Gen Z are the newest adults in the block. The older ones have recently entered the workforce, and some are forging lucrative careers in entrepreneurship. The impact of Gen Z in society can be felt in all walks of life. That’s because they are confident and not afraid of breaking the traditional norms. The generation comprising young people born between 1997 and 2012 is the lot that is replacing the millennials in almost every aspect. As a new force in society, very little is known about this group, so we have compiled a few facts about them to get you started.
1. Gen Z Love Watching Movies with Subtitles
The older age groups never cared much about subtitles and would move on if they missed a conversation on a show. Gen Zs, on the other hand, are built differently. This lot is obsessed with subtitles as they claim that subtitles help them better understand movies with actors with thick accents or scenes with a lot of background noise. According to a survey done by YPulse, 59% of Gen Z prefer to watch movies with subtitles.
2. A Significant Number of the Gen Z are Not into Sports
A recent study shows that only 58% of Gen Zers enjoy watching live sports. In the same report, 27% of the Gen Z population do not like sports at all. This indicates a steep decline in sports enthusiasm amongst the younger generation. Most of the children born after 1997 enjoyed spending their time playing video games or watching TV. This probably discouraged the like for sports.
3. Gen Z Was the First Generation to Be Born in the Social Media Era
The official social media site, Six Degrees, was launched in 1997, the same year the first Gen Zers were born. Before that, there were a few social media platforms, but they were insignificant. From there, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter were founded.
As the first generation born in the social media era, Gen Z has significantly embraced these platforms. Nearly all Gen Zers have some form of social media presence, with others spending hours scrolling through these apps.
4. There are Lots of Celebrities Who are Gen Z
Even though some familiar faces on screen seem a little older, many fall under the Gen Z age group. Examples of Gen Z celebrities include Zendaya, Billie Eilish, Kylie Jenner, Olivia Rodrigo, and Lil Nas X. This indicates how successful Gen Z are despite being relatively younger.
5. Not All Gen Zers Got to Experience the Turn of the Millenium
For most people, the turn of the millennium from 1999 to 2000 was an unforgettable experience. However, not all Gen Zers got to experience this shift as is the case with millennials. Those born in 2000 going forward can only hear stories about what happened.
6. The First iPhone was Launched during the Gen Z Era
To show how close Gen Z’s bond is with the internet and technology, the first iPhone was launched during their era; it was released in 2007. For most Gen Zers, this was the first smartphone they ever used. That’s why iPhones remain their go-to choice to date.
7. Gen Z is the Most Diverse Generation of All Time
Compared to previous generations, Gen Zers are more racially diverse than any other age group. As the world became a global village in the early 2000s, a lot of people migrated to various parts of the world. This led to the birth of more multiracial children, mainly Gen Zers. Gen Zers themselves are big advocates of marrying people from different backgrounds. This has made them the most racially diverse generation of all time.
8. Gen Zers Bring Their Beliefs to the Workforce
The majority of the millennials and other older generations were taught to only bring their skills to work, get paid and go home. However, Gen Zers are introducing their beliefs and values, thus changing the workplace into something entirely different.
This has led to the incorporation of an inclusive culture at work and care for the environment, climate and human rights. Thanks to Gen Zers, offices are no longer divided into dull cubicles. Most startups have an open layout with modern amenities like video games and bold colors to boost creativity.
9. Gen Zers Are Not Afraid of Airing Their Voices
Whether it’s about politics, terrorism or infringement of human rights, Gen Zers are not afraid of airing their voices. With powerful tools such as social media by their side, they raise awareness about a wide range of issues. Many young people have recently orchestrated protests that have brought down tyrants and unfair government practices.
10. Gen Zers are Excellent Entrepreneurs
Because of the low labor demand in the workforce, many Gen Zers have had to be creative and explore opportunities such as entrepreneurship. Most of them run online stores or sell digital services such as video editing and graphic design.
Many Gen Zers have leveraged social media and work as influencers, whereas others earn lots of money from their YouTube channels, where they shoot a wide range of content. As the economy was in shambles during the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of businesses owned by Gen Z remained active.
11. Gen Z are Independent Learners
The generations behind Gen Z were mostly invested in educational institutions such as colleges and universities. On the contrary, today, many Gen Zers are learning on their own with the help of the internet.
Resources such as YouTube, LinkedIn and TED Talks have become the go-to sources of information. As a result, Gen Z are gaining access to more information without spending a lot of money on tuition fees or ending up in massive student debts.
12. Gen Z are More Open about Mental Health
Mental health issues are on the rise among young people. In the past, people feared talking about such matters for fear of discrimination or misunderstanding. However, Gen Zers have taken the bull by the hones; they are not afraid of sharing their struggles and seeking help. Unlike older generations, Gen Zers know how to identify triggers and avoid them, a good example being a toxic workplace. It’s this openness about mental health by Gen Z that has reduced the stigma surrounding conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADHD.