Identity Inconsistency

A Review of Social Media Issues Affecting Gen Z Identity in the Digital Era

Abstract

Social media, with all its excitement, provides many conveniences for every generation, including generation Z. After the COVID-19 pandemic, social media (internet) have increased sharply. This is due to the situation that forced offline meetings to be eliminated and replaced with online meetings. This article will examine how far social media has influenced the lives of Gen Z and see what problems social media has caused for them. Gen Z experiences many issues due to their unpreparedness to face the digitalization that has been happening lately. The author applies the literature method by analyzing the concept of Solitude Theology proposed by Sherry Turkle as an alternative for Gen Z to overcome identity problems arising from the use of social media, such as excessive anxiety about the lack of information from social media, as well as addiction/dependence that has the potential to cause inconsistency of identity in a generation Z person. This research aims to introduce solitude as a method of "detox" in social media by getting out of the hustle and bustle of digital technology development through social media.