Antisocial Behavior in Generation Z and the Role of Parenting in the Digital Age: A Review

Generations are the roots of the present; one becomes what their genes carry. Modernisation is not at the door; it has already entered and become ingrained in our veins. There is a clear hierarchy from previous to present generations according to their born year, to being traits reflected in a particular era. Generation Z was born from 1997 to 2012, also known as ‘Zoomers’. Generation Z is the first group of people to grow up using the internet and digital devices like smartphones from a young age. That’s why they are often referred to as “digital natives”. Antisocial behavior refers to actions that violate social norms and harm others or the community. Habits like lying, being aggressive, or breaking social rules. It begins during childhood and can worsen over time if nothing is done to stop it. Factors include poor parenting, peer pressure, and mental health problems usually play an important role in how it develops. This review aims to check how antisocial behavior is becoming more common among Generation Z, especially due to the advancement of the internet. Compared to older generations, Gen Z shows more signs of this behavior, partly because of how they were raised, how much time they spend online, and the challenges in their life have overall impacted their mental health. The trending social media has made it easier for these negative behaviors to show up and spread. To sum up altogether, antisocial behavior is a complicated issue that is shaped by many personal, social, and environmental factors and affects every generation in some way or the other ways. Apparently, at the same time, technology—especially artificial intelligence—can also be the solution. AI tools can help detect harmful behavior online and reduce its impact. Other important factors include one’s family relationships, how impulsive someone is, how empathetic a person is, and their early life experiences. To prevent such behavior, it is important to teach Generation Z how to use digital spaces responsibly, encourage positive and social activities, and support parents in guiding their children.