The static-filled glow of a TV casts gentle light across a warm living room. A plush and worn couch cradles a child entranced in the welcoming world of their favorite television program. This image of contentment is a shared memory of many teenagers.

In a modern context, the comforting glow of a TV has been replaced with the harsh glare of a phone screen. No longer is the digital world a fantastical escape, but rather a reminder of the world’s expectations.

In a world that is constantly evolving, many members of Generation Z struggle to grasp hold of contentment in the present. This unhappiness brings many young people to find solace in the past, in the form of nostalgia.

Psychology Teacher Bryan Szweda defined the experience of nostalgia.
“Nostalgia makes us feel better. It’s a comfort thing. We are drawn to things that happened when we were younger, whether that be TV shows, movies, traditions, things like that, which actually releases dopamine in our brain,” Szweda said.

Generation Z was born between the years 1997 and 2012, a short-lived window of many forms of media. This period of time showcased the transition between analogue and digital technology, making the produced content of the era that much more unique.

Products of the time were often marketed with bright and quirky components. Yet because the world was so quick to move past this period of technology, that child-friendly environment was substituted for the showcasing of technological advancement. Even creative media sources shifted their styles of production to be more cutting-edge.

Freshman Adria Davies is a younger member of Generation Z, yet can still recall the difference in environment.

“I feel like people were more colorful and open back then, but now people are really judging and rude,” Davies said.

The evolution to a more progressive society has resulted in a harsher environment. Many find themselves pushed to extreme limits in both social and academic circles. This is another reason why younger generations idealize what they recognize as a gentler time.

The current world climate has evolved to the point of discomfort for many, as Generation Z struggles to find comfort in modern media. Sophomore Samuel Gurrola particularly values older-style products for this reason.

“I have vinyl records because they’re authentic. The lack of AI and the lack of this internet persona that a lot of people have nowadays, creates realness,” Gurrola said.

The pursuit of these comforts is also supported by the reality of the present day. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the evolution of AI, young generations are being set to impossible standards.

COVID-19 introduced new social dynamics that placed increased pressure on Generation Z, robbing them of experiences that would have defined their teenage years in a more positive light. Instead, they were forced to adopt isolated standards of interaction during their most formative years.

Meanwhile, the expectation of achievement has also increased. There is a greater expectation of success as technology has advanced. Leaving Generation Z in a high-pressure environment with fewer opportunities for social engagement.

This development is in particular contrast to the childhood customs that older generations experienced.
“When I was young, you would go out and play until the lights turned on. Nowadays, everything is so organized and structured and it makes it really hard for kids to just be kids. I can see that with my high school students. They are really driven but sometimes too much,” Szweda said.

School Psychologist Catherine Robison is also a part of a different generation, meaning that her life trajectory was less dictated by technological advancements.

“I didn’t have a cell phone until college and that definitely shaped and formed who I was, how I interacted with others, and how I behaved,” Robinson said.

In particular, social media’s increased role in society has pushed more negative and expectant ideas. These concepts are rooted in people’s minds and push unhealthy habits.

“I wish social media didn’t have such a significant influence and impact on the youth, but it does. Information, correct and incorrect, is coming at teens at a rapid rate and exposing them to real-world, real-life situations that they may not be ready to process or understand, depending on the child’s age and development,” Robinson said.

In today’s world, with so many social lessons being dictated by online sources, there is an emerging pattern of unfulfillment, leading Generation Z to sources of nostalgia where they feel they can find true contentment. Junior S. Pelayo often finds comfort in nostalgia.

“Nostalgia is the memory that seems to know me better than I know it. It’s fairly similar to recalling a dream, foggy, warm, and rooted somewhere deeper in me,” Pelayo said.

These moments of sanctuary that Generation Z is able to find in memories of the past distract from the ever-evolving society found in the present day and provide stability to otherwise busy lives. As modern happenings often aren’t fulfilling because they lack a deeper meaning.

“It can be difficult living in the world that we do today, with everything being accessible immediately; there is no delayed gratification, it has a negative impact,” Szweda said.

The culmination of these issues is what ultimately leads to the feeling of nostalgia. The combination of harsher, unstable environments, increased pressures and artificial experiences on Generation Z requires happy thoughts to recover from.

“It [nostalgia] can create a sentimental desire or feeling of wanting things to return to how it used to be or longing for that same happiness,” Robison said.

Ultimately, the freedom and joy of simpler times will always be the cure to today’s woes.