There are experts that believe people are becoming more like animals. People aren’t slowly morphing into animals like on the cover of the Animorphs chapter book series, but instead people are starting to act similar to zoo animals. Captive animals who aren’t in the right environment can develop zoochosis. Most cases of zoochosis are found in zoos since the animals are in cramped/unnatural environments.

Zoochosis is a term used when captive animals develop compulsive and abnormal behaviors that aren’t meant to be seen in animals. Zoochosis can be triggered by separation of natural habitats or behaviors. 

 With the introduction to social media in 2003, people had no idea the stress that was to come. The stress with social media definitely didn’t start when it was first introduced, but studies show Gen Z (1997-2012) and Gen Alpha (2013-2024) have been greatly impacted by social media. For kids and teens today, social media and phones are a normal commodity, but for adults and elders, phones are new. Most kids and teens don’t know how to function without a screen since that's all children have lived with. Gen X and Gen Y spent their childhood outside and had in person social interactions. Now children are being altered to being an ipad addicted kid.

People have been diagnosed with addictions for centuries, so many wonder what the difference with people and phones are now? Some are unable to know/accept that they are phone addicted since it's common for people to be on their phones more often. Similar to the zoo animals, society has forgotten what their natural behavior is. This similarity comes from how people respond to stress. Addictions can cause physical and mental challenges for the individual. Particularly with phones people tend to have increased anxiety, depression symptoms, attention problems, changes in eating, and sleep problems.

The difference is, zoo animals don’t have a choice to be in a zoo or not. Unless they break free which is unlikely with how people set up their “habitat.” If the animal would have an opportunity to be wild there would be problems such as not being able to fit in well since they are used to “finding” their food instead of actually hunting. Hypothetically, once the animal settles back into its natural environment the animal will experience positive and natural temperaments.

Where are those who feel humans aren’t meant to live constantly attached to screens. Just like zoo animals trapped in unnatural habitats, humans' minds and bodies struggle when their environment doesn’t match their natural needs.