There’s a certain wonder associated with “The Wizard of Oz,” and I can vividly remember how astounded I was when I watched the movie for the first time. The transition from sepia tones to saturated color evokes the same reaction across generations: pure admiration and awe. The golden hue of the yellow-brick road, the vibrant Emerald City and the rolling field of crimson poppies immerse us in the scenery and transport us into the story. It is rare for a piece of media to provide the same level of wonder these days–mostly because the way we consume media has shifted. When every aspect of our lives is advertised for people to see, we will inevitably fall victim to the thief of happiness: comparison. Today’s media seldom provides wonder, but instead creates a comparison culture that fosters insecurities. 

Following the yellow brick road, we stumble upon a roadblock: Generation Z is plagued by an algorithmic illness caused by being chronically online. Symptoms include trolling comment sections, finding hate in unimaginable places, making judgments and reflecting this hatred onto ourselves. It’s something we need to learn to control, but unfortunately, it has become normalized and exacerbated by the digital universe we have been sucked into. 

The divide between the digital universe and reality has become blurred. 

My latest insecurity is my nose—all because of an ignorant comment a boy made, alluding to the fact my nose was big. Though never really an insecurity, it became one all because of someone else’s judgment, showcasing just how easy it is to trigger insecurity in someone else. Although I wish I could say I am no longer bothered by it, the comment still reverberates in my mind.

This reveals an even larger issue of Generation Z: the judgments we impose on others have only been intensified by social media. Unfiltered comments like the one I received are not unheard of—it’s as if we live in a comment section, free to say whatever we want with no fear of consequences. The problem is judgments have become normalized because social media allows them to be made freely. We put filters on our Instagram posts when we should be putting them on the judgments we verbalize to others. 

In an attempt to circumvent judgment, we create false personas online that feed into the impression everything is perfect. Underneath the carefully curated Instagram captions and smiling faces lie the insecurities that the digital universe has strategically dropped into our laps. Whether we see an elaborate vacation, a job promotion, posh brunches with friends, or the unattainable beauty standards set forth by social media, there is always something we envy and begin to measure our lives against. 

Bree Freeman, a Los Angeles-based boundary and confidence coach, says self-awareness is the key to feeling confident and secure in ourselves, especially when we start to compare ourselves to what we see on social media. 

“When I’m self-aware, I really don’t care what I see,” Freeman said. “I see people doing better than me on social media every day. Is it gonna make me question myself? No, because I know myself.” 

There’s a longing to follow the yellow-brick road and meet the gold standard we think lies beyond, but the truth is, it’s right in front of us. The characters in the “Wizard of Oz” lacked self-awareness, and thus began to doubt themselves. 

The Tin Man wanted a heart, yet he showed unmistakable kindness throughout the movie. The Cowardly Lion thought he lacked courage, but showed absolute bravery along the journey. The Scarecrow wanted a brain, yet his strategic thinking allowed the crew to make it to Oz. Dorothy made the long journey to the Emerald City in hopes the Wizard could grant her wish to go home, but as it turned out, the solution was in her ruby slippers all along. The same principle goes for us too: we have to find our version of the ruby slippers—the power within that comes from embracing our insecurities and restructuring moments of self-doubt. The movie’s countless adaptations like, “The Wiz,” Broadway’s “Wicked,” “Oz the Great and Powerful” and most recently, the 2024 “Wicked” movie, each embody the journey of self-realization and confidence, proving these themes are deep-rooted across generations and we are capable of embracing this mindset, too. 

When the scrolling turns into comparison and the self-doubt creeps in, it’s time to put the phone down. The content we consume contains judgments, algorithms and internet trolls, which fuels comparison—it’s a dark reality. However, a light peaks through in the form of media filled with authenticity and conversation: podcasts. 

Podcasts are “The Wizard of Oz” of today’s media—a hopeful oddity and exception to the typical nonsense we consume on other social media platforms. A place to foster conversation and authenticity, podcasts have become a form of trusted media. 

With the comparison culture we have created, Generation Z is beginning to realize what forms of media matter; Generation Z finds podcasts are “23 times more trustworthy and authentic than social media,” according to SiriusXM Media. 

Delanie Fischer, comedy writer and host of the “Self-Helpless” podcast said, “I think there’s just an intimacy with podcasting that you don’t get on a lot of other platforms…conversation is really what can change a lot of things when you can hear different perspectives in a respectful, calm environment. It changes the way people think and see the world.” 

The “Self-Helpless” podcast, which has garnered millions of downloads and has been featured on “Conan” and “The Tonight Show,” focuses on mental and physical health with a goal to “make people feel less alone with whatever they’re going through,” said Fischer.

There is a sense of familiarity, relatability and engagement within podcasts, which can never be replicated through photos or comment sections. Through these genuine, candid conversations, podcast hosts bring authenticity back to media and reject comparison culture. Even better, podcasts can be a calming solution when self-doubt takes over or when social media overwhelms. They can ease the mind, especially when they are self-help-focused, like “Self-Helpless.” With podcasts ranging from comedy, relationship advice and even true crime, there is an option for everyone. 

Media, though everchanging, will always be a constant in our lives, so it’s up to us to decide its impact. In a generation bogged down by insecurities and victimized by comparison, we need to stay self-aware and realize when media turns inauthentic. Just as “The Wizard of Oz” follows a journey of self-realization and emerging confidence, we need to restructure our feelings of self-doubt to do the same. Instead of saying, “If I only had a brain (or a smaller nose, longer hair, or whatever else)” think about what you do have; self-assurance and self-awareness are the most powerful forms of medicine to cure the algorithmic illness we caught. It is up to us to reclaim media as a source of wonder and trust and abandon the feelings of comparison that make us sick.

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Hi! I’m Kayla Friedman, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.