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Young generation in crisis: How Corona changed social life
Kleine Zeitung examines the effects of Corona on the education and social lives of young people in Austria.
Young generation in crisis: How Corona changed social life
The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on young people in Austria, reports show. According to the Small newspaper Digitalization in schools has increased dramatically since the first lockdown in March 2020. Students received new laptops and tablets, but this also has negative effects: young people spend more time on their cell phones and less time socializing. Paul Kimberger, the teachers union, emphasizes that this constant use leads to a decline in typical youth life. Girls are increasingly reporting psychological problems, particularly irritability and depressive symptoms. National studies alarmingly show that one in five girls in Austria shows signs of depression.
The impact on campus life
The higher education sector is also affected, as Nina Mathies from the Austrian Students' Union emphasizes. Events are less attended and students experience enormous pressure to complete their studies quickly, which means campus life suffers. In many institutions there is not much left over online and hybrid teaching that was introduced during the pandemic, which leads to less flexibility in studies. The changes have also influenced the relationship between young people and older generations, as young people now look for role models who embody values and everyday coping skills.
The historian also analyzes Adam Tooze in his book the economic policy challenges triggered by the pandemic. He argues that the Corona crisis not only disrupted financial structures in the US and Europe, but also increased geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and China. While Western governments hesitated to respond quickly, China experienced a comprehensive containment strategy that shifted the balance of power globally. Tooze criticizes the failure of international organizations in the field of health care, which weakened global health institutions and affected long-term feelings of security among young people.