It’s 10 p.m. and I’ve been scrolling through TikTok for about 30 minutes. I scroll through comments about Taylor Swift’s Eras tour outfits. Then an impassioned critique of the Met Gala. Scroll through. A Greek salad recipe. I save it for later. Scroll through footage of anti-Gaza war protests at Emory University, my alma mater. The comments are a succession of forceful agreements and resounding disagreements.
A friend messaged me in a group chat about plans to go to an art market this weekend. I clicked on the link to buy tickets, but a news notification interrupted me. Presidential candidateIntentionWe argue with each other. How do we watch it? We don’t have cable TV. We swipe.
My sister sent me a reel on Instagram. I replied with a heart. I just had Instagram open and an ad popped up on Amazon for summer clothes that reminded me of an art market. What was I doing? I was buying tickets. Wow, $26? Do I have to pay for parking? I got another text, a reminder from Duolingo to keep my streak going. Did I reply to that email? It’s 10:35.
I am part of Gen Z and this is my nightly ritual.
The average age of Gen Z (currently aged 12 to 27) is200 notifications per dayAnd spend28.5 hours per week According to research firm dcdx, we are not digital natives, we are digital captives.60 percentMost of us can’t spend four hours offline without feeling uncomfortable.
But for most of us, our devices have become uncomfortable to use: What were once sources of connection, entertainment, and information are now bombarding us with ads, algorithmic recommendations, and clickbait headlines, not to mention the emotional toll that every scroll takes.
We watch news of horrific wars overseas and presidential elections, nestled between decorating tips and recipes at best and meaningless lip-sync videos and SHEIN deals at worst. The fast pace of today’s online life has many Gen Zers wondering if what they just saw is actually useful, let alone useful.
Time and attention are our currency, and brands, apps and platforms are willing to invest big money to reach young people. But many of my peers are starting to resist advertising, influencers and “hot takes.” Young people are calling for regulation, banding together to block celebrities and embracing the “de-influence” trend, which encourages people not to buy products shared online. If you spend $50, you get A “brick” that can lock or unlock different apps on your phoneI was just trying to stop the noise.
Who can help? An unlikely ally in this fight is an institution that has been around literally throughout the Civil War and exists in nearly every community in the United States: museums.
The museum has a unique approach to information sharing, which is like a life raft in this unforgiving sea: It moves slowly, sticks to nuance, and avoids online debates, which can make it seem outdated.Manufactured by usa national coalition of history museums, is helping these museums better use social media and respond to the news.
Museums aren’t necessarily better at this because they follow procedures that are clearly outdated in today’s fast-paced online world. Claims must be fact-checked, over and over again. Arguments are written by experts who weigh every word, considering how their writing will affect people from different backgrounds. One-sided opinions are not tolerated without balance.
In contrast to what you might see online, information from museums is careful. It’s thoughtful, accurate, and takes time. And it encourages you to make your own judgments. As a result, museums have become some of the institutions we trust most. And you don’t want a visit to a museum to give you a panic attack.
Museums are far from perfect institutions and have struggled to fairly represent all voices and stories—many have worked to rectify harmful practices and policies—but the speed and care of this work stands out in our busy world.
For example, newFirst AmerICan MuseumConstruction in Oklahoma City took 30 years.Our MuseumSan Diego museums were among the earliest institutions to return artifacts, taking years to consult with local stakeholders and ponder a collection strategy. Museums are not sitting by: They are documenting and collecting experiences and artifacts, from campus protests to COVID-19.
While it’s true that museums could do more to respond to the 24-hour news cycle, many of us are fatigued by our 24-hour attention spans. If you want to escape the barrage of online life but still want to engage with the issues, try putting your phone on airplane mode and visiting your local museum.
Cameron Katz is Manufactured by us,.
