels of stress than other generations out of 23,274
respondents as many as 43% of generation Z experience stress to the point of impacting
daily life. This percentage is higher than 37% of millennials, 32% of generation X, and 22% of
baby boomers who are experiencing the same thing.
According to Karl Menninger (in Arrahmi Thahir et al., 2023) Individuals are said to
have good mental health if they are able to show intelligence, tolerance for others, and have
a happy attitude to life. World Health Organization (WHO) added that being healthy is a
prosperous physical, mental, and social state and not solely the absence of weakness or
disease. The high risk of Generation Z in the era of digitalization in facing mental health
challenges in the era of digitalization, makes mental health issues and policies in the use of
digital media a matter that deserves attention.
METHOD
The method used in this study is a literature study (Library Research) is a research
method used in research to collect, understand, and study, theories from various literature
related to related research (Sujarweni, 2014). Meanwhile, according to Sugiyono (2013)
Literature studies are theoretical studies, references and scientific literature.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 Research Related to the Impact of Technology on Mental Health
No. Writer Title Result
1 Astrid Sulistya Online Games and The high intensity of online game
Azahra, Kalfin, and Generation Z Mental media use among respondents has
Rizki Apriva Health: A Case Study on various negative psychological
Hidayana (2024) Adolescent Boys at SMK impacts such as decreased
MAN 5 Tasikmalaya academic achievement, increased
emotional disturbances, and social
97 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
No. Writer Title Result
isolation.
2 Lily Sardiani Healthy Literacy to The development of a healthy
Daulay, Mardianto, Maintain Children's literacy culture can be an
and Muhammad Mental Health in the alternative in efforts to prevent the
Irwan Padli Digital Era negative impact of the media and
Nasution (2023) the internet, based on the results
of literacy research is seen as the
basis for participating in the
digital age, with the ability to use
digital media effectively.
3 Jessica Wulandari, The Effect of In the results of the study
Nadjwa Cyberbullying on Mental conducted it was found that the
Khairunnisa, Siti Health in Adolescents increasing use of media and
Yolandari, Tanjung technology provides a negative
Maulio Ar ro'uufu, side to its users, especially in
and Robby Subagja adolescent users, instability in the
(2024) management of adolescent
emotions in using social media
can trigger bullying in social
media or cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying that occurs can
have an impact on mental health
disorders such as causing fear,
depression, excessive anxiety,
feelings of insecurity, sadness,
and high stress in the victim.
4 Yenti Arsini, The Influence of Social The findings of the study show
Hannisa Azzahra, Media on Adolescent that there is a significant
Khairan Syahputra Mental Health relationship between social media
Tarigan, Irfan use and adolescent mental health.
Azhari (2023) The use of social media can make
it easier for teenagers to access
98 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
No. Writer Title Result
information and make it easier in
various activities such as learning,
communicating, seeking
information and seeking
entertainment, however, the use of
social media requires self-control,
emotional regulation, and a
healthy mindset to reduce the
tendency to negative impacts.
5 Melani Nur Cahya, The Impact of Social The results show that excessive
Widia Ningsih, and Media on Adolescent social media use, exposure to
Ayu Lestari (2023) Psychological Well-Being: cyberbullying and frequent social
A Review of the Effects of comparisons on social media can
Social Media Use on contribute to increased anxiety
Adolescent Anxiety and and depression in adolescents.
Depression
Mental Health
American Psychology Association (APA) defines mental health as a state in which there
is a successful self-adjustment in the individual with psychological, emotional, behavioral
and social stability (Afriliana & Primadesi, 2024). WHO states that mental health is a
prosperous condition where individuals are able to realize their potential, are able to
overcome life pressures, work productively and are able to contribute to their communities.
Mental health itself is scientifically a science that talks about mental and soul care, so that
the realization of harmony between soul functions is the core of mental health itself. Mental
comes from the Latin word mentis which means soul while hygiene comes from the Greek
word Hugine which means science of health, thus it can be interpreted that mental health
science (mental hygiene) is a science that talks about human mental life as a complex
psychophysical.
The characteristics of individuals with a healthy mental state are shown by mental
efficiency where there are no neurotic emotional disorders, integration between thoughts
and behaviors, able to provide reasonable emotional responses, and have a good self-
concept. Maslow and Mittelmann (in Kartono, 2000) Describe a mentally healthy person as
follows:
1. Have a sense of security
2. Have insight and be able to provide rational self-assessment
3. Have the right spontaneity and emotionality
99 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
4. Able to control fantasy and wishful thinking so that it remains connected to reality.
5. Have the right life goals with a reasonable and realistic nature
6. Have the awareness to achieve needs in groups and individuals.
Technology and Social Media: Two Sides of the Currency for Mental Health
Literally the use of technology and social media has two sides of the impact on its users,
in short the positive impact of the use of this technology is:
1. Social support
With the advancement of media and technology, this can be a means to connect with the
social environment without time limits, making communication in sharing experiences and
emotional support that can support mental health carried out at any time without hindrance.
