Gen Z are not 'coddled. ' They are highly collaborative, self-reliant and pragmatic, according to new Stanford-affiliated research. Generation Z, the first generation never to know the world without the internet, value diversity and finding their own unique identities, says Stanford scholar Roberta Katz.
But Gen Zers are different from older generations, because they are the first consumers to have grown up wholly in the digital era. They're tech-savvy and mobile-first—and they have high standards for how they spend their time online.
Alpha children are permanently connected. Such is their attention to new technologies that it becomes a way of life. Independents. They are independent when it comes to making their own decisions and managing their digital identities, and they expect their individual needs and preferences to be taken into account.
Millennials are often more optimistic, with a highly entrepreneurial and inventive mindset when it comes to decision-making. In direct contrast, Gen Z individuals are more risk-averse and cautious because they witnessed and read about the instability millennials experienced.
Gen Z: Gen Z is the newest generation, born between 1997 and 2012. They are currently between 9 and 24 years old (nearly 68 million in the U.S.) Gen A: Generation Alpha starts with children born in 2012 and will continue at least through 2025, maybe later (approximately 48 million people in the U.S.)
Gen Z are most commonly defined as those born between 1997 to 2012.
What Is Generation Alpha? Generation Alpha includes anyone born between 2010 and now, including up to the year 2024. This means that the oldest members of Gen Alpha are 13 years old. This youngest generation is defined by the digital world.
Gen Zers are known for working, shopping, dating, and making friends online; in Asia, Gen Zers spend six or more hours per day on their phones. Digital natives often turn to the internet when looking for any kind of information, including news and reviews prior to making a purchase.
You'll find that they are quite different from the previous generations. Gen Z prioritises positive relationships, work-life balance, schedule flexibility, and job stability. 90% of them want human interaction at work and direct communication from their co-workers.
Gen Z is also the smartest and best educated generation. Having an unlimited wealth of information at our disposal has not gone to waste. In America, 57 percent of Gen Z is reported to have enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 52 percent of Millenials and 43 percent of Gen X.
Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha for short) is the demographic cohort succeeding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 2010s as starting birth years and the early-to-mid 2020s as ending birth years (see Date and age range definitions).
A CM Group consumer research effort that polled 1,000 consumers found Gen Z consumers are better educated, more practical, more ambitious and more skeptical than Millennials.
Unlike the previous generation who had fought for "changing the system," the Silent Generation was about "working within the system." They did this by keeping their heads down and working hard, thus earning themselves the "silent" label. Their attitudes leaned toward not being risk-takers and playing it safe.
And it looks like Gen Z is indeed shaping up to be a homebody generation as well: Looking at their favorite activities by age, 13-18-year-olds are the most likely to say they “go out with friends” for fun in an average night, but playing video or mobile tops their list, followed by watching TV or movies.
Despite stereotypes endorsed by older generations, millennials are one of the hardest working generations. Over a quarter of them work 2 or more jobs. The number of weekly working hours is also astonishing for this generation, with 73% working more than 40 hours per week, and almost 25% working more than 50 hours.
In Gen Z slang term, “fire” means something is really amazing or cool. They also use it to express excitement or point out a new trend within their culture.
The generation is largely in favor of LGBT rights, gender equality, and access to abortion. Economically, Generation Z has a more favorable outlook on socialism than previous generations. Gen Z varies largely by country on whether to make it easier for legal migrants to live and work in their home countries.
Authenticity is the key to reaching the Gen Z audience.
This marketing approach has served all generations right up to millennials. Most of us have become accustomed to being broadcasted to and we feel comfortable with that relationship, even if we don't believe what we're being told. But Gen Z are not.
Fast Company: What makes Gen Z different from other generations? Andrew Roth: The biggest is the onset of technology and when that came up in the lives of Gen Z, and the role that's had on shaping how we behave and who we are. Convenience is not a want or a fun [thing] to have; it's who we are—we were born with Google.
Generation Z Picks Reading As A Top Spare-Time Activity
In fact, more Gen Z respondents picked reading than reviewing social media (17%) or playing video and online games (17% and 16%, respectively). Other activities, however, have particular younger or older age skews.
Generation Alpha is the name given to children born in or after 2010. They are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century and are currently the youngest generation.
The average life expectancy of baby boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are different. Compared to the 70-year life expectancy of baby boomers and the 85-year life expectancy of Gen X, Gen Z is predicted to have a life expectancy of over 100 years.
Generational definitions are most useful when they span a set age range and so allow meaningful comparisons across generations. That is why the generations today each span 15 years with Generation Y (Millennials) born from 1980 to 1994; Generation Z from 1995 to 2009 and Generation Alpha from 2010 to 2024.