The Relationship Between Social Media Use Intensity and Interpersonal Communication Skills among Generation Z
Keywords:
Generation Z, communication anxiety, digital communication, interpersonal communication, social mediaAbstract
This study examines the relationship between social media use intensity and interpersonal communication skills among Generation Z, particularly university students. Although previous studies have discussed the effects of social media on communication behavior, limited reviews have specifically synthesized how intensive, controllable, and text-based digital interaction reshapes face-to-face interpersonal competence among university students. This study addresses that gap by identifying communication patterns, psychological consequences, and emerging trends in Generation Z’s social interaction. A descriptive qualitative literature review was conducted through indirect observation and systematic documentation of scholarly articles published between 2016 and 2026. Articles were selected from [mention databases] using keywords related to social media intensity, Generation Z, interpersonal communication, communication anxiety, loneliness, and student interaction. The selected literature was screened based on relevance, publication year, academic quality, and focus on university students, then analyzed using thematic synthesis. The findings show that frequent social media use encourages preference for chat-based communication because it allows control over timing, wording, and self-presentation. However, excessive dependence on digital interaction may reduce face-to-face practice, weaken emotional depth, increase communication anxiety, and intensify loneliness. The review highlights that the main issue is not social media use itself, but imbalance between mediated and direct interpersonal interaction.
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