Technology is affecting the way we interact with each other more than ever before, but the question remains whether this is beneficial
or harmful to our relationships.The BBC's David Robson reported that many are conflicted as
to whether or not echo chambers truly exist in online communities, or if they are simply a myth.The "in-group pressures" she refers to originally referenced small groups of people, but in the ever growing internet age, it is clear to
see that this mentality is being adopted by Gen Z.
Endless amounts of news and information is now in the hands of youths and adolescents, and we are more susceptible than ever
before to false news and fast spreading gossip. The way we interact with each other is changing every day, and it seems that
sometimes the connectedness we feel through social media can take away from the connectedness we experience in real life. There are a multitude of group pressures that come from being involved in any sort of social media group or platform. Instagram,
Twitter and Tumblr all have subgroups that have formed out of these platforms, and these subgroups are allowing people to lose
aspects of their individuality. Many argue that this "connectedness" is a positive thing, as it can bring people together for common causes, and can create activists
out of everyday people.A Wired article by Sanjana Varghese recently discussed how kids from more than 119 countries were able to band together and
organize one of the "world's largest climate protests" by harnessing the power of social media. These children spread the word through the internet, but rather than going the traditional route and using massive Facebook groups
to spread their message, "youth activists made several Instagram and Facebook accounts, tailored to the events in their area that
would help them persuade the people they knew."Many worry that the downside to this method of sharing ideas is creating an echo chamber, meaning the ideas shared on these
forums and platforms are just regurgitations of previously stated ideas.Through the internet, groups we are forming, people are uniting for common
causes, and we are communicating across various platforms at lightning speed.The way Generation Z interacts differs greatly from just about any other previous generation.This paradox presents us with both advantages and disadvantages.