The mental health crisis is real. But should we really blame social media?

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NOTE - THIS MEETUP IS VIRTUAL AND WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLINE WITH EFF-AUSTIN'S ZOOM ACCOUNT. To join the meetup, RSVP to this event, and then click the link that you will be shown upon RSVPing. The meeting room passcode is 573615. Also, please note that due to the increasing popularity of these virtual meetings increasing the likelihood of Zoom-bombing, we have been forced to institute tighter permissions and security around meeting attendees. Going forward, guests will not be able to share their screen, unmute themselves, or message anyone besides the host(s) in the chat without permission from the meetup organizers. When we are in the Q&A portion of the presentation, guests can raise their hands and will be granted said permissions.

Our speaker this month is Anne Boysen. Anne Boysen is a data analyst and futurist with an interest in studying the first generation to experience their childhood and early adult years in the 21st century. ​​For the past two decades Anne has helped stakeholders in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations adapt to the new needs that are likely to emerge at the younger Generation’s next life stage. Anne enjoys dissecting the data to look for surprising patterns and weave these insights into compelling stories. Anne has a master’s degree in strategic Foresight from University of Houston and a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics from Penn State University.

Mental health issues are plaguing younger generations more than ever before. Only 45% of Generation Z report good mental health. Researchers are scratching for answers. And for a scapegoat. Just like the telegraph for the early 20th century and like cable television of the early 80s, technology is once again pointed out as a favored boogeyman. As disillusionment and negative sentiments are building up against powerful technology companies, we hear increasingly how universities, professors and whistleblowers point out new villains - social media. Or smart phones. But what if, in spite of all the headlines and click bait, Generation Z’s technology use is not the main reason for their mental health issues? And what might be the real causes of our kids’ mental health crisis?

From our friends at Make Every Media: Make Every Media's Virtual Media Lounge is opening its digital doors to EFF-Austin for a post-meetup virtual pub happy hour! Decidedly NOT zoom, this spatial video conferencing platform is the closest thing we've found so far to simulating an in-person kind of presence without a VR headset. With the freedom of four glorious directions of movement, you can leave and join conversations at will, grab a private table for two, play an interactive party game, search for old-school 8-bit rpg easter eggs, and more! This lounge is best experienced in a Chrome Browser on your computer. Visit https://MakeEveryMedia.com/MediaLounge the day of the event to get your day-link, and see you after the talk :)