Meeting with Generation Z

Having reached the age to say ‘The new generation is like that , like this, etc.’ I am concerned about the generation difference issue. Throughout the School Experience course, I have had the chance to observe children born after 2000. All I can say is that they are different from my generation. Obviously, this not quite an academic or scientific statement; therefore, I decided to make a small research on ‘holy’ Google to find out what ‘the difference’ actually is, which marks the new generation from my generation. Here follow my two cents related to the characteristics of the new generation.

Firstly there are too many names and labels related to the generation differences. Tech-savvy, digital-native, baby boomer, Generation X,Y and Z are only some of them. Also, I feel as if this terminology is labelling people. After a while I found myself saying ‘Okay, those who are born after 1990 are more interested in technology while those who are born after 2000 are more proficient in technology.’ This is kind of categorizing, so I will try to avoid such labels. These are only general characteristics that mark members of generation.

Generation Z roughly covers those who are born after 2000, most of whom are adolescents now. They are more eager to start working at early ages. Especially changing parenting styles have an impact on this shift. Modern parents want their children to stand on their own feet, unlike elder parents who say ‘If you need money, we’ll give; you don’t have to work.’ Children’s enterprising characteristic and skills have an impact on this as well. They report that they want to ‘make a change’ and ‘have an impact’, and they believe they can do it, like Adora Svitak, Logan Laplante and Malala Yousafzai. They engage in social entrepreneurship and volunteer projects. Obviously, they are mature and love being in control of their life. They are realist and love coming up with solutions. They like conversing on controversial topics like gender roles, politics and economics. They do not like being ‘talked down’; they want to be treated as adults. This is a trait that I have encountered in my students’ attitude as well. When I was talking to them during break time, they were like my peers. They talked casually and expressed their opinion related to exams and courses in a rather ‘cool’ way. I often found myself asking ‘Was I like them at their age?’ No definitely I was not, neither were my friends. We were more childish and less conscious about the world’s issues.

Thanks for reading!

Sinem ORUÇ