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Influencers, Sephora Kids, Exposure Therapy & the Rise of AI: What It's Like Growing Up Gen Z | Ep.1
20 Plays4 months ago
Zainab sits down with her fellow high school grads to unpack the wild, hilarious, and sometimes overwhelming experience of growing up online. From TikTok trends to toxic group chats, curated feeds to doom scrolling, this episode dives into the real impact social media has had on Gen Z teens — mentally, emotionally, and socially. They get honest about comparison, confidence, cancel culture, influencer pressure, and how social media shaped their friendships and identities during high school.
To see the video version of this episode, subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thezainabkhan
Social links:
Website: https://thezainabkhan.com/
Zainab's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisiszainabkhan/
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zainabkhanpodcast/
Transcript
Introductions and Future Predictions
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello everyone, I'm Zainab and I have an amazing lineup today, my amazing high school friends. We have Yavunaj Getahun. She's probably the only one with that name in the whole world, except for your grandma, right? Great-grandmother. Great-grandmother.
00:00:12
Speaker
But she is like a future Shakespeare because she's amazing with reading and stuff like that and I'm pretty sure she's gonna go very far life. And then we have Leah Gibson.
00:00:24
Speaker
The every-bound Leah Gibson and... She's probably going to be a future TikTok star. You gotta have to go and follow her on TikTok. What's your TikTok handle? Leah G3A07. Exactly.
00:00:35
Speaker
exactly And we have Lisbeth
Social Media Usage and Preferences
00:00:38
Speaker
Kalazzo. She is an actress and we did not know that. And she appeared in KFC commercial. Can you imagine that?
00:00:45
Speaker
No. All that hidden underneath this pretty face. And then we have Sabrina for him. And she's all knowing. Like she knows all the references to all TikTok chronically all online.
00:00:59
Speaker
and she got restricted by TikTok for 30 years can that can't be like that till peak Gen Z no till 23 5 years 5 years I don't have a story but yes so we're gonna talk about Gen Z social media and how it has impacted us and our teen years growing up and in high school Gen
00:01:27
Speaker
So let's start with like what's the most popular social media app for you guys? Like what do you use? What are you always What use the most? Yes. TikTok. TikTok? TikTok. Yeah, like TikTok and Pinterest for sure.
00:01:38
Speaker
Yeah, TikTok and Pinterest. TikTok. I am not personally on TikTok, but I... That's good. That's what it is with sort of like Instagram reels and stuff. That does not help. And let's talk about screen times.
00:01:51
Speaker
I'm not supposed to know that? Yeah. Look at how I have mine, actually. Well, powered off my phone for this broadcast, because am all in. think mine has to be like four hours. Four hours? That's not five hours. No, you guys are all online. You?
00:02:04
Speaker
You five hours a day. i watch YouTube on my online. Yeah, use YouTube, but that makes sense. And Pinterest on my computer. Six, seven hours. Six, seven, six? Yeah, I'm probably the most.
00:02:15
Speaker
Really? You go first. Ten hours? on These days. skin Oh, now that we're on summer break. Yeah, now we're on summer break. mean, honestly, not. I have on my phone a lot, actually, so this probably not even going to be accurate.
00:02:26
Speaker
See? Yeah, two hours a day. Oh, that's... Wow, that's really good. Can you talk about what made you have, it like, two hours? Like, give us an advice or something.
00:02:36
Speaker
It's kind of probably just could because, like, don't... I'm not on my phone at all. Like, I'm not really texting and all that stuff, and I'm usually just reading or, like, writing or something. So I'm not on my phone, but I'm, like, on, like, computer technology stuff. Yeah, if I need to. What are you currently reading?
First Experiences and Social Media Awareness
00:02:52
Speaker
Oh my gosh, thank you for asking. I'm actually reading Rosencrast and Guildenstern are Dead and it's this Shakespearean retelling, it's a play actually, it's not even like a book, but but I'm reading the 50th anniversary edition and it's really funny so far. Thank you very That's all awesome Yeah, thank you.
00:03:08
Speaker
Wow, I love that question. Do you guys remember what was your first social media account? Yes. so music for but yeahs head start that's Oh, okay, musically. um at the handle at yaya underscore 4422 and for my name name I was so ugh I hated social media so much like nah didn't hate it like I was so scared of it so I did my actual name I put Alexis Walt and Walt for Walt Disney because like ah nah they're gonna find me so so yeah that was me you okay mine was the complete opposite I had Musical.ly in 2016 when I was 8 years old my my username was Gibson 23 my name was Leah that's good I think my first
00:03:49
Speaker
was probably musically and snapchat when i was like 12 and what my friends forced me to open it oh really and that was so we did snap just the people who asked me to open it. think Snapchat actually. Snapchat? Yeah.
00:04:06
Speaker
Oh, probably me. Probably abusing those filters. Really? I was. oh yeah, did the dog filter especially. yeah That was like an era. I would probably just use my mom's Snapchat for filters and probably I had like WhatsApp, but that was for communication. That was necessity, but not like social media.
00:04:25
Speaker
I don't remember. I would say, yeah, Instagram, Snapchat, yeah. I just remember using YouTube a lot. Yeah, YouTube for sure. I had YouTube kids. Really? I never had that. I should have had that probably. Yeah, I don't know. I had YouTube kids for like so long. Me too. I don't know.
00:04:40
Speaker
That's actually a good thing if you think it. Yeah, we were probably not exposed to a lot things. just go to YouTube.com whenever I'm at Facebook. Okay, that's not a big point. Because my whole phone was like childhood. Me too. Mine was locked until I turned 13. Exactly. So I was just like... Yeah, mine was not. Okay, let's talk about like what role social media played in our life. Like in friendships, high school, stuff like that.
00:05:02
Speaker
Like starting from middle school? or Yeah, we can talk about middle school.
00:05:08
Speaker
Like what if you didn't have social media growing up? Oh, i would definitely be really weird and out of the place. I don't think I would know what was going on in the world because I use social media to find out news. And I've been doing that like since i was like really young. I don't think any one of us watch news, right? No, I watched it the other day because I had nothing else to do. I just watch it on YouTube. like if like I don't watch it live. I just want to look it up like, oh, that's what's going on right now. I don't know. yeah i just We watch it on the TV. I also think i would just have no humor.
00:05:38
Speaker
I think all my humor comes social media. Yeah. and Definitely you have a personality. My whole so like humor is literally just 6'7", and like those stupid jokes.
00:05:49
Speaker
but And then you think, if I didn't have social media, I'd probably have like just like all book jokes. And that's like all like so quirky and stupid, I would not want to do that all. You'd probably be nerd. That's what you're saying? Yeah. Yes, I guess.
00:06:00
Speaker
so I mean, that's not a bad thing. No, it's not. maybe shouldn't have social media. I think I'd be more normal if I had to know that.
Social Media Restrictions and Family Dynamics
00:06:08
Speaker
media? That's a thing too. There's like cons and pros to social media. that's true. I can always tell when someone wasn't allowed to social media when were younger.
