Generation Z, often called “Gen Z” or “zoomers” get a lot of flak, probably even more than millennials did before the Gen Zs started to come of age. People born in the last years of the 90s constantly assert that they are millennials or on the cusp (I consider myself a 1998 “zillennial”) because they don’t want to be associated with the stereotype of the cringe-inducing, obnoxious, iPhone-obsessed Gen Z.
However, the thing most Gen Z haters don’t take into consideration is that while they range in age from 10-24, most Gen Zs are still kids. We can’t blame kids for acting like kids — especially when they have an entire internet at their disposal — but the kids of Gen Z are more empowered, involved, creative and connected than we give them credit for. They’re constantly exchanging information, opinions and experiences, which can often make them very well-rounded. They have a bizarre sense of humor, but their jokes are often very clever and sophisticated. In spite of the stereotype of Gen Z as addicted to social media, brainwashed by technology and anti-social, the reality is that this generation uses media and technology to connect with others and share information like never before.
An hour or so of scrolling through the much-despised app TikTok will show kids using songs and sound bytes for creative and weird creations, young indigenous people uplifting their cultures and spreading awareness of Native issues, transgender teens sharing highlights of their transitions — and sometimes joking about them — and even history and literature jokes.
These Gen Z kids are doing more for raising awareness of important issues than many twice their age. Just look at Time’s Person of the Year for 2019. Greta Thunberg is a teenager who has made a small motion a huge movement in a short span of time. She went from protesting alone outside of her embassy to being the forefront of a movement of young people around the world demanding policy changes to protect the world against climate change.
Another notable Gen Zer, 18-year-old Billie Eilish, is one of the most popular artists of the past year, having recently become the youngest person and first woman to win the Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year all in the same year. She also makes a powerful statement about the sexualization of female artists with her decision to wear shapeless, baggy clothing — a way of protecting herself from the body-shaming so many high-profile women experience.
Issues that Gen Zs are facing are something to which people in these older generations can’t relate. The fast spread of information on the internet is creating a culture that requires people to always be tuned in to the horrible things happening around the world. Social media often forces people to have opinions on these things, especially young people who are now dealing with pressure when they’re at home and away from school. However, the immersion in these issues makes for a unique level of passion and advocacy. The Gen Zs know what they want and what they believe in. They are willing to fight for it and they use humor to cope with it (just look at all the World War 3 and Camp Pence jokes).
According to BusinessInsider.com, the next generation after Gen Z is known as Generation Alpha, anyone born after 2010. Once these children are old enough to start making an impact on the world, Millennials and Generation Z will probably make fun of their every move as well. In the end, we all end up shaking our fist at “these darned kids!” The best we can do is make an effort to understand the people who will build our future, and pay more attention to the ideas they bring to the table.
Graphic: Victoria Howard/ The Johnsonian
