Who is Generation Z?
“W oke, broke, and compli- cated.” That’s how The Economist magazine described this newest and some- what mysterious generation in Janu- ary 2023. Who is Gen Z, as they’re called, and what are they about? Gen Zers were born from 1997 to 2012. They’re currently aged 11–26. This cohort, also called zoomers, post-Mil- lennials, or the iGeneration, follows millennials (1981–1996), Generation X (1965–1980), and baby boomers (1946–1964). Dictionary definitions commonly deem a generation as collectively all those born and living at about the same time. Typical time horizons between groups are 15–20 years. The idea that people born within a certain time frame share similar cultural
experiences and phenomena justifies making generalized assertions about generations. But individuals also vary wildly in tastes, preferences, habits, and other characteristics. So, how useful is it to make broad statements about millions of people? Is it just stereo- typing or pseudo psychology, like birth order and personality? After all, we’ve all heard firstborns are “leaders and scholars,” middle kids “mediators and team players,” and the young- est are “mischievous, irresponsible class clowns.” Social scientists research and collect much data on generations. Broad attributes become apparent, and statistics on Gen Z are indeed aplenty. But any starting point must be those broad assertions that come up
repeatedly in even a cursory search. Five examples include: “They eat tide pods and avocado toast, are addicted to tech, have short attention spans, are politically liberal, and suffer mental health issues.” Let’s dive into these. First, a 2018 internet meme and viral video about biting laundry detergent pods hardly defines this generation more accu- rately than the psychedelic era (mid-1960s–1970s) might for another. And avocados? That derives from a 60 Minutes interview with millionaire Tim Gurner gone viral. “When I was trying to buy my first home, I wasn’t trying to buy smashed avocado for $19.” It describes not Gen Z but Millen- nials’ appetite for spending rather than saving for a home.
30 • AMAC Magazine
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