Anyone, anywhere, anytime

Technology today can connect anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Social networking technology allows people to spend their time engaged in hypercompetitive struggle for attention, for victories in the currency of “likes” and it is taking its toll on the young people both in the workplace as well as in the homes.

People in general have a bent towards seeking social approval and are in fear of exclusion. This is why one of the bullying tactics employed by men is to exclude their victims from their circles. You see these in schools, workplaces and even in religious circles. To be “ex-communicated,” “disfellowshipped” or to be “defrocked“ are terms of exclusion punishment inflicted upon the poor souls not worthy of companionship.

Things are extremely different today. Through digital spaces and social media, people of all kinds (and ages) can engage themselves in a competition for attention and the mark of victories is translated in terms of “LIKES!”

I am very active with social media. Facebook has allowed me to reach out to a huge number of people perhaps even more than my radio segment or this column would ever reach. When I post a quote I get a multitude of responses but the more interesting thing is that many of the young people would send their personal messages and ask for advice.

My Facebook page (the “like” page and not the “friends” page) has a substantial following but with it, comes a great sense of responsibility that whatever photos, opinion, thoughts or quotes I present would reach out to millions of young people out there and they better be things that would help them live their personal lives, do their professional work or business better.

I have had eight young people (as of last count) expressing to me that they have entertained the possibility of ending their lives because of the pressures they face. I had to gently persuade them to consider better options and have met four of them in person. This is the way young people communicate and confide these days connecting anyone, anywhere anytime.

Tim Elmore is an educator. I have heard him speak in a conference in Atlanta and have read many of his books on parenting. He deals with the youth and has a firsthand knowledge on what’s going on in their world.

Tim Elmore says: After talking with thousands of students about what they think, I‘ve come up with 26 phrases we could hear from adults in the year 2030. Some are tongue-in-cheek, some more likely than others, but together they paint a sobering picture of what life will be like for the young generation (Generation Z) unless something changes.

1. “I’m really tired.”

2. “I’m distracted.”

3. “I’m obese.”

4. “I’m on my fifth career and ninth job in a decade.”

5. “I’m overwhelmed, but I’m dealing with it.”

6. “I’m impatient. I make short-term commitments.”

7. “I’m finishing a marriage contract of three years.”

8. “I’m reinventing myself constantly.”

9. “I have no innocence.”

10. “I’m seeing a therapist.”

11. “I love and hate my parents.”

12. “I’m bored.”

13. “I’m spending money out of control; a quarter of a million each month.”

14. “I’m depressed.”

15. “I’m in huge debt. I don’t see a way out.”

16. “I spend much of my home time online.”

17. “I’m living in a greener world.”

18. “I’m passionately following the reunion tour of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.”

19. “I’m stressed. I have little time to rescue my soul.”

20. “I pursue instant pleasure and entertainment and will spend to get it.”

21. “I’m medicated.”

22. “I’m living in a virtual world. (I plan to try a virtual marriage.)”

23. “I’ve learned to do things faster. My pace of life is accelerated.”

24. “I experiment with preferences in gender and religion.”

25. “I still want to change my world, but I’m cynical about the possibilities.”

26. “I’m a leader in society now, but I’m ill-prepared.”

We can already see several of the unintended consequences of this new world we’ve created for them – a world that allows for high speed, constant connection, sedentary lifestyles, pitiful relational skills, and a large dose of narcissism.

Tim Elmore continues: I have spoken to employers who told me they will never hire another recent graduate. I have heard teachers say they can hardly wait for retirement since they can’t do a thing about kids today. I’ve had parents confide in me that they don’t know what to do with their kids except scream at them. Often they are uncontrollable and confrontational with little respect towards authority. These students have far too much confidence and far too little experience to be left to their own devices.

Many of these young people are entering the workplace in just a few more years. And if employers and senior leaders have been whacking their heads wondering how they can deal with the Millennials they only have a few more years to figure out how they can deal with Generation Z that is poised to enter the work place.

Parents should train their children well. Not just in building confidence that might lead them towards arrogance but also to train them in the area of character development. Businesses should conduct values based seminars and trainings while the more senior leaders should also be trained in terms of leadership skills in how to engage, communicate, connect and tap into the precious resource of their energy and creativity. There is a lot of work to be done and technology cannot do this for us. In a world of high tech, high touch still prevails whether you “Like” it or not.

(Start the next year strong and start the next year right. Rizza Mantaring, Hidilyn Diaz, Jodi Sta. Maria, Carlo Ople, Randell Tiongson and Francis Kong will share lessons on how to achieve peak performance. Attend this one-day seminar entitled Power Up for Peak Performance! on Jan. 20, 2017 at Samsung Hall SM Aura Premier. For tickets reservation contact April at +63928-559-1798 or Michael +63916-187-1506)