00:06:15
Speaker
Really? How? Because they just act different. That's true. They just... I don't just like Amish wives. It's just like... It's not a bad thing. It's just I can always tell like when someone isn't on social media.
00:06:28
Speaker
a I don't know how explain it. Could he tell what could yeah cause you on No, I knew you were on social media. Yeah, but like was i like did I have like easy access to it or what? Oh, no, you were on lot Spongebob, but didn't that. Oh, yeah, Spongebob, right? Yeah, that too. I feel like that was also of it. The only reason why I was so scared for my name and everything, because my parents, my father, everybody's going to steal their social identity, yada, yada, yada. I think that's probably why I'm not on, like, don't follow that now. parents would watch my TikToks and stuff.
00:06:56
Speaker
Bitches. Yeah. Let me hear delete things too. Like if the sound is... i mean, that's a good thing. There's a lot of people who don't have their parents on social media. How do you feel about that? like My friends don't have any of my social media because they don't have Instagram or TikTok. they I'm almost the only one who uses Facebook. Like that's it.
00:07:14
Speaker
So she doesn't... Like sometimes I show her what I post or like what my cousins like DM me or my friends and like... But they never see what I'm posting if I don't share it with them. So it's like... What do you feel about people who just block their parents on social media?
00:07:28
Speaker
That's... That's kinda... A problem. Pressure works. Like, do their parents know? Yeah. Obviously, they don't. like Like, would your parents know if if you block them? no and No, I don't think any parent would know you don't know someone blocks you? Yeah, can't know. don't know.
00:07:42
Speaker
Yeah, no, never parents. crazy. Blocking your parents is crazy. Well, my mother, she has... She actually has a lot of followers. I didn't even guess. I did not even know this. Apparently, she posts my dogs... and like i just posted random stuff about or like her life and stuff like that I didn't know that and she does it all in my heart and and yeah and she doesn't follow me.
00:08:01
Speaker
what? She doesn't follow you back? I know, like she doesn't want
00:08:05
Speaker
um kids nott curving stuff i didn't think about that susan no She's a really man, she just doesn't follow me. That's really it. What do you think about like when people find your parents on social media? They won't unless they're at home. I don't know anything about that. My mom doesn't post her face.
00:08:23
Speaker
My mom has a private account. They won't find my mother unless they're, like, a habisha woman in their 30s, like, just, like, wanting to, like, like dogs or whatever. So, like, maybe your mother or something? like and My mom's TikTok is all habisha people. So my mother. My mom doesn't have TikTok. I mean, my mom only has private accounts, so it's only people that...
00:08:41
Speaker
Like we all know like teachers and stuff like that. Like from elementary school. You're from elementary school. Not now. That'd be weird. And what about like y'all's feeds? What do you think about that? Like the algorithms?
00:08:54
Speaker
It's pretty accurate. Yeah, same. Which is kind of scary. You know, my feed is really boring. Really boring? Is it really? Especially on Instagram. What do you mean by boring? Because I don't like watch Instagram. I just look at people's posts.
00:09:05
Speaker
TikTok is even worse.
00:09:08
Speaker
real No, it's not like that. Like, my feed generally is boring. Like, it's like cat videos and, like, boring stuff. You like cats. Yeah, like, I don't want to sit for, like, at nighttime when I want to be entertained. i don't want to sit and watch cats.
00:09:21
Speaker
Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, well, mine's just Love Island right now. So I'm entertained. Nah, mine is What is mine? Mine is all... Matcha? Yeah, it's matcha, books...
00:09:34
Speaker
ah Role model. Just music. Just a lot of music. Those morning routine videos, like I just compare. like Now, if I'm thinking about it, like those are so stupid. like First of all, our school started at the butt crack of dawn.
00:09:47
Speaker
Had no time to do all those little exercises, to go get like you know all those little things in the morning. like No. Not even breakfast. Not even breakfast! Anyways, keep going. Again, this is so unrealistic. like Nobody does that. like What's the first thing you guys did when you wake up snooze.
00:10:04
Speaker
Also, I'm always on my phone when I first wake up. Yeah, I'm not looking at With my mask on.
00:10:16
Speaker
I know. Hair done, everything. Yeah, I think it would just be like, if kids go into like high school or whatever with like thinking that that's how it's gonna be it's unrealistic and especially if they still like figure out that that's not how it is but they still want it to be that way it can just make them be unhappy with the situation with life and everything to anger but the influencers like normalize a
Influencer Culture and Trends Impact
00:10:41
Speaker
lot of stuff that's not normal yeah like the bophouse oh yeah we don't know what to talk what do they
00:10:46
Speaker
I don't know about that. They have OnlyFans. Yeah, all of that stuff. is that like a good requirement? Oh, to make something that's not. And they're letting minors too in it. pipe barrocan No, she's just in it. She doesn't have OnlyFans. She can't have OnlyFans until he did she's a minor. But like imagine hanging out at that kind of house as a kid.
00:11:04
Speaker
Yeah, that's crazy. It definitely has a lot of And then like, we just think that's normal. Because that's on our feet. I don't think it's normal. Yeah. But like, it's normalized. No, but younger kids will think it's normal. Like, the concept is crazy. But when someone's in the walkhouse, you're not like... Yeah, you're not like, disgusting. yeah like I found out recently that they make... lot of money. Something makes like 5 million a month. A month? A lot. I mean, 40 million year. Yeah, I heard about year? She said that's how much she's making a year. don't know if she's making bunch money.
00:11:32
Speaker
oh that's and i think it more has like a really good thing but you have to blame the men you have to blame people buying this on young girls too like they think that they have to do this kind of stuff to earn money there's no other way yeah yeah you know but maybe it's also just like an easier way yeah yeah i'm not just thinking like a like yeah but i'm just saying like 40 million is crazy yeah it is crazy so do you guys ever compare yourself with other people online yes yeah yeah pressure this you have like Just yes. Do you want to talk about it? No.
00:12:03
Speaker
I don't want to talk about it but just yes. Yeah. And then what do you have like younger siblings or younger cousins or anybody that you see have like a negative impact from social media?
00:12:16
Speaker
You want to talk about it? I think the main thing is them not wanting to go to school. like Oh, yeah. To go to college and to just do things that are, like, help other people instead of just, like, making a career off your phone that doesn't help anybody.
00:12:31
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And there like a lot of things online where it's like, you don't have to go to college, start this, start that. Oh my god. It's just like selling the courses and buying the courses and not doing anything after. Pyramid schemes.
00:12:43
Speaker
Yes. Just buy and sell courses and just, that's it. And also they're growing up way faster than I think. Yes. Yeah. Like my little cousin is like 12. twelve She has a full skincare routine. What? Full haircare routine. She has like six little lemon jackets. Yeah. The makeup thing is crazy to me because I didn't like really start wearing makeup before.
