This Is What Generation Z Is Like

The generation that follows millennials is already making waves. Born between 1996 and 2010, members of Generation Z are on the cusp of becoming full-fledged adults and already are in some respects. 

They’ll be the most diverse generation yet, thanks to changing demographics across the globe. Their outlook is also shaped by growing up with an awareness of climate change, terrorism threats like 9/11, and globalism. 

It’s not just their worldview that’s different; they’ll enter the workforce with a higher level of education than any previous generation, but they still expect to make less money than their elders did at this stage of life. Here’s what else we know about Gen Z so far:

Takeaways
Generation Z is a diverse and digitally native cohort born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s.
They have been shaped by advanced technology and are known for their tech-savviness.
Generation Z is socially conscious, entrepreneurial, and adaptable to rapid changes.
They face unique challenges such as navigating a changing job market and dealing with mental health issues.
Generation Z actively engages in social and political issues, utilizing social media for advocacy and driving change.

Growing Up With The Internet

It’s difficult to call anyone a digital native, but Generation Z is the closest thing we have. Born in the 1990s and 2000s, this generation has never known a world without the internet or at least one in which it wasn’t readily available. 

They were raised on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram and have grown up with instant access to information through online search engines. 

As they prepare for college and careers, they are also uniquely attuned to issues that impact their generation: climate change; student debt; income inequality; the strength of our democracy; gender equality…the list goes on! 

This makes them some of our most engaged citizens: The majority are politically active or interested in politics (68%), compared with 57% of Millennials (those born between 1981-1996) and only 44% of Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964).

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They’re Anxious But Hopeful

You’re not alone if you feel anxious about the future of our planet. The world has been in a state of tension for some time now, and it’s not clear when things will normalize or if they ever will.

But don’t lose hope! Generation Z is optimistic about the future, and that’s one reason why they don’t just stand by as problems arise. 

They’re more likely than other generations to participate in volunteer activities or take part in social movements like climate change activism and Black Lives Matter.

They’re More Conservative Than Millennials

In truth, the exact values held by Gen Z are up for debate. No one knows exactly how they will behave as they grow older, and millennials have had a hard time figuring out what they believe in lately. But there is some evidence that Gen Z may be more conservative than millennials.

According to Pew Research Center’s recent study on political ideology, only 23 percent of teens aged 13-17 considered themselves liberal while 42 percent identified as conservative. 

The rest fell somewhere in between those two extremes although most still leaned toward the right side of the spectrum. (Just over half said they were moderate.)

However, unlike generations past where people who grew up during a recession tended to be more fiscally conservative.

This current generation didn’t experience such hardships firsthand; so it’s unclear whether this will translate into their future beliefs about money and government programs like Social Security or Medicare.

They’ll Be The Most Diverse Generation Yet

These teens are more diverse than any other generation. They’re also more racially and ethnically diverse than millennials and baby boomers were at their age. 

The silent generation (people born between 1925 and 1945) was the least diverse of all, so don’t feel too bad if you fall into that category.

As for religion, Gen Z’s religious affiliation numbers are similar to those of millennials; however, about one in four Gen Zers identify as atheist or agnostic compared with just one in 10 millennials.

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They Have Better Impulse Control Than You Did At Their Age

Having the ability to resist a choice is an important skill. It’s something that will help you in school and at work, because it allows you to keep your cool when someone annoys you. 

It also helps prevent bad situations from getting worse, whether that means not yelling at your boss for being late to work or taking the time to pay back a friend who loaned you money.

It’s also something Generation Z already knows how to do incredibly well so well that they may even seem more mature than their parents! But don’t worry: it has nothing to do with genetics or upbringing. Instead, it comes down purely to experience.

As mentioned before, Gen Z is more aware of consequences than any other generation before them.  

This means that when faced with decisions in life (such as whether or not they should buy that pair of shoes).

They are more likely than previous generations (like Millennials) will be able to identify what might go wrong if they make the wrong choice and then avoid making said mistake by choosing the opposite option instead!

