Beyond AUBG: The Global Loss of Community Belonging

As a sophomore at AUBG, I believe that our loss of unity is an issue the whole world struggles with, especially Gen Z.

 

After reading a recent opinion piece in AUBG Daily, I see two types of reasons for the decreasing sense of community at AUBG: internal, when it comes to the new strategic plan and Skapto housing crisis, but also external, as a part of a larger global trend of our inability to connect.

 

Even though our lives have improved drastically in material, educational, and informational aspects, Generation Z has a few bad habits that hinder it. These are being too individualistic, spending too much time with technology, and holding on to the behaviors from the Covid-19 era.

 

Let’s start with individualism. The Cambridge dictionary gives a few definitions of the concept, of which I find this one the most accurate: “the idea that each person should think and act independently rather than depending on others”. In many situations, such behavior helps us to stand out and be successful. I observe, though, that Gen Z uses this tactic far more often than needed.

 

In other words, we are relying excessively on ourselves, which leads not only to being too self-centered but also to feeling more disconnected and lonelier.

 

24% of the population worldwide felt “very lonely” or “fairly lonely”, as the report “The Global State of Social Connections” of Meta and Gallup discovered. What is more alarming is that young people between 19 and 30 tend to be lonelier than people over 65. Having in mind that often elderly generations have fewer social contacts, for me these statistics raise concerns about the development of the youth.

 

When we look at the report “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” of the Department of Health and Human Services of the U.S., it seems that my worries are justifiable. It shows that 30% of the households in the States consist of one person, and as many people in the country believe they can trust each other. Also, Americans spend more and more time alone. From what I see around me, not only Americans.

 

I am sure that these patterns would not be so painfully reinforced if there were not our phones. An article published by the addiction treatment center Sandstone Care says:

 

“Excess amounts of screen time use among young people also usually mean less time for human interaction. A person with internet addiction often isolates themselves and spends a lot of time alone or in their room.”

 

In this way, I believe we give our energy to scrolling and consuming online media. At the end, our brain is too tired to make some effort to communicate with others in person.

 

Sandstone Care also states that technology addiction causes “lack of social interaction and social skills”. This makes me think how often it happens that we are at an event or just waiting for class, and instead of talking to each other, we are staring quietly at our screens.

 

We should also not forget that we are still suffering from post-Covid habits. As a person spending nearly half of my high school years socially isolated due to the pandemic, I am observing how my peers are keeping a part of their quarantine behavior. We really often prefer spending our free time, not socializing outside, but relaxing alone in our rooms.

 

Another post-COVID burden we are carrying on our backs is mental health issues. As a result of the isolation, the mental health of young adults between 18 and 24 has suffered more severely than the one of older adults, studies reported.

 

How can we demand a strong sense of university community when we struggle to connect even to our closest ones?

 

And with this question, I do not want to encourage us to stop wishing for a stronger community. I want each one of us to answer for ourselves: What effort can I do daily to connect to people around me?

 

 

This article has been written by Maria Hristova, an AUBG student. It is part of the collaboration between AUBG Daily and the Newsroom course led by Prof. Laura Kelly.