What is it about?
This article explores how digital technologies shape the attention, learning, and wellbeing of Generation Z. It argues that distraction and procrastination are not personal weaknesses, but outcomes of platform design that encourage constant engagement. The commentary highlights why educators and policymakers should treat digital attention as a structural issue and support healthier, more equitable technology use among young people.
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Why is it important?
Digital distraction and declining attention are often treated as personal problems, especially among young people. This work is important because it shows that these challenges are shaped by how digital platforms are designed, not simply by individual choices. By shifting attention from blame to structure, the article helps educators, clinicians, and policymakers better understand the mental health and civic consequences of constant digital engagement. It offers timely insights for developing fairer education practices, responsible platform design, and public policies that protect attention, wellbeing, and democratic participation.
Perspectives
We were motivated to write this article after observing how Generation Z is increasingly framed as distracted, disengaged, or lacking discipline across social, educational, and professional contexts. Such narratives often position young people as deficient or irresponsible, contributing to experiences of exclusion and non-belonging. Over time, sustained external blame may shape patterns of social withdrawal, identity fragmentation, and oppositional or rule-defying responses. Rather than treating these patterns as inherent generational traits, this work conceptualizes them as psychologically and socially conditioned reactions to persistent criticism and to digital environments structured around engagement maximization. The article seeks to shift the conversation from generational fault to collective responsibility, emphasizing the need for more compassionate, systemic, and evidence-informed responses.
Mohammad Asif Sheikh
Christ University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mindlessness by design: how digital platforms shape the psychological, behavioral and civic experiences of Generation Z, Journal of Public Mental Health, February 2026, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-10-2025-0179.
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