THE SILENCE OF THE SCREEN
OUR GENERATION NEEDS FRIENDS
NOT JUST FOLLOWERS
Our generation is the first to grow up completely surrounded by screens and the internet . We can connect with anyone and have many " followers " online , but a quiet problem is getting worse : many of us feel lonely , stressed , and sad . The more we look at our screens , the more disconnected we feel from real life and the people right next to us . This problem is not small . This paper explains why we need to stop chasing likes and focus on building strong , real - life friendships .
The main goal of this project is to stop the growing loneliness among young people by helping them build real and lasting connections . Our general goals for this advocacy are :
- To teach students the social and emotional skills needed for healthy relationships .
- To encourage face-to-face time over digital time.
- To get schools and communities to seriously support our mental and emotional health .
- To remind everyone that real friends are better than just followers .
The simple truth is that our screens are making us forget how to be good friends in real life . We spend so much time communicating through text and comments that we are losing the skills to talk , listen carefully , and share deep feelings with a person standing in front of us . This is the main reason why loneliness is so common . We are asking for help to bridge the gap between our online lives and our true , day - to - day lives , so we can all be happier and feel more supported .
We are asking our leaders to take three clear and immediate steps to help us make real connection a priority :
1 . Time to Plug Out : We need dedicated time at school where all phones are put away , and students are given a chance to simply connect with each other . This time is for practicing looking at each other , talking , and building bonds without the distraction of a screen.
2. Knowledge for Real - Life Skills : Schools must offer clear , simple lessons on social and emotional learning . This training should teach us :
- How to handle big feelings like anger and stress.
- How to truly support and listen to a friend who is having a difficult time .
- How to build empathy (understanding how others feel ) .
We need adults to take our emotional well - being seriously . We ask that leaders be trained as active listeners who will listen to our problems without judgment . This will create safe spaces where young people feel comfortable talking openly about stress and mental health .
