In defense of the generation that documents everything

I finally caved. After months of proving I was above peer pressure, I bought my own digital camera at a flea market a five-minute walk from where I went to university.

- ANGEL MARTINEZ

My mom wondered why I had to participate in this relentless trend of reviving long-dead forms of technology, but hey, I’m not immune to the charms of pink handheld gadgets that come with cutesy stickers. When my digicam isn’t in my purse, it’s perched on a shelf, next to my film and disposable cameras, my physical journal that is home to mementos I pick up from certain places. Though the appeal lies in their analog nature, the finished product often ends up on my TikTok, Instagram and X as well.

This desire to excessively document and romanticize every aspect of our mundane existence is a symptom of our collective main character syndrome. It’s Gen Z’s go-to method for coping with the injustices of daily life, and combating a growing sense of disillusionment. It’s why my “For You” page is littered with snippets from strangers’ solo adventures – and why every girl has a separate main, dump and photography account. I’m reminded of Justine Danielle Reyes’ TEDx Talk, where she argues that Zers’ default “delulu” state is actually a form of resistance. We refuse to accept that life isn’t all it has shaped up to be, so we make more out of what is afforded to us.