The scary truth behind prom nights/ Miekley: Teenagers are losing control

2026-07-06 21:44:00, Sociale CNA

In an interview with CNA TV, psychologist Bona Miekley said that Generation Z or Gen Z is facing a deep crisis of information filtering, turning the daily lives of young people into a real challenge in the face of digital dangers. Unlike previous generations, where access to technology was limited, today's children are exposed without any shield to social platforms like TikTok from the age of 11.

This uncontrolled flow normalizes harmful behaviors, increasing social pressure to conform to often dangerous and superficial standards. This phenomenon is clearly reflected in graduation parties and proms. For 17- and 18-year-olds, the focus has often lost sight of the true essence of academic achievement.

Instead of celebrating the end of a cycle and the beginning of new dreams, the focus has shifted entirely to outward appearance. In order to be accepted by their circle, graduates feel compelled to appear in expensive clothes and certain brands, turning the celebration into an image catwalk without considering what they really represent. However, the greatest alarm comes from even younger ages. This phenomenon is not limited to those who are finishing high school, but has also deeply affected the so-called "mini-graders".

Students aged 14 and 15, at the end of their nine-year schooling cycle, are using luxury cars and flashy clothes simply to prove their worth to society. This display of luxury at such a young age highlights a desperate need for approval through material assets.

" Now it is very important to understand that we are living in a generation that is the Gen Z generation. The Gen Z generation, which compared to other generations, is much more accessible and information filters no longer exist. That is, today's young people, today's teenagers, 17-18 year olds, fourth year students, those who are experimenting with that high school graduation, in their daily lives they are exposed to a lot of information, whether it is healthy or harmful. But because there is no filter, anything harmful can seem normal. Because there is no specific filter. That before, previous generations, maybe their parents didn't just have a television, while today everyone, starting from the age of 11, 12, 13, has a cell phone that can access social networks, such as TikTok for example, which is the most popular social network for children and teenagers, for young people who "They get this information that is very harmful. So, it often happens that to be accepted in society, you have to be the same as society suggests. Whether this is healthy or harmful ," the psychologist said./CNA