00:13:02
Speaker
Like, almost every time I went out until, like, the end of junior year. Yeah. Wow. So I was, like, 17. Yeah, which is not bad. Like, how you... Yeah, but then now I'm wearing it at, like, 12 and 13, which is so crazy. Yeah, exactly. Like, they shouldn't be thinking about it. Because they're not going to have, like, a right perception of what their face actually looks like. Because they're always wearing makeup. They're still growing up. Yeah.
00:13:21
Speaker
Like, I don't think it's gonna, like, help them actually show or like themselves. We were talking about, like, support kids and stuff. Let's talk about, like, trends, because... Trends? Yeah, because, like, people just hop on and... I hopped on every single trend.
00:13:33
Speaker
but That's all. Like... Is it a good thing, a bad thing? I think they're fun. I think they're fine if we didn't have trends, it would just be... Our lives would be in loops. Yeah, I feel like it's kind of like a unity thing, too, because everyone's doing the same thing. Yeah, I like it. I like it.
00:13:46
Speaker
Yeah, it's a fun thing, for sure. But there are a lot of people who take it, like, to the extreme. Would you buy chocolate bar? Yeah. Wait, what? It's just a green and brown bar. That was thing.
00:13:57
Speaker
I don't know what that is. Oh, I thought it was like actually made out of... No. Yeah, that's what I thought it was. I want to like talk more about the school stuff. Like you said, a lot of people, like young kids, they don't want to go school anymore because of the influencer culture and stuff. Do you think schools should have a course or class about social media or how to... No.
00:14:16
Speaker
No. Or just like digital. I'd be so mad I got put into a class on how to do our taxes. yeah that's I'd be so mad if I got put into a class on social media. No. like econ we learn about like actual government stuff. We learn about the different types of taxes.
00:14:30
Speaker
Do you know how fall for taxes? Me? No. My mom did it. I didn't even ask like. Yeah don't know. So no. There shouldn't be like... No. We're doing enough. School doing enough. I don't know what I'm talking about. There should be a class called Current Events where literally... Because there's always something happening in the world like we always just need a day-to-day... Like, oh, guess what's happening right now? I don't see the point in having a social media class.
00:14:51
Speaker
What could they teach me? Yeah, I wish someone would teach. I wish a teacher who didn't even spend over half their life on social media trying to tell me. It was not us teaching.
00:15:03
Speaker
Who should be teaching about the pros and cons of social media? Gen Z, because we grew up with it. The influencer should be teaching the high bounce. Yeah, I feel like it's too early to even have something like that.
00:15:14
Speaker
Yeah. But a lot of parents just give their kids phones. Especially Gen Z parents. I think when they grow up, they won't care about their kids. I'm not going to have iPad kids. Oh, yeah. I feel like Gen Z is either... It's going to be on, like, opposite ends of the spectrum.
00:15:26
Speaker
One, definitely giving their phone... Their kids phone. I'm giving my kid a phone. mean, like, letting them, like, with... un What age? All that stuff. um I don't know. Like, my kid is going to have a phone because i know what it's like to not... To be left out and not have, like, contact with the iPad. Yeah, but I didn't have a phone until...
00:15:43
Speaker
like the like week before my freshman year of high school and i was fine like I had access to YouTube and other social media but I didn't have a phone to like take to school. Well had an ipod i I had an ipod I got a phone in sixth grade because I started sports and I needed to get picked up and stuff.
00:16:00
Speaker
Yeah yeah but that' but that's for a reason what about like just giving phones for no reasons. No. Yeah, for when parents give it to them, just to entertain them, I think that's terrible. cool Also, you want to be able to have contact with your friends.
00:16:12
Speaker
like I don't want to... have contact with my friends, but I think when parents give their kids... like or How do you have contact with your friends without a phone? With an email? was at home, I would have a tablet. Oh, yeah, so tablet yeah a tablet. I mean, I'm talking about social media apps.
00:16:25
Speaker
Like, should a 13-year-old have Instagram? No. I think it's fine. seven-year-old. No, seven. think teens are fine. That's too young. I think it's okay with restrictions, but not, like, just completely letting them... Or, like, letting them post themselves. But, like, how do you restrict stuff like Snapchat?
00:16:39
Speaker
that's like hey there's an i was wrong I wasn't allowed to have Snapchat until freshman year. Even Instagram. My like my brother had this like thing on his phone, like yeah like this called thing called Bark app or whatever. like You can't go on, it would just like monitor if like you need it. like You can monitor an app if you need to or something. I don't want to monitor my kids because I was never monitored when I was younger and I think that is why I have such a good relationship with
Parental Monitoring and Privacy Concerns
00:17:01
Speaker
my parents.
00:17:01
Speaker
Yeah, feel like if you raise your kids... Because they trust me. Like, the values or whatever, like, beforehand, like, you gotta make sure, like, they concrete, like, it's in their brain. But also, at the same time, like, kids are kids, so I don't know. I feel like you don't know. make sure, like, to make sure that you have ah like a, like, your kids are comfortable telling you anything so that if there is something that is, like, kind of weird on their phone, they would be comfortable telling you about it.
00:17:23
Speaker
But have you seen those, like... videos where like they um like this teen's talking to this grown old man yeah but it's always a setup not always but i mean like it happens real life too like a lot of young people yeah but you also can't blame the kid for sure but like how do you guide them like I'm not fair. My parents looked at my messages all the way until like freshman year. They would check my messages all time.
00:17:49
Speaker
But like there's stuff you can delete. Kids will be sneaky. Yeah, exactly. That's why I don't want to put like restrictions on them because they're going sneaky. But like what if they find bad stuff? Yeah. What if someone's like let's meet Like you can easily go to Twitter and find the craziest on Well yeah, always found bad stuff but just clicked off of it.
00:18:04
Speaker
Yeah, have but you're trusting your kid is going to do the same? yeah Well, my parents trusted me so like i don't know. I don't know, because some kids might just be a friend. Yeah, they'll be curious and they'll... Like, you know on TikTok, where they'll have like crazy videos and they'll like, oh, we can't post a thing here, go search this up on this person's account Twitter.
00:18:19
Speaker
And then you just go search it up to see what's going on. and I never search it up because I know it's going to something. I mean, that's you. You are a good kid. Some kids are not like that. some kids are not like that, for sure. mean What I like about it is just being able to stay in contact with friends. Like, I love seeing pictures of what they're out doing.
00:18:35
Speaker
My family's pictures, like I get to comment, and like... I think it's just a a little like less effort to make in order to stay in contact with somebody instead of having to call them or text them.
00:18:48
Speaker
So I think that's nice. Yeah, like when you move schools, you can still be friends with them and know what they're doing. yeah What about you, Adi? About whether or not social media is good or bad. Yeah. I think there's definitely a lot of good because, you know...
00:19:05
Speaker
I think we also might be brainwashed a little bit. I mean, I might a little brainwashed since I've been on it since over 10 years now. wow. Yeah, that was amazing. It's like, half your life. Over half my life. Over half my life. Yeah.
