Generation Z — or Gen Z — describes those born around the mid-1990s to the early 2010s. The first generation to grow up entirely in the digital world, Gen Z has become a tech-savvy, socially aware cohort, willing to speak out on issues that matter to them. With Gen Z coming of age, their continued impact will shape the future with a new perspective and priorities.
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
Climate change, with its effects — ranging from extreme weather events to coastal flooding — all around them, is top of mind for Gen Z, which has spent its formative years feeling the impact of warming global temperatures. Not surprisingly, Gen Zers have a sense of urgency around environmental issues and sustainable practices. Many champion renewable energy, reducing plastic waste, and protecting natural habitats. Activists like Greta Thunberg, who belongs to Gen Z herself, have inspired children across the world to hold their governments and companies to account.
Mental Health Awareness
Gen Z is a mentally healthy generation, more individuals in Gen Z speak about mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and stress. They advocate for greater access to mental health resources, a stigma reduction, and more support in schools and workplaces. Social media is a double-edged sword in this issue — it may aggravate mental health issues, but it is also enabling Gen Z to share and find community around their experiences.
Social Justice and Equality
Gen Z is socially just and demands equality. They are fiercely committed to fighting racism, sexism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and other forms of injustice. This generation has taken on movements such as Black Lives Matter and #MeToo. Gen Z uses social media to raise awareness, organize protests, and draw attention to the actions of individuals or institutions. They also call for systemic changes, such as police reform, gender equality, and inclusive policies in schools and workplaces.
Economic Stability & Affordability
Many Gen Zers are reaching adulthood at a moment of economic instability. It’s a generation that is forcefully conscious of issues like student loan debt, skyrocketing housing costs and a challenging job market. They contemplate their place in the economy and look for jobs that provide them with a sense of purpose as well as stability. Gen Zers will equally blame older generations for leaving them economic time bombs like the cost of responding to climate change and the national debt.
Technology & Digital Privacy
Digital natives, Gen Z are well aware of the upsides and downsides of technology. They are social media and online learning superstars, and digital disruption is embedded in their DNA, but they also have concerns about privacy and data security and the impact of digital on their mental health. Many Gen Zers want tighter regulations on tech companies, as well as more transparency about how personal data is used.
Education Reform
Gen Z requires the pedagogy to shift to ensure students are equipped for tomorrow. They want schools to teach skills that are useful in real life, including financial literacy, digital literacy and emotional intelligence. Others are also advocating to make higher education more affordable and to offer alternatives to a conventional college degree, such as vocational training or online courses.
