Is it the pandemic or it's a generation that has changed?

 

I've been observing how pandemic has impacted children since a while now. When pandemic hit first, children were at a greater loss than adults. Adults were already living much of their work lives online, a long while ago prior to pandemic. But school and college children had not seen online lessons. The concept of online learning existed for working professionals and the pandemic enhanced it in full swing. Learning apps got a boost for schools and skill upgradation.

What happened emotionally and psychologically with children is a lack of social space to interact and express themselves. We are social by nature and want to live in herd. It is our natural response to stick to our tribe to get the feeling of love, safety, security, belonging, recognition.

I saw the same stress and fear, many kind of question marks on my daughter's face too, when I would take her to meet people or our for a walk.

But another observation which I have made children who are in their teens are greatly influence by FOMO.


FOMO..have you heard about this concept. I think, we all have heard about it FOMO is the fear of missing out, fear of not being one among the others, or when others are meeting around and you are missed out. FOMO makes a person feel that I'm not included in the group, it's an anxiety of what would be happening when I am away.

I think in our times we called it pressure to do what others are doing, in a way peer pressure. This influence manifests in multiple ways.

1. Children who are not yet allowed by their parents to go to social outings or to school and their counterparts are doing to same.
2. Children who are yet not using learning apps are hearing about the same from their friends.
3. Children who are not having a play group or siblings of their age to share what their feelings are. Being in teens, they have a tsunami of emotions in their hearts.

So how do these teens react. I've seen so many grow up beyond their age. They act to please the society so that they can be included in parties and gossips. So many of them wear outfits which are over exposing their yet very tender and kiddish looks. Many style or even colour their hair, use gel, straighten, curl and even refuse to leave their houses without makeup.

They want to be hep and do what is the in-thing. It is sad that few parents also do not pay attention to this and think it's a part of growing up. I feel it's a sign of getting more dependent on how the world view is about me and I'm largely influenced by how my friends see me. The emotions developed will stay with these children for life.

Any thoughts?