The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2026 became a platform for a crucial generational dialogue with its session ‘Growing Pains: Gen Z and Preparing for Tomorrow’. The conversation featured renowned parenting coach, psychotherapist, and author Riri G Trivedi alongside University of Delhi professor and academic influencer Vijender Singh Chauhan. Educator and social worker Sujata Sen skillfully moderated the discussion, which plunged into the complex emotional world of today's youth.
The Parenting Pendulum: From Authoritarian to Permissive
Riri G Trivedi opened the discourse by highlighting a stark generational shift in child-rearing approaches. She contrasted the rigid, fear-based methods of the past with the often boundary-free style of the present. "My generation grew up with belt treatment, punishment, threats, one-way communication," Trivedi reflected. She pointed out that modern parents have swung to the opposite extreme of having no rules, which is equally problematic.
She explained the consequences of these extremes: authoritarian parenting can sow seeds for future addiction and depression, while overly permissive parenting risks fostering entitlement and a lack of discipline. "The hardest yet healthiest approach is authoritative or balanced parenting," she asserted. Trivedi emphasized that there are no easy solutions, stating that meaningful parenting requires consistent effort and engagement, rejecting shortcuts.
The Algorithmic Dream: How Digital Forces Shape Aspirations
Vijender Singh Chauhan shifted the focus to the invisible architects of Gen Z's ambitions. He argued that the power to mould dreams has subtly shifted away from traditional influencers like parents and teachers. "The agency to shape dreams no longer lies with parents, teachers, or even students," Chauhan noted. "It’s something else curating their aspirations — algorithmic."
He described social media content as merely a product, driven by complex algorithms that remain opaque to most users. This external curation of life goals, he observed, creates a unique stress paradigm where success and failure are both fraught with anxiety, as they are measured against algorithmically-fed standards. Chauhan urged parents to develop a critical awareness of these digital influences to better guide their children.
Finding Hope in Self-Awareness and Critical Thinking
Despite outlining significant challenges, both speakers expressed optimism about Gen Z's inherent strengths. They highlighted the generation's growing self-awareness, evident in conscious attempts to limit screen time, reassess social media engagement, and value authenticity. The key takeaways from the session centered on building resilience:
- Embracing failure as a part of growth and learning.
- Fostering environments for honest, open dialogue at home and in classrooms.
- Actively nurturing critical thinking skills to decode digital and social pressures.
Moderator Sujata Sen anchored the discussion with pointed questions on the evolving dynamics of parental influence in the digital age. The session concluded on a note of cautious hope, proposing that as traditional authority models change, what young people truly need is not stricter control, but clarity, compassionate guidance, and continuous conversation.
