Second, tech addicted? Possibly, though Gen Z prefers “dependent.” And why not? They were connected to technology since leaving diapers. Apps on today’s smartphones gener- ate so much information. They mean freedom just as a license and car keys did for previous generations. Inter- estingly, Federal Highway Adminis- tration data show fewer 16-year-old drivers now than any time since the 1960s. Automotive industry analyst Nathan Shipley says, “Getting the keys to the car at 16 was freedom for kids. It was their way to get out, see friends, and get away from their parents.” Today’s smartphones allow for all that and are cheaper than used cars. Third short attention spans? Yes. A 2019 survey found it’s eight seconds for Gen Z, four less than millennials. They’re continually multitasking on their phones and have embraced the brevity mandated by character limits on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. (Gen Z mostly eschews Facebook.) Gen Z researcher Sharon Uche says, “This gives Gen Zers the unique skill of being able to communicate effec- tively and concisely” and predicts that, one day, “They will be powerhouses in the office when it comes to flawlessly managing and prioritizing the day-to- day duties of the workplace.” Fourth, politics. The media portray Gen Zers as hammer-and-sickle socialists. Their declining confidence in capitalism is real, and a 2022 Mere- dith poll found their views liberal on abortion, protection of LGBTQ rights, and legalization of marijuana. But that same poll found Gen Z men in particu- lar to be fairly conservative on some issues and distinctly less “woke” than
commonly depicted. Gen Zers dislike both parties but broke for Democrats in 2022, mostly over abortion rights. A March 2021 survey found 83 percent are concerned about “the health of the planet.” Climate change tops lists of their most important issues. Lastly, does Gen Z suffer more depression and anxiety? Yes, say experts, but it shouldn’t be surpris- ing. Though most have no memories of 9/11, Gen Zers have never known a world not at war against terrorism. Mass school shootings and lockdown drills are part of their lexicon. Remote learning due to Covid-19 permanently disrupted their educations. Pervasive social media surely contributes. Even so, mature Americans find it difficult to comprehend their newest emerg- ing term eco-anxiety a chronic fear of environmental doom. Worry and criticism of those younger is hardly new and gener- ally unfounded. Adults have uttered, “Kids these days,” for a century. The most senior teacher where I taught high school reminded all that 8 th grade teachers said, “Watch out next year. These will be the tough- est freshmen ever,” each year of his career. Complaining aloud one day on how little kids pay attention and how much they text, a colleague reminded me, “We were no different. We just passed notes.” True enough. Jeff Szymanski Jeff Szymanski works in political communi- cations for AMAC. He previously taught high school social studies in Massachusetts from 2002 to 2016.
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Volume 17 Issue 2 • 31
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