00:19:16
Speaker
No, I think it's good and bad. like But at the same time, like how good are the good stuff that they like outweigh the bad? You know what I mean? Oh, Let's talk about that. Like, pros and cons. Doomscrolling.
00:19:27
Speaker
right Yes. It makes time go by. It makes time go by. I'm scared. How much of my life... Okay, apparently, obviously, my screen time. Not too much. But like at the same time... At the same time, like like I don't know. like I don't want to live my entire life on social media. like I feel like we don't have any hobbies anymore.
00:19:47
Speaker
No, I've got a hobby. I have hobbies. I mean, i was kind most people, most people. They're just at home scrolling. The fact that there are extreme cases, like people who are on their phones 24-7, 25-8, that's actually really scary. But the thing is, like at the same time, like why does that make it bad as a whole? Because there are people like us who are like using a Or use it wisely.
00:20:11
Speaker
But there are people like who doing some crazy things. You know what I mean? At the same time, where's the line and all that stuff? I don't know. Where is it? Like, what do you think? Where should be the line? They set it up so that we're doing scrolls. Who's they? They.
00:20:25
Speaker
They... They like make the algorithm where you just scroll and scroll and scroll and scroll. I've heard about that. Yeah, and they listen... I'm so sorry, but your phone listens to you. They listen to You know Apple Watchers?
00:20:38
Speaker
Because Siri was listening in on people. Yes! Yes, yes. Also, I don't know if a thing with social media or whatever, but I know for a fact my phone is listening to because one time, I don't care. This going to in the podcast or not, but I think this is good.
00:20:50
Speaker
I was literally leaving work, right? And my friend's texting me. I'm texting my friend. My phone's glitching now. And then she's like she's like, okay, I'm on the phone with my friend. She called me and I said, I'll call you at home. And then she said, I'm on the phone my friend, so yada, yada. yada said, oh, okay, cool.
00:21:05
Speaker
I hang, no, I did hang up. I was texting her. And then, then all of a sudden, I'm in my car and my my phone is connected to my car. I could hear her phone call through my phone. I'm like, wait, what? And I could hear just people laughing, stuff like that. And I know my friends laugh.
00:21:19
Speaker
So then I hung up. was like, and I texted her. I was like, did you just add me to the call? Sorry, I'm driving. And then she like, I did not add you to that call. They are listening. I do not care. And you know what? That's how your phone, like, that's how your 40 page works. Also, i know, like, searching up and the cookies and all that stuff. But still, they're listening to you. anyways there i've been like just since i was like yeah sorry social media and it's my parents who put in my brain but I believe it so have you heard that like Mark Zuckerberg like he hides his like um laptop camera like with a tape or something yeah my dad makes me do that too my dad makes me cover up my camera that's my person oh sorry
00:21:54
Speaker
so sorry And you know how those people, ah the people who look create social media, yadda yadda yadda, the people up there, they don't let their own kids be using those things. So really, we the suckers?
00:22:06
Speaker
Not me! We're like a test trial. yeah They're gonna see how we end up. We're the test generation. Sometimes I just be thinking like, oh, like when I'm older, I'm gonna have like some like stupid like, oh, this is probably foreshadowing.
00:22:19
Speaker
Oh my God. access the by Like, we're gonna like all have something in our eyes or something that's gonna like be like the effect of social media or like phones in general. Because we're the newest generation with like, that's why we're Gen Z, Gen Technology. There are new diseases too. There's like a thing where it's like cute. I knew it, called it actually. Like your necks. Yeah, and stuff like that.
00:22:43
Speaker
And the headphones. And even like older people, like us getting old. That headphone thing is crazy. Yeah, the dents. I think my brother has one actually. That's crazy. And how old is he? I think we just need to be more... He's 14, 2015. We need to be more. need to be bored. Because I think about... Yes, we need to be bored. think about so many times where I was, like, in a group of people
00:23:02
Speaker
just out and I was I was bored and I decided to use my phone instead of maybe going to talk to someone like what if what if I just made a new front from that person but I just decided to use my phone and wasn't paying attention to like what was going on do you guys like use your phone on the toilet in the restroom no that's disgusting there are people who do that yes what I don't I'm sorry y'all are so fake because I literally see I literally always see people it's like sending snaps from the toilet and stuff that use their phones in the shower. No, I don't use it. There are people that do that in the shower.
00:23:34
Speaker
Anne Marie, bro, we need to ask. She does? do you wash your body and have your phone? Yes, one how? Like, where are you putting things, bro? yeah Like, also, how your phone not glitching out? Like, you have to put be putting your phone in rice every single day because I know you get water in your phone. And I feel so strongly about this. It's so horrible.
00:23:51
Speaker
Listening music sure. No, it's on your phone is crazy like I'm not sure on water shower. No, because they like can't shower exactly You're just standing in the water any dirty soy and And people flex about it be like yeah, I can't get off my no, and I'm saying actually when this gets a blue I'm setting this to Annemarie.
00:24:10
Speaker
I'm gonna I'm gonna say like go to minute 25.11 What do you think about like like What do you think about, like, social media having, like, this whole, what what's that, um exposure therapy, stuff like that?
00:24:25
Speaker
like Yes. Where they just go out. It's a type of therapy. I think that's a good thing. That's a good thing, yeah. Wait, what? Social anxiety exposure therapy where people just literally walk up to other people and talk. Rejection therapy, too.
00:24:35
Speaker
Oh, those things? Yeah. yeah, that's maybe good. But also, like, the pranks are bad. Yeah, I know. The pranks aren't even funny. think they're funny. No, like extreme ones. What pranks? Like on Instagram and stuff like that.
00:24:46
Speaker
Give me an example. Like where they put the buckets on their heads and that kind stuff. That's funny. People do. Yeah, they're like... But didn't you see the lady that literally fell and hit her head when they put the bucket on her head? Yeah. Oh, I didn't see that. Like there's funny pranks that we see and then there's like the people who try and go viral and do crazy stuff. Yeah, they do crazy things.
00:25:02
Speaker
Like there were some kids that kicked a guy on a bike. Wow. And he not fell No, don't know why they fell off bike. See, I totally, she does everything. I was thinking about the one where they go around cutting people's wired headphones. Yes, was just going to tell it. What if they want their wired headphones? Yeah, what it's like their grandma gave them, like it's the only thing they have. and People don't really have like respect for others. yeah I think just leave them alone. like yeah once i know And also, they're free to record anybody. Yeah, streamers. like They can literally walk up to and record it, and you can't be like, want on camera. Because then the whole chat's making fun of you. The voice chat.
00:25:38
Speaker
The voice chat is crazy. It's funny to watch, but it's not funny to experience. No, no. Definitely. Voice chats.
00:25:49
Speaker
you don't know you texas speech to text where whatever the chat says they can pay to make it out loud so someone could be streaming and like if you're in the background somebody can be like who's that in the back and it'll say it in a speaker and everybody will like turn it look at you.
00:26:04
Speaker
Oh. Okay. I mean it's actually so funny. Okay. Streaming is just crazy. It is.
