On the first episode of Youth Talks, we’re gonna talk about a topic that is interesting but also probably a difficult one to speak about in general. Online life is something that has become as normal as having a phone or a TV in the house. Something that was unthinkable before, has become an everyday occurrence. Despite that fact, there are numerous reports that warn us about the detrimental effects of technology overuse and staying online for too long.

We usually depict this with the nasty stereotypical “basement-gamer” archetype, which represents people who spend all their time and basically their lives in front of screens. But, if we take a critical look, we are all in the same basket. We are constantly looking at screens, seeking friendships and connections online, learning on the computer, and getting all our entertainment right here and right now. No more waiting for our favorite TV show. There is no more trying to be interesting to score a date. All has been replaced by the mechanisms of instant gratification.

To be fair, we have to argue all the positive impacts technology has had over the years. We have established numerous connections that were previously impossible. Distance has become an irrelevant factor and long-lost relatives have reconnected. A word that is very much noticeable in the previous sentences is “connection” or “connected”. It is the primary element of residing in the online kingdom. Is it all that dark though? How does the youth of today deal with more and more online elements in their lives? We’ll find out today on Episode 1 of Youth Talks by YOB, powered by becomingisi.com with your hosts Isi and Dejana.