Generation Z Characteristics

We’ve all heard of baby boomers and millennials, but Generation Z should be our primary focus. Each generation has their defining characteristics; Baby Boomers are mentally tough and handle adversity well. They lived through the Vietnam War and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., while Millennials are non-traditionalists who value experience and rely heavily on technology (“Generations X,Y,Z”). Generation Z is defined as those born from 1995 to 2012, making them ages 5 to 23, and are characterized by professor and author McKibbin as “realistic, tech-oriented, very competitive, individualistic and highly driven” (McKibbin). On the other hand, defining character traits also include “declining attention spans and

Research supports that the environment in which one grows up in has the biggest effect on his or her life. Therefore, given the technological advancements, boom of social media, start of the the war on terror, economic recession, and looming shadow of global warming, Generation Z’s childhood greatly shaped their mentality and outlook on life. As the use of social media has multiplied ten times since 2005 (Perrin), children and teens today have more much exposure to social media than any other generation had growing up. With the increased use of technology in their lives, children and teen are able to connect with others, easily access information, and form more in depth opinions. Teens on the internet are more outspoken than ever and have a motivating factor to create change and betterment in the world. And with the lurking terror of global warming and renewable energy sources, the upcoming generation has developed a innovative mindset to help solve problems with the environment in the future. In fact, Masdar Company conducted a research that revealed that 40% of Generation Z says that climate change is the biggest upcoming problem, ahead of terrorism and the economy, and are willing to take charge on the matter (“Generation Z Sustainable Suture”). The war on terror has lead younger generations to be more aware of their surroundings and more in touch with current events. As a generation who has always had to be cautious of terrorism, Generation Z has values security and safety, which will have a positive impact on the future. Because their parents were greatly affected by the recession of 2008, Generation Z children have a better understanding of money and how to manage finances. In fact, over half of Generation Z teens interviewed said that they save their money rather than spend it (Kingston) versus the millennial generation