The number one way Oak Park High School students have fun is by hanging out with friends, according to a survey sent out by the Talon, which generated over 500 responses. However, “hanging out with friends” can take on multiple meanings which vary across generations. One of the most notable differences between previous generations and Gen Z can be attributed to phones and social media.
Today, teenagers still hang out with their friends, but it may not be in person. Teenagers have transitioned to talking with friends online and through other social media apps. Because older generations didn’t have these outlets, they were forced to meet face-to-face more or “phone a friend” if they could.
One is not necessarily better or worse than the other; meeting online, whether through FaceTime, Snapchat or similar means, can be a helpful way to bring people together, especially if you don’t have the means to be with them in person.
“I do think that when it [social media] becomes a comparison tool, or a way to invalidate the way you’ve chosen to spend your Friday night–even if that is a movie with your family and you feel good about that–the moment you see friends hanging out at a party you feel terribly about your decisions,” OPHS English teacher and alumni Jessica Wall-Smith said. “When social media is used as a measuring stick to see if your choices of how you use your time matter–it becomes toxic.”
Students especially can benefit from having these interactions at their fingertips.
“Honestly, now it’s using it to talk and study for certain classes,” junior Anika Amladi said. “We’ll Facetime to work on a project, assignment or test together. Sometimes, we also just talk about random things, relax, have fun and play games online.”
Other than hanging out with friends, 81.1% of OPHS students enjoy watching movies and TV shows, 71.5% practice sports, 51.4% do outdoor activities and 40.2% like the arts. Other common answers included reading, video games, baking and shopping.
“I think sports are the most fun thing I do,” junior Lia Langschultz said. “I love my teammates, playing and putting energy into it.”
The big idea is that having fun will always come down to connection, though the methods of doing so have evolved over time. Making connections with others is important and people should be able to have fun in whatever ways they can, granted that it is healthy for them.
“I’ve never regretted making a connection but I have regretted passing up an opportunity to,” Wall-Smith said. “I say that as a person who has now lived more life and I think I was a little too cautious during my high school experience. If I could do anything again it would be taking a chance and talking to more people around me, especially those who at an immediate glance seem different from me.”