Their Political Views Don’t Fall Neatly Into A Box

If you’re looking to place Generation Z in a political box, there are two things you need to know: they’re not liberal and they’re not conservative.

They don’t fit into the standard left/right model of American politics. They’re economically conservative they want lower taxes and less government regulation of business but socially progressive. 

This can be confusing for parents who grew up with traditional views on marriage, family structure and religion, but it’s also refreshing for many young people who like their freedom without feeling judged by society or religion for doing so (or not doing so).

They’re Realistic About Climate Change

Generation Z is less optimistic about the future of the planet than previous generations. In fact, according to a survey conducted by The Nature Conservancy and Defy Media.

They are twice as likely to believe that climate change is happening compared millennials and almost twice as likely to say they take personal action on the issue (43% compared with 27%).

They recycle more than previous generations too: according to that same survey, 70% of Gen Z thinks it’s important or very important to recycle regularly compared with 42% of millennials and 48% of boomers.

They Know All About Fake News

If you’re a Gen Z-er, you’re probably well aware of what fake news is and how it’s used. While it’s not a part of your life on the same scale as it was for previous generations, there are still plenty of people trying to feed their own agenda by deceiving people with lies.

This doesn’t mean that you don’t believe anything you see online or in print; quite the opposite! 

You know first-hand that there’s real information out there that can help people make better decisions in their lives. But when someone tells an outright lie especially if it’s meant to be harmful you’ll know exactly what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

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Social Media Is Their Preferred Form Of Communication

Generation Z is more likely to use social media than any other form of communication, including email, phone calls and text messages. 

In fact, a 2016 survey found that 93 percent of Gen Z respondents said they prefer communicating with others through social media than by phone or in person.

They Have No Patience For Stereotypes Or Labels Of Any Kind

Generation Z is the most diverse generation yet, and they are tired of being stereotyped. They’ll roll their eyes at you if you try to label them as anything but themselves.

“I don’t like the idea that there’s this one thing I’m supposed to do with my life,” says Amanda, a 16-year-old student in New Mexico who identifies as bisexual and is involved in her school’s LGBTQ club. She also loves judo, anime, and Harry Potter (in case you were wondering).

According to the Pew Research Center, Generation Z the cohort born after 1997 represents around 24 percent of America’s population, which is more than any other generation before it. 

But keep in mind that age isn’t everything with these kids: They’re also diverse within their own age group because they come from different backgrounds and have different attitudes toward issues like climate change or social media use.

Their Careers Will Look Different Than Ours

Generation Z is more entrepreneurial and socially conscious than previous generations. This means that they’re willing to work for less, as long as they get to be part of a team, or even better: equity in the company. 

They want to learn on the job and make sure they are able to grow within the organization.

This type of social consciousness extends into their careers in general; this generation is more willing than others to move from job-to-job and career path-to-career path (if a traditional one doesn’t suit them).

They Might Not Even Need A Brick-And-Mortar Business To Run A Successful Company

While it’s true that Generation Z is more likely to work in a traditional office setting than previous generations, it’s also true that they may not even need a brick-and-mortar business to run their own successful company. 

In fact, many companies are choosing virtual teams over physical ones because they allow employees to work from anywhere and create new opportunities for efficiency. 

The increased ability for companies to rely on freelancers is another major change that has happened over the past two decades: according to LinkedIn data, more people freelance now than at any other point in history.

This shift has been particularly beneficial for Gen Xers who grew up with technology at their fingertips and now want more autonomy over how they choose to live their lives and make money doing so! 

The gig economy is booming right now: according to Bloomberg Businessweek , there are 3 million Americans who consider themselves full-time freelancers (that means no 9–5 job). 

And many experts believe this trend will continue as millennials become older adults with families of their own; it only makes sense that younger generations will follow suit when they start building their careers too!

Education Will Look Different

One of the biggest differences you’ll notice in Generation Z is that they’re more independent learners. They will be taught to take responsibility for their own education, and they will be encouraged to learn outside of school as well. This can be seen in a few ways:

They will meet with teachers on a regular basis and plan out their own learning goals, but they won’t necessarily need help from teachers every step of the way (especially not at home).