Social Media Habits and Self-Perception
00:26:10
Speaker
Yeah but it also helps like Ray and Tota. Who? Yeah she talks from a university. Ray and Tota, they Tota came from the like the shambles of Brazil and now he's a big streamer because Kaisen helped him.
00:26:22
Speaker
and Yeah, and he found Ray in like a random gas station somewhere and now Ray's famous. Ray's hilarious. So it's it's like it does help a lot. like I mean, there's a limit, definitely. Yeah, I think it can help people start up, but I don't think it should be a career at all. Yeah, I don't think so.
00:26:38
Speaker
But like if if you do good with it, you see how much money they're making? I guess, but... Yeah, but at the same time, no. Put your energy into somewhere else. thats I think you should at least have a college degree before you become an influencer.
00:26:50
Speaker
Yeah. And once you get the college degree, you won't have time to become an influencer. Yeah. Maybe that's just good. Yeah. No, I think people should try. Okay. yeah By the time you finish college, like, that's, like, yeah your peak when people want to watch you. It's when you're young and you're, like, around their No, well, you can be in your 20s.
00:27:09
Speaker
Yeah, but if you're, like, starting now, you've got to go find a career. And, like, A&P, like, did they go to college? I don't think any of them finished college. But do you think that if something happened with, like, they got canceled or social media stock or streaming, like, ended for whatever reason, like, they wouldn't have anything. But they have so much money. No, but if they do cancel culture, they go back. I think they could retire.
00:27:31
Speaker
I just think that, yeah. What do you think of people who just post so often, like, 10 stories a day on Instagram. Oh, for the money. yeah No, like, our friends and regular people in general. Stop posting mysterious status updates you have no idea what you're talking about.
00:27:48
Speaker
Or, like, they post, like, Instagram for a day. I mean, if that makes them happy, why not? know, but it's just, like, What do you think? I don't know. Like, I'll glance at it and scroll.
00:27:59
Speaker
Yeah, I think this is too much. I think it's, I always just scroll where right past it and see too many dots at the top. Oh, yeah, that too. just don't reject people's door. I just feel they're so boring. Unless it's like my friends, I guess, unless it's yours. Or if i unless there's green circle around it. Nah, if I get your poster. that's really it.
00:28:17
Speaker
But how do you guys decide, like, how often to post? Or like, when to post? I try to post. once every two weeks. I don't know, if if I post, like, when it's, like, prom.
00:28:27
Speaker
Yeah, I would just post on, like, big events. Yeah, when it's prom, when I have a vacation, then I post. But, like, on my story, I don't post. I tend to post a lot because I think it's embarrassing. Yeah. i Like, imagine you brought it up, like, hey.
00:28:39
Speaker
That's funny. Because a story post is different than an actual post post. Yeah. Yeah, post post is, like, every big event I have. But, like, checking your story is actually funny. like mine yeah like your snap well yeah but if you were to physically post that be like but i'm talking about like yeah but like it's different when i have a public account my private account i just post whatever want my public account i take that seriously yeah me too because like people are watching like you never know well i think it's weird what is it the i forgot what it's called like the little voice notes i don't know what they're called on instagram threads yeah those things it's
00:29:20
Speaker
like i like there's no point yeah yeah like when they respond to the threads that people know yeah no it just seems so meaningless because i a story is fun because you get to like you can see who sees it and like some like most of the time people respond to it but the those things it's like who are you talking literally who are you talking to but also like an easy way to just like update about your
00:29:51
Speaker
but i feel like That's what Leah said about private accounts and stuff. Like, if you have private accounts and you know all your friends want to know about you, then you're regularly posting, that's okay. cause But on a main public account, what are you saying? like, that's where, like, okay. Someone commented, someone did, I miss you, da, da, da, but never mind.
00:30:08
Speaker
What are you talking about? Like, how is we all on social media and that one person doesn't find that cringe? Exactly. Like, can't you see? Oh my god. It's so embarrassing. It's true.
00:30:19
Speaker
So what do you guys think of cringe like content? What defines cringe? Rage bait? I think cringe stuff is hilarious. I know. I think it's so annoying. yeah Sometimes it actually bothers me. Yes. yeah like Do you think like more teens are wanting to be seen?
00:30:34
Speaker
like I don't understand. Like, it's just like, you know, want people to know. Everyone thinks they're special. Yeah, like it's like a celebrity something. Everybody thinks there are a celebrity. Oh, like attention craving? Yeah, like attention craving and all of that. Like likes and like that. Yeah, like you are defining ourselves with likes. Bro, when I was younger, I used to get so excited on TikTok whenever I'd get eight likes.
00:30:56
Speaker
I know, but now it's like you have 25 likes and you're just like, oh, is this 25? I think we just value like... How many, like how popular you are too much, like how many people know you, how many people know what you're doing. yeah like like hu kissper Just cause somebody knows your name doesn't mean you're not.
00:31:13
Speaker
it's just no i think i think Sorry. what lovely with The eight legs that I remember, I remember after fifth grade, the day after fifth grade, like after I graduate, all that stuff. um I posted on my Musical.ly, I mean like a Musical.ly or TikTok or whatever it was at that time.
00:31:29
Speaker
and I remember captioned it. I said, get this up to 10 likes if you're excited for middle school. And I got to 11. I remember.
00:31:39
Speaker
It was so, I was so happy. I was like, dang, like double digits is crazy. Like, and yeah, and remember like, nevermind, keep going. We had 11 likes like a big thing back then, but now it's like, oh, just 11 likes. Yeah. I'd be mad. Like 11 likes is like a first story.
00:31:52
Speaker
I know. Like we normalize that. But if you think like in in person, it like 11 people commented you were complimented you. Yeah. Wow. 11 people. yep And then we were talking about like social media and I was thinking like, um what do you think of like not being in the moment? like There are groups like we saw when we were in high school, like um the lunch groups that would just be on their phones all the time and not talking. yeah People to bring Nintendo Switches and their gaming setups.
00:32:21
Speaker
Ug. I feel like that's kind of in the moment but yeah It really is just school. Like it it really is just school lunch. But a lot of people even in like restaurants when they go out to hang out they're always on their phones and not talking. What's the point of hanging out?
00:32:36
Speaker
Yeah and you know how like how people like okay so I just you know chilies right? Yeah. Like, Chili's, Olive Garden, like that place that we went to for Homecoming, bro. They all have these screens with games and everything. And they don't even, oh my gosh, the waiters don't even be coming up to you anymore. Like, we can't even have a human interaction. Like, we just be paying a multi no like they we just be paying like multitudes of money through a screen.
00:32:59
Speaker
And I don't even be using Apple Pay. I'd be trying to, like, I don't even use Apple Pay. Like, I'd be trying to, like, swerve the screen, you know what I mean? And... What? We can't even do that anymore. definitely less humor interaction. think people are just addicted to it by now. Yeah.
