Chances are that if you are on this website, you have seen the world “millennial” a multitude of times. Millennial is the title given to the generation of people born between the years of 1981 and 1997, depending on the source. So to be blunt, if you were born after 1997, you are not a millennial. You are part of of what is known simply as “Generation Z,” which encompasses all children born between 1998 and 2010. So if someone tries to call you a millennial as an insult or to put you in a box that does not apply to you, you can proudly say “I am not a millennial.” There are differences between these two generations and this is what makes Generation Z special:
We Were Born Digital
Generation Z is the first generation to not know a time before the internet. With the web revolution that occurred throughout the 1990’s, we have been exposed to an unprecedented amount of technology in our upbringing. Ninety-two percent of U.S. teens go online daily and twenty-four percent are online “almost constantly,” according to a 2015 report by the Pew Research Center. Millennials grew into technology, whereas Generation Z was born into it.
We Don’t Care What “Those” Are
In a survey by The Futures Company, a global consultancy, the percentage of teenagers who agreed with the statement “I care a lot about whether my clothes are in style,”dropped from sixty-five percent in 1997 to forty-seven percent in 2014. For today’s teenager, fashion is less about fitting in, and more about reflect their own identity. Gen Z-ers are choosing brands that share certain commonalities with their outlook, lifestyle and priorities. We’re looking for brands that have personality and authenticity.
We’re Not Okay And We Know It
Generation Z developed their personalities and life-skills in a socio-economic environment known for chaos, unpredictability, complexity and turbulence. We grew up in a post 9/11 world during a great recession, where seventy-three percent of Americans were affected by said recession and one in five children are living in poverty. Having lived through this, we have more self-aware, independent and driven than previous generations.
We Do Not Believe In The Status Quo
Sixty-eight percent of Generation Z feel the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, which is more than any previous generation. Generation Z is determined to “make a difference” and “make an impact” with twenty-six percent of 16-to-19 year olds are currently volunteering. Sixty-one percent of high school students want to start their own business rather than being an employee compared to forty-three percent of college students. Surrounded by DIY education and crowdsourcing, members of Generation Z marvel at the idea of self-employment, while feeling pressured to gain professional experience at a young age.
We Are The Most Diverse Generation
There has been a fifty percent increase in the population of multiracial youth since the year 2000, making multiracial children is the fastest growing youth group in the U.S. The Census Bureau found that forty-eight of Gen Z is non-Caucasian. It is projected that there will be a seven point six percent increase in the population of Hispanic teens over the next five years.
We Care About Our Impact On The Planet A Lot
Eighty percent of Generation Z know about man’s impact on the planet. Generation Z and subsequent generations will bear the brunt of climate change. Seventy-eight percent are concerned about world hunger while seventy-seven are concerned about children around the world dying of preventable diseases. We are not just worried about what affects us directly, but what affects all of humanity.
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