Gen-Z is the loneliest generation in history since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global self-service ticketing and experience platform Eventbrite has announced The Social Connection Project in partnership with actress and executive producer, Marsai Martin.
Martin and Eventbrite have joined forces to curate a collection of free Eventbrite events to empower the goal of increasing social connection and decreasing social isolation in Gen Z.
As the world has gone back to regular programming, meaningful connections have diminished following a year of isolation and quarantine.
BlavityU had the opportunity to chat with Martin about social isolation in Gen Z, transitioning into her 18th birthday, mental health awareness in celebrities, and more.
“What’s special about this campaign is they pulled up with this amazing social connection project that helps Gen Z and just people around the world that just need to get back out there, especially in this time of crazy social isolation,” Martin said.
“It’s just kind of being away from our loved ones and our family and our friends and all the above. And it’s been a lot for most people. But unfortunately, Gen Z, even in the times of social media where we think we are the closest, we are at the height of being the most isolated generation in history,” Martin said.
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Eventbrite co-founder and CEO Julia Hartz is looking forward to building a community based on social interaction.
“Eventbrite’s mission to bring the world together through live experiences is rooted in the belief that people have an innate and irreplaceable need to gather,” Hartz said in a statement. “Every day, the events our creators host around the world are creating community, and we are amplifying their power with The Social Connection Project to create a world with more meaningful social connection.”
Despite how social media has become lucrative for generation Z from brand deals, entrepreneurship, and even working alongside some of Hollywood’s finest — social media has still put a dent in meaningful encounters and mental health.
“Find your group, find your people. Social media is not what it seems. Don’t look at the comments because that can easily be…. whatever. Just please don’t take none of it to heart, because respectfully, people don’t matter,” Martin advises her peers who heavily use social media.
“You got to constantly be supported by the people that you love, be in a space that feels like your comfort zone. Social media, there’s up and down to it as well. But I would say the thing that gets most people down is other people’s opinions and constantly people-pleasing. That is what social media is. A way to People, please. I get annoyed when people like, to people, please. I don’t like it,” Martin chuckled as she shook her head.
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Martin isn’t the only young superstar who has opened up about living life with depression or anxiety on social media; Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have previously shared their truths with fans about dealing with anxiety or depression during pivotal career moments.
Martin hopes her supporters and fans will recognize that depression and anxiety can knock at anyone’s door no matter the stature and that they can overcome it with the right people around them.
“I hope they take away that we are human as well. I feel like many people put us on a pedestal because they see us on TV, which I’m very grateful for, but that’s not the case all the time. None of us are,” Martin said.
As Martin gears up for her 18th birthday, she acknowledges that tough transitions come at every stage of life.
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“We all go through our ups and downs, and we’re constantly trying to figure out what is next? And like I said, I’m going through this tough transition at the moment where there’s constantly ups and downs. And going into my 18th, it’s crazy. There are even transitions for growing people as well,” Martin continued.
“It’s a weird period. It’s a weird time, and so many people go through it. So, yeah, hopefully people will take away that you are not alone, especially the people that you look up to,” Martin said. “We go through the same thing, and that doesn’t mean you guys stop aspiring to do whatever, but it should hopefully continue to push and do whatever you love and just achieve your goals in whatever shape or form because whoever you are looking up to is going to do the same thing. So you are never alone.”
Anyone who goes to Eventbrite.com/Marsai can get free tickets for Marsai’s favorite Eventbrite events for making new connections by using code CONNECTION2022.