00:33:13
Speaker
And it's not even that entertaining. It's not. It's not that entertaining. Okay, well, your feet isn't fun. That was crazy. Like, if we were all sitting here right now together and I just whipped out my phone, it would more fun to talk to you guys than being on phone. know. Like, the whole podcast is so fun. Unless we were all watching the same thing. Yeah.
00:33:31
Speaker
Unless, like, a movie or something. Yeah. But like we were all on TikTok and just sitting here. i know. What's the point of like meeting up? yeah Well, I like present people's presence. Yeah. Yeah.
00:33:41
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. But like that's like the thing that you do. And like the person is like so moody and then they're just on their phone and everything. And I'm like, okay, lighten up, please. And you know, all those things. yeah So oh with less human interaction, you have like AI on the rise.
00:33:54
Speaker
And then what about like careers at risk? like Yes. My career is not at risk. My career is at risk. Freaking, everyone's career is out to be. Yeah, everyone's career. TikTok influencer.
00:34:07
Speaker
And have you seen some Jij admitted like TikTokers and stuff? Yes, I've seen them. There's a guy like that campus because he made YouTube videos using AI. Like instead of him playing Minecraft, it was an AI version of him playing Minecraft.
00:34:20
Speaker
i What? You're not duping the system though. I can't be mad at that. you People really watch AI play Minecraft. If you're that smart to create something like that.
00:34:31
Speaker
And the program was so good, it sounded natural. Yeah, like you deserve the money that would even see? Because it was like a cartoon version of him playing Minecraft and he would just make the program instead. But he got cancelled for that.
00:34:42
Speaker
Why? wow Because we were like, you can't even make content anymore. oh wish I would. They weren't even oh like i could just pick another one of those sties or everyone a i ap apologize What about like music and like arts and stuff?
00:34:58
Speaker
Yeah, because they're already like AI doing songs. of you Yeah, but it's so good. too People actually do it. I bet you know it. It's on TikTok. Shut up. Is popular? know what you're talking about. An AI popular song. I know who knows it's AI. so What is it?
00:35:09
Speaker
I don't know what it's called. but Is it? Nah. Is it Sue Me? No. Sue Me. It's just like the scary part and no one knows it. I'm going to find it right now. And people are making commercials using AI. They're writing scripts with AI.
00:35:21
Speaker
I watched AI cartoon. The whole movie was a cartoon. It was made by Oh, yeah. i saw that one. Oh, that's so scary, though, because literally, I want to be a writer, bro. I know. People can literally, like, just... Shut up. That's AI.
00:35:35
Speaker
Shut up! That sounds like it, too. it's creepy.
00:35:41
Speaker
That sounds creepy sound now that I know it's It doesn't look AI at all.
AI in Education and Social Media Reflections
00:35:45
Speaker
didn't know it was AI. Yeah. That's so real. Oh, I never got that far. I only heard, ooh, The sound is gone now.
00:35:52
Speaker
It is? Yeah, it's essential it's not available in our country. Do you guys remember that kid from our school who did the peer assessment thing? old school? I know what you're talking about. Yeah, and he got expelled. Wait, He shouldn't have got expelled. Wait, what he he He found a way to like, um, see the answers on peer assessment.
00:36:12
Speaker
Oh. If he can do that. Give him the answer that he should have. Give him his diploma. Yeah. Exactly. Bro, if you were that smart, then you're cracking code. You made a whole program to cheat. And he probably gave it to other people. Yeah, he Like, there was probably more it than that. Now, that's the thing that can get you spelled, but the thing like, you create that code, I really don't think should get a spell for that. Yeah, just like what you said, take take him to a STEM school or something. don't think you should have. him out of that school. Get him to smart school. Or like a school that really specializes in that. Yeah.
00:36:36
Speaker
I believe that. I'm on your side. You watching. Maybe you will. Imagine he knows who he is. I don't know who he is. And I think there's like a university where like it leaked that they used chat GPT because like you know how chat GPT says oh here's the prompt for the thing. Yeah I saw that. Yeah like that's crazy that the admissions office and people like them are using it Yeah, even like our teacher, she said that she was teaching our class with ChadGBT, but that didn't make any sense to me because I was doing her class with ChadGBT.
00:37:05
Speaker
So who's doing the class? If she's teaching me ChadGBT and I'm going to ChadGBT answer, no one's doing anything. I've heard in like the media center, I've heard the people who, like the teachers who work there, just saying, yeah, I asked you PT what to do about this and how to do that.
00:37:19
Speaker
Yeah, so. everyone like just Teachers are not doing their jobs. Exactly. exactly Learning, like living life, bro. Like we're not. No, no, no, no. This is this is literally going to be an artifact.
00:37:31
Speaker
I'm so serious. This video itself is going to an artifact. But that's the same way they felt like when they were putting computers in schools. They were like, the kids aren't going to anything. But now could we do anything without computers? At school. No. Well, that's because we decided to. Also, they put up, it yeah, they did that to they're going to put AI in school eventually. But I feel like for a computer, you're still using your brain.
00:37:50
Speaker
For like, Chai Zipiti, it's doing that thought process for you. have not used my brain a lot. No, because you can like search up answer keys and stuff like that. Oh, yeah, you really could. Yeah, Quizlet. But yeah you can't find all of them all the time on computer. But for Chai Zipiti, you're like, hey, tell me the answer. But I've literally had teachers tell me, oh, yeah, like ask...
00:38:08
Speaker
you guys did were gonna do this thing where you ask ChatGPT for a prompt or a story and like build off of it, whatever. Like, wow. So we had this old ELA teacher, lame teacher, whatever, and she would make put our prompts into ChatGPT or like an AI website and make that graded for us. She never graded any of our papers, actually.
00:38:27
Speaker
Thankfully. Not a single one. Not a single one. My AP Spanish teacher used to tell us to put all of our essays into ChatGPT and tell it to grade us and give us feedback because she was never reading our ah essays and she would never check over any kind of practice that she gave us. She would say, oh, ask the person beside you or ask you at CPT because she never did it.
00:38:48
Speaker
She would just give us practices that she never checked over. was like, I mean, I feel like for like answer keys questions like multiple choice and stuff It's better to use tragedy because it's like boring but for like ELA like you have to read the whole thing seriously and she didn't read a single one poems and let me tell you Lang Wowzers. i mean, I love writing and everything. I just could not... I'm not somebody you can rush my writing. So I would be like... I would do like a paragraph and a half or something some sometimes.
00:39:17
Speaker
And then she'd be like, good job. Good work. Girl, good work. Did you read the work? No. No. So it's like it's like a natural human tendency to like cringe on our past self.
00:39:28
Speaker
Like if you see our middle school post, you just archived it or deleted it because it's like... That was not me. But you think it will be the same when you're in college and looking back to high school posts? Absolutely. 100%. Because I actually look back at the last week and I get upset.
00:39:41
Speaker
I don't think so. I know. You would think that's cringe. Well, you don't really, I feel like you don't post as much as I do. You don't cringe. Because you should cringe, but you don't cringe. Because I think, like, whenever I look back at my middle school things, like, what else was I supposed to be doing?
