Overexposed Generation

Clinical psychologists' first-hand observation of adolescent psychological phenomena
Why are teenagers less happy, more insecure, and have lower self-esteem?

▌Overexposed Generation = Generation that grew up "overexposed" to the internet

In addition to oxygen, the air that the new generation of children breathes also contains the internet. Chen Pinhao, a psychologist specializing in adolescent counseling, calls this group of children who are "overexposed" to the internet "the overexposed generation." Through years of counseling and service, he has observed that the types of problems these children face have changed over the past decade from outward behaviors in their early years to interpersonal withdrawal, internet addiction, and poor academic performance.

The Internet: Changing the Types of Children's Problems

According to a survey published in the American academic journal *Abnormal Psychology*, between 2009 and 2017, the overall incidence of mental health problems among adolescents increased by approximately 50%, with electronic communication and digital media likely playing a significant role. All of this is likely a result of the combined effects of the inherent contradictions of adolescence and the online social environment, leading to a profound sense of psychological loss.

• Lack of purpose and low motivation; • Accustomed to a fast pace and lack of patience; • Prone to insecurity and anxiety in relationships; • More concerned about whether they are being noticed; • Poor concentration, fragmented thoughts, and lack of deep thinking ability.

Social media, Instagram, Instagram… interpersonal relationships operate 24/7, severely damaging children's sense of security.

The problems faced by teenagers are intertwined with the internet, and are snowballing.

"My classmates used to always reply to or like my Instagram stories, but this time there was no response..."
"A classmate I had a bit of a disagreement with today seems to be saying bad things about me online?"
"My friends aren't replying to my messages. Do they dislike me...?"
"It seems my friend created a group chat with other people and excluded me?"

Digital nativeness, blurred boundaries, and loss of personal space constitute the main psychological axis of the overexposed generation. As interpersonal relationships extend from reality to social media platforms, it exacerbates interpersonal anxieties among teenagers and becomes a trigger for emotional storms. Peer evaluation in the social world also means that children live in a world full of evaluation and attention before they have developed a positive self-identity. Yet, "self-identity" is the most important psychological development task during adolescence.

Accompanying teenagers through emotional storms and on their journey toward self-identity integration.

A teenager's mental state can affect the rest of their life.

Children's emotional reactions stemming from social and interpersonal difficulties, internet addiction, and conflicts over phone control are a common challenge faced by many families in the overexposed generation. Guiding children to become more self-aware can bring about change.

• Administer a "psychological vaccine" to enhance immunity to evaluation and shape self-identity. • Relinquish power in parenting to open up new communication patterns. • Avoid triggering feelings of shame, break free from the "learning = intelligence" framework, and rebuild children's self-identity.

Recommended by all sectors

Hung Pei-Yun | Clinical Psychologist, Author; Ma Ta-Yuan | Psychiatrist; Chen Chih-Heng | Counseling Psychologist, Bestselling Author; Chen Hsueh-Ju | Counseling Psychologist; Tsai Yu-Che | Founder and Editor-in-Chief of "Wow! Psychology"; Teng Hui-Wen | Psychiatrist; Hsieh Po-Jang | Cognitive Neuroscientist/Brain Scientist; Su Hsuan-Hui | Director of Pu Cheng Psychological Counseling Center

About the Author

Chen Pinhao

Clinical psychologist. Graduated from the Clinical Group of the Institute of Psychology, National Chengchi University, and has provided psychological counseling services to teenagers for many years. Believes that through sincere communication between people, a journey of life influencing life can begin. Author of books including *Understanding the Inner World, Emotions, and Behavioral Problems of Children Aged 6-12* (Hehe Culture), *Psychological Resilience* (Parenting World), and *Pausing the Emotional Storm* (Hehe Culture).