Chronically Online: A Blessing or a Curse?

by Izzy Mendez. 

Have you heard the term “chronically online”? You may even be one of the people contributing to this phenomenon. It’s a phrase people use to describe someone who is online so frequently, it skews their sense of reality. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t someone who can be chronically online. Endless, mind-numbing scrolling of TikTok, Instagram and Twitter can do that to you. Our generation is full of people who are online most hours of the day, whether it be for academics or personal enjoyment. 

While some people say Generation Z is chronically online, I disagree. Instead, I’d argue that we’re online and social media savvy. It is a positive skill, and we’ve been able to use this online community to benefit ourselves; for example, we’ve used it to support our careers. 

There has been a rise in young professionals using social media apps to share their résumés and experiences with companies they want to work for. The people who are judging others for being online are also spending their time consuming content online … So why not take advantage of the captive audience of social media users to help yourself stand out in the application pool? 

This trend of online résumés began with a creator named Jenna Palek. As a recent graduate during the pandemic, she was on the lookout for a job, but knew that many organizations wouldn’t be hiring. While searching LinkedIn, she came across a job opening for TikTok and wanted to stand out. 

“The app [TikTok] is all about highlighting your creativity, and I needed to do something else to be noticed,” Palek said to Kent State University. “What better way to show my commitment to this job than for me to create a video that explained who I am, my job experience and why I’m perfect for the position?” 

Just a week later, Jenna received a job offer from TikTok, who embraced her creativity. Other creators have similar experiences with different companies. For example, WaterBoy, a hydration recovery company, has hired interns and full-time employees because of their compelling social media applications and LinkedIn profiles. 

If you plan to use a social media platform for a job search, it’s important to make your profiles as professional as possible. While it is important to display your ability to think outside of the box, you also want to exhibit a strong personal brand that aligns with the company’s job qualifications.  

Ultimately, using your online experience to benefit your journey as a professional is a positive way to spin the “chronically online” narrative. Gen Z’s ability to navigate social media is a skill various industries need in their employees. Although being chronically online is something to be cautious of, we can use it to our advantage. 

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