00:39:55
Speaker
Like, you have to be cringe. No one's actually, if you don't cringe at yourself, you haven't changed. Yeah, yeah that's true. Yeah. Well, I don't cringe at the stuff. I guess I would cringe if I posted it.
00:40:08
Speaker
Publicly. Every time I see my ear go today, I cringe. yeah yeah My flashback of the month, I cringe. And I know that a group of people saw it. yeah I had a musical account and would post random filters and stuff. And it's cute. It's not cringe.
00:40:24
Speaker
I have videos with my friends and stuff and I think it's cute. Because you're just a kid. I like that perspective. What were you guys posting?
00:40:35
Speaker
That's so bad. Even it's not that bad. It's not bad. So there are kids that post themselves saying the N word and stuff like that. Oh, okay, we're not that bad. I don't know. It's just like, I wouldn't judge my past self like that. Like, I was 10 years old. What else was I... yeah yeah yeah yeah one i definitely judged for sure But like, I feel like that's okay because I'm bitching myself. Like, you know what I mean?
00:40:57
Speaker
But I thought I'm critic. Yes, self-critic. But the thing is, like, if it's in retrospect from like college dot high school, I feel like the later years high school, i probably won't cringe into as much because you're trying to look, okay, well actually, whatever the good old days were, I feel like when I get to the good old days and I look back on the good old days, I won't cringe. I'll be happy.
00:41:16
Speaker
so maybe that's why pictures in high school are so cute. This high school was not the good old days. Yeah, you know what? Let me switch. You don't like high school? I'm sorry! Let's talk about that!
00:41:26
Speaker
You liked high school? Yeah. I mean, it wasn't bad. Yeah, it was a fun memory. It was good. Especially senior year. I love senior year. I love junior year.
00:41:37
Speaker
Guys, what's up with you? You love junior year? I would never, ever go back. I like the things we did in senior year. Maybe you guys had stable friendships. Oh. Or maybe...
00:41:49
Speaker
I wouldn't say that I'd go back, but I enjoyed it. i had a decent time. I learned. i Like, my memory of it is great. Yeah, everybody's experience was like definitely different. I think everything everything outside of like school, school. Like, when play tennis, whenever I hung my friends, whenever i was with my family, that's good. But just the school in general, I would never do that ever again. What do you mean the school in general? Like, friends or... Like, being in class. Both.
00:42:11
Speaker
All of it. Yeah. Yeah. I just think junior, senior, like, the entirety of it. Like, I just... Sophomore year? Yes, you. Sophomore year. Actually, actually, probably... Okay, this probably because of COVID or something.
00:42:25
Speaker
Because I did homeschooling for two years prior to going to public high school. And our public high school had, like, 3,000 students. um Literally... horrible, horrible mental image of myself, horrible this, horrible that, horrible that, and it just carried on to throughout the entirety of high school, and it just got worse as the years went on. Senior year was the best year of everything, though.
00:42:46
Speaker
Senior year was the best year out of everything, that's for sure, But let me tell you, not not me. And things I wish I had like a high school experience like that, I'm not going to say like, oh, nobody can, like, how the heck did you like high school? Like, oh, sucks, it sucks.
00:43:00
Speaker
Because understand how people could like high school and how people look could not love high school. I'm just saying I just hope that things get better from here on out. You know what i mean? yeah But I have a bad habit of, like, suppressing bad memories.
00:43:11
Speaker
Yeah, when I think back on high school, I think about like all the fun stuff we did. I don't think about like all the stuff I hated. You don't think about how you want to check out every single day? No, like when I think about it now, I think about the fun stuff we did in yearbook and when we would go like different classrooms. That's good though. I don't think about how the fact like I could not wake up to go to school any day.
00:43:30
Speaker
Like I hated was so boring to me. Yeah. so thats Yeah, but when I think back at the bad things, I'm like, it was not that deep. um yeah I had to get up to class. I actually think that it was that deep for me because like the s SAT, t the SAT prep I did, all the SAT prep I did, all the SAT, SAT that I did, the waking up early, all of that was actually hell.
00:43:50
Speaker
I mean, it was difficult, but it wasn't like i was depressed. Well, i no, it was really bad for me because I had tutoring, and I think that's what threw everything off. It was two hours of tutoring like every every other day, or every day. ah Like, yeah, no.
00:44:02
Speaker
I would never go back, but like when I think about it, I just think about fun stuff. That's good. really good. That's really good. Because I just think about... No, but that's not good because like then my memory's like warped. Because there was a lot of things I hated about high school. I don't even know that there are things... that I don't even know it wasn't picture perfect, but the thing is that... The the thing is that... Bless you. The thing is that like the first thing that comes to your mind are the good things. That's good. And I don't think that's what... Yeah, I guess, yeah. Yeah, that's what...
00:44:26
Speaker
I have those things, just not specifically for high school. You know what I mean? Like, if I go back to, like, let's say, like, competitive gymnastics or something, I'm not thinking of the hour, the conditioning, or the, you know, like, the competitiveness between, like, people. Like, I'm thinking about, like, the fun, is like, all that stuff.
00:44:40
Speaker
Nah, not high school. Let me tell you. There's literally nothing that comes to mind that was good about it when you first think of it. Me? for For both of you. For high school? Nah, not the first thing. It's the friends I made. They've got to be like at least the 75th thing for me.
00:44:53
Speaker
I'm so serious. No, but yeah, I have to say, if I didn't have good friends, I would have hated it. Yeah. Yeah, that's pretty good. I would absolutely hate it if I didn't have good friends. Yeah. It's like, yeah. It's just the friends, that that's all I can think of is the friends I've made, and that's the best thing. Mine is just everything in its entirety, as it's whole. So if you could give yourself an advice about social media, what would it be?
00:45:16
Speaker
Post less. Really? You can control it, it doesn't control you. Like you can literally, you can go on private, you can decide what to watch, you can search what you want, you can put your restrictions, it really is not that serious.
00:45:28
Speaker
That's a good one. Okay, something I would say to myself, I don't know. Go to Sabreen. would delete it. Really? Yeah, I would delete it. really yeah i would delete it Stay on YouTube. But you're still on it.
00:45:41
Speaker
Yeah. it's like But, like, I wouldn't give my kids unrestricted. I wouldn't give them TikTok. I wouldn't give them Instagram. they out then They would not get Snapchat. Okay, but we were all same we've all been saying that we don't think, that we enjoy it it's not that big of a problem, but we're also saying that we're not going give it to our kids, so.
00:45:58
Speaker
I said I was going to get to my kids. Yeah, you did. Because I've seen some crazy stuff online and I would not want my kids to see that. Also, it character development. Yeah, character development through what? Like, what's the cost?
00:46:10
Speaker
ah I don't know, guess I know what not to look at. Like, I've seen some crazy stuff and now I don't want to see it ever again. i guess that's true. But I wouldn't want them to see that in the first place at all. That's true. At all.