2. Access mental health information
Easy access to information and resources that can support mental health such as self-help
or online support platforms is the result of the development of technology and social media
in the digital era. Easy access to information and professional help related to mental health
can be an aid for healthy mental development at large.
3. Opportunities to express yourself
At this time, people, especially generation Z, have a tendency to use social media as a
place to express themselves, the majority of them use social media as a medium to express
themselves and find other people who have similar interests.
Technology and social media have become an integral part of modern life, both of which
provide various benefits in facilitating activities such as access to information, extensive
social connectivity, and opportunities to study and work more flexibly. However, excessive
and inappropriate use of technology and media will bring its own challenges to life. Many
challenges have emerged as a result of the use of media and technology in this digital era
such as cyberbullying, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), increased anxiety and stress, as well as
body image issues, and even other challenges such as changes in sleep patterns and social
isolation can arise which will then affect daily life.
Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior carried out by a group or individual physically
or verbally, in recent years with the advancement of oppression technology through social
media and technology has become rampant, this oppression is known as cyberbullying
(Smith et al., 2008). Cyberbullying is an act carried out with the aim of ridiculing, insulting
or intimidating others through internet media or digital technology (Gohal et al., 2023).
Prolonged bullying can have a negative impact on the victim such as psychological trauma
that can trigger increased anxiety and stress, social isolation where the victim tends to
withdraw from association and is afraid of facing further bullying, decreased academic
performance, to the tendency to self-harm to attempts to end life.
In the digital era with the speed and ease of obtaining information brings behavioral
changes to individuals, at this time individuals have a tendency to always follow and want
to know what is happening and even many of them experience anxiety about being left
behind in the information circulating, this phenomenon is known as fear missing out
(FOMO) (Bajwa et al., 2023). FOMO occurs in individuals who use social media excessively
with the desire to always connect with others, this can bring psychological disorders, the
100 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
individual's tendency to compare himself socially can trigger feelings of inferiority as well as
feelings of inadequacy which will eventually lead to anxiety and depression.
Maintaining Mental Health in the Digital Era
Globally the average person in 2020 spends almost seven hours per day using
technological devices, many people tend to make their phones the first thing they look for in
the morning and the last thing they put down at night (Vialle et al., 2023). This raises anxiety
in some users about the dangers of excessive use of technology that can affect physical,
psychological and social well-being.
As an effort to minimize the impact of excessive use of technology, many popular media
and research use strategies Digital Detox to improve well-being and balance the benefits of
using technology (Coyne & Woodruff, 2023). The meaning of digital detox is assumed to be
an effort to reduce the consumption or use of digital media devices (Nguyen, 2022), detox
measures also involve limiting the use of the device in certain places such as the bedroom, or
limiting the intensity of media use (Gray, 2023). In academic literature, digital detox is
defined as selective and temporary disconnection in the use of digital technology such as
smartphone, computers, and tablets (Mhone, 2023). Digital detox itself is not a magic
solution to all mental health problems, but this strategy can be an important step to reduce
stress, improve well-being, and restore life balance.
This section presents the result of the study, discussion, and the finding. The result of the
study provides the data of the study. The discussion section analyzes, compares, contrasts
the data with the relevant result of the other studies. The finding section serves novelty in
the form of generalization, concept, theory, formulation, principle, and postulate. The
discussion result and findings of the study need to be strengthened by an illustration in the
form of table or figure (graphic, diagram, chart, photo, example). Results and discussion are
at 70% of the article.
CONCLUSION
Generation Z grows and develops in a dynamic digital era, so they have a tendency to get
used to information technology from an early age, which makes the life of Generation Z
significantly integrated with the use of technology. However, high exposure to social media
can provide high social pressure, which affects increased levels of anxiety and stress.
The use of social media and technology in daily life has a two-sided impact on its users,
social support, access to mental health information and the opportunity to express
themselves is one of the positive impacts in the use of technology and media. Meanwhile,
the tendency to increase anxiety and stress, cyberbullying, body image issues, and social
isolation are challenges and negative impacts that will occur as a result of excessive use of
technology and media. Digital detox or the act of reducing or temporarily stopping the use
of digital devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones is one of the strategies in an
effort to reduce the negative impact of the use of technology and media.
101 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
REFERENCES
Afriliana, E., & Primadesi, Y. (2024). Kompetensi Literasi Informasi Topik Kesehatan Mental
Generasi Z Di Era Digital (Studi Kasus Mahasiswa FBS Universitas Negeri Padang).
Jurnal Keislaman Dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 4(3), 461–473.
