Generation Z
The youth and young adults who now have an age between 9 and 24 are called Generation Z. These are our current and future students. So it is interesting to know what is characteristic of this generation. Studies show that the social identity of Gen Z 'ers is largely online; that they want to make the world that is naturally international, inclusive and diverse, better and more sustainable. And that the well-being of this generation is a concern.
Gen Z'ers easily ride on multiple digital highways at once. The Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences even suggests that this generation has the highest motor synchronisation in terms of hand, eye and ear coordination in human history. As a result, the thinking of these digital natives is not always comprehensible to others. Earlier generations often think from offline solutions. And then look at a smart online alternative. Generation Z skips a thinking step. Only when online really fails, other solutions come into the picture. Gen Z'ers mostly absorb information from the web and prefer videos to books. Distraction is an issue, though. It is difficult to focus on one task when there are so many triggers to distraction. Data from the Statistic Brain Research Institute shows that Generation Z has an attention span of eight seconds, during which they determine whether content is engaging enough to pay attention to.
MTV calls this generation The Founders: the impatient founders of a new world. They want to change the world. Sustainability is a key word for this generation. If something is not good for the world, it quickly loses meaning. Diversity and inclusiveness is often not an issue for this generation. It is normal to have equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. They expect the same from organisations. Young people spend a lot of time at home compared to previous generations. They meet up with friends less and their social life takes place largely online. Their online social identity is strong. Never before has the number of teenage pregnancies been so low and a young generation so well versed in the effects of drugs.
Through vlogs and social media, Gen Z'ers are connected to anyone anywhere in the world. Place and time play no role on the web. Work can be done in Bali, the Netherlands or Australia, and whether it's at nine in the morning or three in the morning doesn't matter. Working with goals, finishing something by a certain deadline, therefore suits them better than working methodically. Hierarchy and authority don't mean much to Generation Z. On the web, everyone is equal. Entrepreneurship attracts this new generation. A large proportion of high school students say they want to start their own business. Although, according to a major study by MacKinsey, in which they surveyed 30,000 workers worldwide, Gen Z does not seem to be very different from other generations in terms of expectations and motivation for their work. Meaningful work and flexibility are at the top of their list. Boomers value these too, but after salary. Salary thus scores relatively lower among Gen Z as a reason for switching jobs or keeping a job.
In 2021, over 28,000 college and university students filled in an online questionnaire. What emerged? Half of the students surveyed (51 per cent) experience psychological complaints such as anxiety and gloom. Researcher Jolien Dopmeijer of the Trimbos Institute explains in an interview with the NRC that many students experience psychological complaints and performance pressure because they are overloaded. 'Students' week is completely full. With studying, lectures and then a side job to make ends meet. The cost of living is high. Besides, they want to use every moment of their free time. To develop themselves again. To see friends, do board work, play sports. There is no time to loaf around. Everything has to be useful,' Dopmeijer explains.
But just how much pressure is there? Or are we dealing with spoilt young people who cannot handle setbacks? Van der Velden, professor of Victims and Mental Health at Tilburg University, questions the Trimbos institute's research. There is much more attention to mental well-being these days than there was 30 years ago. That in itself is a good development, the stigma on mental complaints and disorders is reducing and that is nice for people who have it,' Van der Velden explains. But exactly for those reasons, some young people also know how to use such 'excuses' tactically. 'And there is nothing crazy about that,' Van der Velden argues. If a student has had too much to drink and gone to bed too late, thus not finishing his paper on time, and knows that an excuse like 'being overworked' works well, the student will possibly use this to get a postponement, Van der Velden explains.
Broadly speaking, these articles show that Generation Z has unprecedented digital skills, thinks mainly in online solutions, has a rich online social life and is hot for a meaningful role in an international, diverse environment, with little hierarchy, lots of variety and a focus on well-being. So good to take into account the unique characteristics of this generation.