00:46:21
Speaker
Yeah, but I don't want child to just be confused. I don't want them to be left... Like, I don't want kids to... Like, how we make the jokes now, and, like, someone's just sitting there like, huh? Yes. Yeah, I don't want that. She pointed at me.
00:46:33
Speaker
Well, it's the truth. You always... Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It'll probably change this. Because by the time we're older, everyone will have social media. Yeah. yeah Yeah. Yeah. But i mean, I feel like we grew up on like watching television and stuff like that.
00:46:49
Speaker
But our kids, AI, social like... What? They're exposed to more advanced technology than us. And our kids are not going to like be up doing anything. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like...
00:47:01
Speaker
They probably wouldn't even think about anything. like They're gonna have those glasses. Yeah, the glasses. And they're just gonna fill out their homework for them. And I'm gonna take it right off of them. Which is concerning. like They wouldn't be able to like think for themselves.
00:47:16
Speaker
but Well, that's the way AI is going right now. but Let's talk about like whats what's one thing you guys like about being a Gen Z teen. And what's one thing you guys dislike? I just like how woke everybody is.
00:47:28
Speaker
I think that we're way too woke. Like, I'm not just gonna, I'm just gonna leave it there. But I like how it's, like, a community. Like, yeah Gen Z is very close to each other, and i think that's because of social media. So that's also why my kids are go not social media. And, like, we can make our own thoughts.
00:47:44
Speaker
isn Because, like, just because your parents believe this, you can believe it. Yeah. I think, yeah, I think we, I just like that we all have more access to information. We can make our own opinions because we don't just have our parents voice or our teachers voice like we can look up whatever but it could be bad if we're like looking at other one thing I like yeah probably um just the thing that you hear like Gen Z like be doing stuff like that like I mean don't know it's kinda cool yeah some of us do some pretty stupid stuff like
00:48:14
Speaker
No, no, I'm talking about it the good stuff. You know what mean? like When I hear about like the good stuff, like the the protests and stuff like that, like when I hear about it, or like when people are actually standing up like at their colleges or like the high school things, like those are like really good. The bad thing is really just how... Okay, the extremes.
00:48:32
Speaker
I'm talking about in extreme cases. How glued people are to their phones and everything. And and then also What do you want to say? how um like just say
00:48:46
Speaker
I don't remember. i just hate it. Just hate it. Okay, okay. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, like, okay. I was going to talk about, like, we didn't talk about, like, the Snapchat romance and everything. i hate those things. I hate, I hate. ah Oh, oh, Gen Z, how you just be going to the mall they be like, which was Snapchat. Like, hello, hi, how are you? Like, all those stupid ass dudes, like, are just, like, so, like, not even here anymore, and I just feel like we are... Chivalry is dead. Yeah, chivalry is dead. but like, yeah, just, like, those dudes like that, so, yeah.
00:49:15
Speaker
Oh, so, like, with social media and, like, internet in general, like, you talked about, like, how, like, um... we have a different thought than our parents. and Which is like, also talking about careers, like, in the past, um there families I know who are all like doctors just because their parents are doctors, their great-grandparents were doctors, and they just all want to be doctors.
00:49:36
Speaker
Because that's what runs in the family. So with social media and like just Wi-Fi in general, we know about different careers and we know about like, oh, this might be a good fit for us, this might not be. And so we're more open to like finding out ourselves and our passions and stuff like that.
00:49:53
Speaker
So have you guys found anything that you like wouldn't have otherwise? Because of social media? Yeah. Be informed about people? Yeah. like Maybe like something you do a hobby, passion, or just information in general.
00:50:08
Speaker
Um, regarding, like, job aspects in the future. Like, how did you decide you wanted be a writer? Oh, that's... Me deciding I wanted to be a writer, I've just always loved books since was, like, since birth, pretty much. Like, I'm so serious.
00:50:22
Speaker
And my mother used to just talk about books to me all the time. and And I used to, my mother used to take to the library and, Barnes & Noble and all those things. And specifically when I would, like, be in those places, I would... be the kid throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of the library not wanting to leave.
00:50:36
Speaker
And i don't know, I would just always just find myself sleeping and sleeping and dreaming about the next book I would read or something like that. like I don't know, it just always happened. And I would just be the person who like wanted to like show the class what I was writing or like I would make my friend draw all the pictures and all those things.
00:50:52
Speaker
And then I didn't know, like when you like love a job or like you love something, you don't really realize that people are getting paid. Like in the same sense that you don't know like, oh actors are getting paid to do what they do. i just thought they had a lot of money. It's like for me it was like I didn't know that writers got to get paid because I thought the payment was the writing itself.
00:51:11
Speaker
And then when I was like oh that's an actual job. i was like, oh I want to pursue this. Oh I want to do this. And then yeah, that's just never been like a no-brainer. Has like social media influenced your decision in way? I personally, No.
00:51:24
Speaker
but But social media did show that there was a community of other people who wanted to do the same things as me. So that's in that sense, yes. But not in the sense of me wanting to become a writer.
00:51:35
Speaker
So before we wrap up, what's one thing, one piece of advice you would give to the audience about Gen Z social media?
Final Advice on Social Media Usage
00:51:42
Speaker
Be safe. Yes, it just be safe.
00:51:46
Speaker
Yeah, just be safe. Watch out. Watch your back. Because as you mentioned, your phones are listening. Yeah. Yeah. And other people are listening too. Don't be going to weird sites and all that stuff.
00:51:59
Speaker
Yeah, cool. That's it. Okay, mine is to be yourself. and don't post any fake stuff because college admissions are watching. Your family could be watching.
00:52:11
Speaker
Your future husband, your future wife could be watching. Anybody can be watching. So be authentic and be real. Wow, that's a good one. Thanks. My God. um It doesn't control you. You can choose how much time you spend on it, what you decide to see on it, what you decide to share. So it's up to you.
00:52:29
Speaker
How it impacts you but for the most part. Yeah. Use it to your advantage. What? That's a good thing. It is a really good thing. Use it as a tool and not as a joke. we're going to be on there for like four hours a day, you might as well use it to find out about something you want to know.
00:52:45
Speaker
To learn. Yeah. Don't just scroll aimlessly. Yeah. For sure. And my advice would be to listen to all of them. so Oh, No, do you have anything seriously? No, actually, like, all... you guys covered everything.
00:52:57
Speaker
There's nothing to say. No, but seriously, be safe. Like, I was saying as a joke, like, be safe. yeah And the admissions committee part is so true. yeah People are not getting admitted to their colleges just because of social media. So it's just be safe. But also, just don't be saying slurs, bro. Yeah, don't be saying dates, yes.
00:53:13
Speaker
Because it's permanent. You're leaving something behind. Even after you die, it's there. Yeah. And you're just to regret it. It's like funny for two seconds and then it's not funny at all. Like that one girl from our school.
00:53:25
Speaker
One, two, three. We'll talk about it after we finish the podcast. So, yeah. Okay, bye. Bye.