on their smartphone and post to
social media. 5.3% avoid talking to
strangers, 10.5% leave early having
struggled to socialise, 56.1% do
other things. I’m curious as to what
that constitutes but suffice it to say
the main point of the party is lost
as the level of social interaction
and enjoyment is appalling. Who
Q. 3 45.6% Value lunch break as the bridges the gap and creates group
main time for peer interaction,17.5% interaction? Have our youth lost the
eat alone to avoid conversations. This skill to make friends?
is a growing trend globally as food
manufacturers and restaurateurs, Q. 5 Intimate life changing moments
are designing individual portion are still reserved for family disclosure
food packages and individual dining by 56.1% while 21% will call close
spaces. This was hitherto unheard of; friends,10.5% will share on Facebook
dining was predominantly a social and 12.3% chose other. This is dubious
event in most cultures. Millennials as it could suggest a preference for
are trending single dining. This is privacy or an indifference in regard to
because the remaining 14% are on sharing intimate matters.
the phone, 7% are on social media
Q. 6 The most encouraging result was
and 15.8% are off doing other things.
that 78% would try to break up a fight
Q. 4 At a party 28.1 % take pictures among their peers and the remaining
8.8 % mostly will and 12.3% will
desist. Family mealtime is another
pivotal window of opportunity being
lost whereby social etiquette, the
art of conversation, self esteem,
social interaction and bonding can
be modelled, demonstrated and
developed.
21.1% chose other suggesting that
none saw social media as a means
of promoting violence. Other, could
involve getting the authorities or
help or leaving the scene.
Q. 7 A Saturday ‘night in’ socializing
with family over food and fun is still
valued by 59.6%,12.3% will still be
on social media, 10.9% will rather be
gaming, and 14 % will choose other
things possibly clubbing, sleeping
or reading? There seems to be a
growing need to pass on social skills
to this sample of youth. It may be
the lack of these skills that is making
social media become, the ‘go to’
choice for social expression. It is not
so much the technology that is driving
them but the need for connection.
Our youth need to be taught how to
connect with people. p
By Petra Imani Nicholas
Creative Writer, Poet and
Blogger on SHARE XTRA
Questions
1. When you wake in the morning what is the first thing you
usually do?
• Interact with an electronic media i.e. mobile/cell phone,
computer etc.
• Have devotions i.e. Kneel and pray/read a scripture passage
etc.
• Go straight to getting ready for work/school etc.
2. When eating meals with the family do you usually interact with
your phone...
• Most of the time
• From time to time
• Only if I get a text, a call or a notification
• Never
3. In the lunchroom at school or work I tend to...
• Socialize with classmates or coworkers
• Eat by myself to avoid awkward conversations
• Spend my break on my phone
• Talk to friends about apps, memes & what’s on social media
• None of the above
4. When at a party do you
• Spend all night texting your friends who couldn’t make it?
• Take pictures and post them to social media?
•
•
•
Avoid talking to anyone you don’t already know?
Leave early because you find it difficult to socialise?
Other
5. Let’s say you just got engaged. What would you do first?
• Share it with my Facebook friends
• Personally call and tell my close group of friends
• Personally call and tell my family
• None of the above
6. A friend of yours is in a fight so you...
• Take a photo and post it to WorldStarHipHop or Facebook etc.
• Join in the fight with hopes that someone else will post it so
you gain mire likes and follows
• Try to break up the fight
• Other
7. What would you prefer doing on a Saturday night?
• Join your family for a family night playing board games or
watching movies and eating snacks
• Go out and party and take pics for your followers
• Stay home and interact with social media
• Stay home and play electronic games on my phone/PC/X-Box/
PlayStation etc.
• None of the above
January - March 2018
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