Gen Z's Influence on the World

It seems like we’re overly concerned with generational differences these days, but there’s a reason for this. When you consider how fast the world changes now compared to just a couple decades ago, all it takes is a few short years for technologies to rotate in and out of existence. The same goes with generational values.

What Has Shaped Gen Z?

As Gen Zers, we’ve never lived without the digital world. This means that, for us, the world is smaller, and we’re the products of a more diverse and connected world. We’ve also grown up with recession, terrorism, school shootings, climate change, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and a pandemic. While our “normal'' has been anything but normal, we still believe that we’re an important part of change for the better.

A Mix of Old School and New

According to the global management company McKinsey and Company, they report that Gen Z is different than other generations in the way we live and interact in the world.

In its article The Young and the Restless: Generation Z in America, they report that we’re an interesting mix of old school and new. While we’re comfortable purchasing products on our devices, we’re also more likely to go to our local brick-and-mortar store than our millennial counterparts. Instead of wanting to fit in like older generations, we’re more interested in standing out and being different. While millennials are much more likely to splurge on things like travel and luxuries, we’re more about the experiences that keep us grounded and closer to home.

Gen Z and Workplace Values

A recent article in Forbes found other interesting Gen Z habits when it comes to work.

We’re not only verbal about our politics, but we’re willing to back it up with the job choices we make. While millennials flocked to the tech sector for higher pay, we’ve been turned off by the industry and its business ethics. More than any other generation, we’re more likely to make job choices with our values in mind and consume products that are more aligned with those values.

Gen Z and Our Commitment to Diversity

Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in U.S. history. In our short time on the planet, we’ve already seen overwhelming racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender discrimination in our lives and our workplaces. Forty-four percent of us have been the personal target of that discrimination. Consequently, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion in our lives and our work.

Gen Z Seeks More Traditional Financial Security

While we’re progressive, we’re also financially conservative. We watch our parents struggle financially while keeping up meaningless social fronts. We watch our older siblings trying to get out from under a mountain of student loan debt. We continue to see the widening gap between the haves and have-nots, and, as a result, we’ve taken a more pragmatic approach to money. Like our grandparents and great-grandparents, we’ve learned to value hard work and saving money.

Gen Z is now the most well-educated generation yet, but many of us feel that a four-year university degree isn’t the only path to a good education. We’ve seen the consequences of capitalism and student loan debt and we think there's a better way.

As Gen Zers, we impose high standards on our own lives and the companies and people we interact with. As we watch and learn, we’ve become a huge force to be reckoned with. We’ll continue to have what we think is a positive influence over the political and social landscape, both here and around the world. Join us at Adolescent Content to see how we’re changing that world.