They might choose an online course instead of one offered through their school because it’s cheaper or simply more convenient for them. 

Or maybe they just want something different than what’s offered at their high school or college and why shouldn’t each student get exactly what he or she wants?

There are many learning resources available online today (many of which were created by educators), so if your child doesn’t find what he needs in his classroom curriculum then it isn’t difficult for him to find supplemental materials elsewhere.

They Might Not Finish School With Four Years Of Debt Hanging Over Their Heads

You might be surprised to learn that Generation Z doesn’t necessarily need to finish school with four years of debt hanging over their heads. 

In fact, they might not even need a brick-and-mortar business to run a successful company. The education system will look different from what we’ve come to expect and the priorities of our children may change drastically as well.

This generation just wants to feel seen and heard by society in general, which is why we have seen so many movements like #metoo, Black Lives Matter and more. 

They want equal rights for everyone, particularly people who are marginalized or discriminated against because of their gender identity or race/ethnicity. 

This can also be applied when it comes time for them to enter the workforce (or even college) where there may be certain biases toward hiring based on how your last name sounds or what color skin you have.

Not because they’re qualified but because someone else thinks they aren’t worthy enough based on those factors alone!

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They Just Want To Feel Seen And Heard

One of the most important things that Gen Z wants is to feel like they are making a difference. They want to know that what they do matters and that their ideas are valued. 

They also want to feel like they belong somewhere, which is why many of them turn to social media as a means of finding their community. 

While everyone uses social media in different ways, for Gen Z it becomes an important part of their lives because it allows them to connect with others who share similar interests or struggles.

Generation Z Includes Anyone Born Between 1996 And 2010

To be a member of Generation Z, you don’t need to know any special handshake or secret password. You’re just someone who was born between 1996 and 2010.

You’re also probably the most diverse generation in history and that’s not just because you’ve grown up with technology that connects us all like never before. It’s also because Generation Z includes people from every race and ethnic group in America and even some of their parents.

In addition to being one of the most racially diverse generations, members of Generation Z are also more educated than any previous generation: More than half have completed at least some college education by age 25 (compared with just 35 percent for Millennials). 

And if those numbers aren’t impressive enough for you, consider this: More than 70% of Gen Zers say they plan on completing post-secondary education after high school graduation the highest percentage in more than 50 years!

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Conclusion

Hopefully, this post has given you some insight into what Gen Z is like. What may initially come off as a group of people who are “entitled” or “spoiled”, when you think about it there’s not much that differentiates us from other generations. 

Sure, we may have grown up differently than other generations but at the end of the day we’re all still human beings sharing this planet with each other.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on the characteristics and understanding of Generation Z:

What Are the Core Characteristics of Generation Z?: This blog post explores the fundamental traits and qualities that define Generation Z and their impact on society.

Generation Z: Britannica provides an in-depth overview of Generation Z, including their cultural, social, and technological influences.

On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Gen Z So Far: This report by Pew Research Center delves into the characteristics, behaviors, and perspectives of Generation Z as they navigate their transition to adulthood.

FAQs

What defines Generation Z?

Generation Z refers to the demographic cohort born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, following the Millennial generation.

How is Generation Z different from previous generations?

Generation Z is often characterized as digital natives who grew up in an era of advanced technology and connectivity, influencing their communication styles, values, and consumption patterns.

What are the key traits of Generation Z?

Generation Z is known for being diverse, tech-savvy, socially conscious, entrepreneurial, and adaptable to rapid changes in the world.

What challenges does Generation Z face?

Generation Z faces unique challenges such as navigating a rapidly changing job market, dealing with mental health issues, and adapting to the impact of technology on their lives.

How does Generation Z engage with social and political issues?

Generation Z has shown a strong inclination toward social activism and advocacy for various causes, utilizing social media and digital platforms to amplify their voices and drive change.