Arrahmi Thahir, F., Adisti Hajarini, F., Nasution, K., Nazira Harahap, T., & Wulandari, V.
(2023). Kesehatan Mental Di Era Generasi Z Dalam Studi Kasus Smp Negeri 36 Medan.
JURNAL MEDIA AKADEMIK (JMA), 1(1), 223–231.
Arsini, Y., Azzahra, H., Tarigan, K. S., & Azhari, I. (2023). Pengaruh Media Sosial terhadap
Kesehatan Mental Remaja. Jurnal Mudabbir, 3(2), 50–54.
Azahra, A. S., & Hidayana, R. A. (2024). Game Online dan Kesehatan Mental Generasi Z :
Studi Kasus pada Remaja Pria di SMK MAN 5 Tasikmalaya. International Journal of
Ethno-Sciences and Education Research, 4(3), 101–105.
Bajwa, R. S., Abdullah, H., Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Munira, W., Jaafar, W., & Samah, A. A.
(2023). Smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior among university students : A
moderated mediation model by fear of missing out , social comparison , and loneliness.
Frontiers in Psychology, January, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1072551
Cahya, M. N., Ningsih, W., & Lestari, A. (2023). Dampak Media Sosial Terhadap
Kesejahteraan Psikologis Remaja: Tinjauan Pengaruh Penggunaan Media Sosial Pada
Kecemasan Dan Depresi Remaja. Jurnal Sosial Dan Teknologi, 3(8), 703–706.
Chanra, H. (2024). Dampak Penggunaan Media Sosial Terhadap Kehidupan Remaja.
Tarbawi : Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 13–24.
https://doi.org/10.51476/tarbawi.v7i1.578
Coyne, P., & Woodruff, S. J. (2023). Taking a Break : The Effects of Partaking in a Two-Week
Social Media Digital Detox on Problematic Smartphone and Social Media Use , and
Other Health-Related Outcomes among Young Adults. Behavioral Science, 13(10).
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13121004
Daulay, L. S., Mardianto, & Nasution, M. I. P. (2023). Literasi Sehat untuk Menjaga
Kesehatan Mental Anak di Era Digital. Jurnal Raudhah, 11(1), 25–37.
Fitriyadi, M. Y., Rahman, M. R., Azmi, M. R., Religion, J., Agama, J., Fitriyadi, M. Y.,
Rahman, M. R., Azmi, M. R., Ilham, M. A., Aibina, O. I., Hesda, N., & Al, F. (2023).
Pengaruh Dunia It Terhadap Perilaku Remaja Generasi Z. Jurnal Religion: Jurnal Agama,
Sosial, Dan Budaya, 1(2), 21–37.
Gohal, G., Alqassim, A., Eltyeb, E., Rayyani, A., Hakami, B., & Faqih, A. Al. (2023).
Prevalence and related risks of cyberbullying and its effects on adolescent. BMC
Psychiatry, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04542-0
Gray, B. C. (2023). Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching Digital Detox : One Strategy
for Establishing a More Ethical Relationship to Educational Technologies on Campus
Digital Detox : One Strategy for Establishing a More Ethical Relationship to Educational
Technologies. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching, 14(1), 1–11.
Kartono, K. (2000). Hygiene Mental. Mandar Maju.
Mhone, C. (2023). Effectiveness of Digital Detox Interventions in Mitigating the Negative
Effects of Social Media among Adolescents and Young Adults in Malawi. International
Journal of Psychology (IJP), 8(4), 43–52.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47604/ijp.2422
102 Journal of Education and Counseling, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2024, 95-102
Nguyen, V. T. (2022). The perceptions of social media users of digital detox apps considering
personality traits. Education and Information Technologies, 27, 9293–9316.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11022-7
Smith, P. K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., & Tippett, N. (2008).
Cyberbullying : its nature and impact in secondary school pupils. The Journal of Child
Psychology and Psychiatry, 4(4), 376–385. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-
7610.2007.01846.x
Sugiyono. (2013). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Sujarweni, W. (2014). Metodologi Penelitian. Pustaka Baru Press.
Twenge JM, Martin GN, Campbell WK. Decreases in psychological well-being among
American adolescents after 2012 and links to screen time during the rise of smartphone
technology. Emot Wash DC. (2018) 18:765–80. doi: 10.1037/emo0000403.
Vialle, S. J., Machin, T., & Abel, S. (2023). Better than Scrolling: Digital Detox in the Search
for the Ideal Self. Sage Journals.
Wulandari, J., Khairunnisa, N., Yolandari, S., Ro’uufu, T. M. ar, & Subagja, R. (2024).
Pengaruh Cyberbullying Terhadap Kesehatan Mental Pada Remaja. Jurnal Mahasiswa
BK An-Nur: Berbeda, Bermakna, Mulia, 10(1), 192–201.
