Characteristics of Generation Z
They're money-driven and ambitious. They love to travel. They're prone to anxiety. They're known to set boundaries.
Social media is a huge trend for this generation. Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are, by far, the most frequently used platforms. One-quarter of Gen Zers spend five hours or more per day on TikTok. TikTok continues to soar in popularity among members of Generation Z (4,600% in 5 years).
'Devastating – economically, socially and much more'
In the short term, Gen Z's stress is leading to ambivalence and withdrawal in their professional lives. According to 2022 data from Gallup, they are the most disengaged group at work. They also report more overall stress and work-related burnout than other cohorts.
They use traditional words (with brand new meanings) to describe the excitement, community, culture, an inside joke, and things unique to their age group. Gen Z ers are the ones setting mainstream trends, but they're super low-key about it.
Bet: Bet is a way of saying “yes” or “OK” or “it's on.”
It's no secret that every single generation has endured horrible trauma of one variety or another. But Generation Z is likely the most aware of (and most openly vocal about) the concept of trauma, its lasting mental health aspects, and mental health conditions in general.
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z has little to no memory of a world without the internet, smartphones, and social media. Technology is a substantial part of their life. Being continually connected can also result in self-esteem issues and feeling pressure to conform.
The younger generation has powered through a lot of upheaval in their short lives but it's taken a toll on their mental health. A new survey finds that an astounding 42 percent of those born between 1990 and 2010 – Gen Z – have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
It starts with what values are important to Gen Z'ers and moves into what brands and products they rate. “Teens feel that being cool is about just being yourself, embracing what you love, rejecting what you don't, and being kind to others.”
According to the studies, 81 % of Gen Z admit Instagram and YouTube are their favorite platforms. The survey with Gen Z-ers helps businesses know which platform they are using the most.
Gen Z is more likely than Millennials to say gaming and dance are top hobbies. Art and music are also top hobbies for both gens, who prioritize creativity.
Gen Z has learned to think, learn, and communicate in an environment defined by wireless internet ubiquity, wholesale technology integration, infinite content, and immediacy.
Gen Z has been called the 'most depressed generation' with the least positive outlook and diminished emotional and social well-being. They have more unmet social needs than any other generation. The statistics for their behavioural-health issues – mental and substance disorders – are alarming.
Gen Z is very concerned about their ability to communicate and forge strong interpersonal relationships. This may be due to the fact that technology has negatively impacted their cognitive skill development, and they recognize that their social skills, like critical thinking and communication, are weak.
Gen Z (42%) is about twice as likely as Americans over 25 (23%) to battle depression and feelings of hopelessness.
Never mind the fact that Baby boomers have been dubbed the Healthiest Generation, since they have the longest life expectancy of any previous generation, and that they were able to exploit advances in medical care and reap the benefits of public health campaigns highlighting the dangers of smoking and unhealthy diets.
So it's no surprise recent studies have declared millennials, especially women, the most anxious generation in history. Anxiety comes in many forms, but the simplest way to describe it is feeling worried or nervous about the future or uncertain situations.
The survey found more Gen Zers reporting that they have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or depression. 18% of Gen Z reported an anxiety disorder diagnosis, and 23% reported they had been diagnosed with depression.
'Bruh' is a phonetically spelled version of the Millenial term 'bro' (short for 'brother').
Instead, Gen Z'ers are taking on a more casual and carefree approach to ending an email. That means that traditional closers of "Sincerely," "Thanks," "Warm regards" and "Best wishes" are out of the question. Instead, they are using closers like "Yours unfaithfully," "Bless up" or "Cold regards," to name just a few.
Gen Z would say they're being salty. Salty can be used to describe jealous, irritated, or resentful behavior.
75 percent of Gen Z feel they are challenging dating and relationship standards that were passed down to them, the report found. 18–25 year olds make up more than 50 percent of Tinder's user base, according to the dating app. They're not alone in acknowledging that dating culture is shifting.
Gen Zers embrace Gen Z yellow and bright, contrasting colors
Generation Z includes people born in between 1997 and 2012, which leaves a large portion of this generation outside of the workforce. But don't underestimate young people's influence on generational marketing strategy.