"I'm Traveling Today" Snap at Airport Security... What About SNS Addiction? [Cheongchun Report]

After Placing Belongings on the Security Table, a Certification Photo 'Click'
CNN "SNS Negatively Affects Mental Health"
Countries Worldwide Wage War Against SNS

Recently, the trend of 'decorating airport trays' has been gaining popularity among young people overseas. It refers to arranging personal belongings in the plastic baskets placed on airport security checkpoints before international departures and then taking photos to upload. This appears to be a result of the young generation's desire for self-expression combined with an active social networking service (SNS) culture. However, some voices are warning about the side effects of SNS and criticizing this behavior.

'#Airport Tray Aesthetic' Trend... Over 16 Million Related Posts on TikTok

[Image source=TikTok]

Recently, foreign media such as CNN reported on the 'airport tray aesthetic' trend popular among Generation Z. This involves taking certification photos at the airport by neatly arranging sunglasses, shoes, electronic devices, bags, etc., or grouping items with unified colors. This behavior is known to receive great responses from those who found airports boring and sought fun. In fact, there are over 16.4 million posts with related hashtags on TikTok.

However, there are also many opposing opinions about this trend. CNN pointed out that "we live in a world where people take photos with flowers and paintings next to eggs and butter in the refrigerator," and stated that airport security checkpoints are inappropriate places for such concept photos. This is because airport checkpoints must maintain strict security at every moment without delay. Additionally, the UK Metro newspaper criticized it as a "trend that causes anxiety," saying "you could become the most hated person at the airport."

As the controversy grew, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated, "Taking photos is allowed as long as sensitive information at the security checkpoint is not exposed." However, there are many concerns about what consequences might arise if the trend intensifies. The New York Post pointed out that "delaying time at the checkpoint is an attack on the TSA."

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that SNS may negatively affect the mental health of the younger generation. CNN noted, "Our feeds are flooded 24/7 with other people's rosy moments," and pointed out that "social comparison greatly impacts mental health, especially for young people." They urged, "Life should be lived before leaving records."

Serious SNS Addiction Issues... Some Feel Fatigue

[Image source=Pixabay]

In fact, SNS addiction is a serious problem worldwide, and the situation in Korea is also severe. According to the '2023 Smartphone Overdependence Survey Results' released by the Ministry of Science and ICT, 23.1% of the population is identified as being at risk of smartphone overdependence. By age group, 25% of children aged 3 to 9, 40.1% of adolescents aged 10 to 19, 22.7% of adults aged 20 to 59, and 13.5% of those in their 60s fall into this category. Smartphone overdependence refers to a state where smartphones are prioritized above all else in daily life, and the ability to regulate usage decreases, causing physical, psychological, and social problems.

Especially among adolescents, who are sensitive to trends and find enjoyment in communication with peers, there is a tendency to become addicted to SNS more easily than other age groups. However, there are also many criticisms that SNS is increasingly used as a means of self-promotion rather than a tool for recording daily life, which fosters feelings of relative deprivation. In fact, the American Medical Association published research showing that adolescents who use SNS for more than three hours a day have twice the risk of depression. As a result, some young people are declaring so-called 'SNS detox' to cope with the side effects of excessive SNS use.

Countries Taking Action to Regulate SNS and Smartphones... US Proposes Warning Labels on SNS Like Tobacco

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As concerns about the side effects of SNS grow, countries are rushing to enact 'SNS age restriction laws.' In the United States, efforts are underway to require warning labels on SNS, similar to those on alcohol and tobacco, indicating harm to adolescent health. In Italy, moves to ban SNS use by youths under 16 are gaining momentum.

In particular, the Australian government has decided to set a minimum age for SNS use to protect the mental and physical health of adolescents. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared on ABC Australia on the 10th and said, "I want to see children put down electronic devices and go out to the playground. I want children to have real experiences with people in reality." He stated that the minimum age for SNS use would be between 14 and 16 years old. Australia is the first country in the world to promote restrictions on adolescent SNS use at the national level.

Some countries are also regulating smartphone usage time. In February, the UK issued recommendations to all schools banning smartphone use during class hours. Taiwan has been enforcing the 'Child and Youth Welfare Rights Protection Act' since 2015, which prohibits youths from using digital devices beyond a certain time limit. For infants under 2 years old, digital device use is banned, and parents who violate this law face fines of up to 50,000 New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 2.1 million KRW).