2025/01/01 by Syafera, Tiana, Keyza Sabitah Mumtaz, Salsabila, Amanda
Social Sciences · #Educational Methods and Impacts #Education, Sociology, Communication Studies #Islamic Finance and Communication
paper · doi:10.17605/osf.io/4eb8y
Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp have become the primary spaces used by Generation Z to communicate, seek information, and express themselves. Generation Z refers to individuals born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, and they are known as a generation that grew up alongside technology, making them highly accustomed to using digital devices from a young age. Various studies indicate that social media carries both positive and negative influences on the personality development of Generation Z. On the positive side, the use of social media can encourage creativity due to the abundance of inspiring content and opportunities for users to create their own works. Their communication skills also improve through frequent interaction on digital platforms. In addition, their confidence tends to increase as they gain spaces to present themselves and express their thoughts. Social media also broadens access to knowledge and enables them to follow the rapid shifts in social values. However, social media is not free from negative impacts. Excessive use often reduces self-control and may trigger addiction. The ease of accessing a wide range of content can lead to the imitation of inappropriate behaviors, especially when young users are exposed to unsuitable examples. Furthermore, declining empathy, rising social anxiety, and shifts in moral values may occur when they are continuously exposed to content that contradicts established norms. The personality development of Generation Z is strongly influenced by how frequently they use social media, their level of digital literacy, and the quality of guidance they receive from family and school environments. These three factors interact and determine how social media shapes their ways of thinking, behaving, and responding to their surroundings. Based on these findings, this study concludes that social media plays a highly significant role in shaping the personality of Generation Z. Therefore, appropriate supervision, adequate guidance, and wise utilization of social media are essential to ensure that digital platforms contribute positively to the development of healthy, critical, and responsible individuals among today’s youth.