Let’s get to know the next generation!

I’m taking inventory, people …. of the Gen Z’ers.Who are they? There might be one lurking in your house inside a room that smells like a possum died. Or you might be sitting in a classroom with a bunch of them like me! They’re born between 1997-2012 and currently 11-26 years old.

How many are there?

There’s 70 million of them! Yowzers! Should we be scared? Worried? Hopeful? Excited? Let’s first get down to the nitty gritty and take a peak into their generational DNA. What kind of world were they born into? Ones with i-phones literally in their faces as soon as they popped out of mama. They are the first true “digital natives”, having never existed in a non-connected world.

What’s their average attention span?

And holy moly, guacamole … their average attention span is only 8 seconds. So if you’ve got something to say to them, you better get to the point … PRONTO! Their eye contact is at a bare minimum yet their essence is in the right place. Kind, compassionate and empathic beyond belief, these Gen Z’ers have brought us closer to a more inclusive world.

What’s their outlook on life?

After sitting in a classroom with 25 Gen Z’ers, here’s what I learned about these fabulous, corky and not so dorky population:

1. They don’t sweat the small stuff;

2. They don’t choose traditionally practical careers – their focus is on reliable income which oftentimes means less school;

3. They aren’t keen on accumulating student debt – which is why community colleges are bursting at the seams with a larger application pool;

4. They’re unamused by popular opinion;

5. They demand that their parents justify and explain their decision-making process to them;

6. They demand that adults seriously consider their feedback.

The takeaway here is…we can learn a thing or two from a group who knows how to settle into their own eclectic vibe and can welcome confusion without shame. Their only downfall is …they’ve never heard of Leonardo DiCaprio!

Written by: Mary Terterov

Works Referenced:

Carlon, Katharine. “Who Is Generation Z?” Corridor Business Journal, vol. 14, no. 41, Apr. 2018, pp. 3–9. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=bwh&AN=129400024&site=ehost-live.