Growing Up with Technology: Is Gen-Z Predisposed for Failure or Destined for Greatness?
Since the beginning of time, each generation of the human race has dealt with difficult situations. The Baby Boomer generation had to adjust to life after World War II. The Millennial generation overlooked the rise of technological advancements; however, Generation Z had to live through the evolution of “smart” technology. With the technological revolution blossoming in the late ’90s, Generation-Z has become the generation raised by motherboards and wires.
Generation-Z is growing older. As of the current year, the ages of Gen-Z range from ten to twenty years old. While some believe Gen-Z is destined to be one of the worse generations in history, others believe the “iGeneration” is in the direction of a global revolution. (Darke 22)
A life without a digital screen is a life Gen-Z has never lived. Dan Schawbel, a well-beloved author, believes technology has inhibited individuals from Gen-Z to succeed in the professional world. Technological advancements such as Google have helped information become better available to all; however, information learned on a screen does not improve one’s social skills. (Schawbel 1–9) In fact, Schawbel claims, “Gen-Z and older generations come into conflict because of misunderstanding caused from communicating through technology instead of in-person.” (Schawbel 3) There is a significant difference between online interaction and in-person interaction. The Internet allows one to communicate with another without any boundaries. On the Internet, a person can represent themselves as they please and verbalize thoughts without repercussions.
One’s internet persona is usually the opposite of one’s true self. The Internet has the ability to change a person’s mental health. Because iGeneration’s life revolves around the Internet and digital applications, there have been continuously increasing rates of mental health issues. According to statistics, “About 37% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have been bullied online.” (Org 2) The Internet is not as small of a setting as an in-person school is. When an individual is being cyberbullied on the Internet, every single user can become witness to the act. Ersa Onal, a writer, preaches caution while on the Internet. Onal claims, “nothing ever gets deleted from the internet.”(Onal 12) If what Onal claims is accurate, the narrative that Gen-Z is doomed to failure is inevitable. If nothing on the Internet can ever be deleted, Gen-Z’s past mistakes will never be forgotten. Because the effects of the technological revolution are recently becoming transparent, Gen-Z is left as an experiment. Some individuals believe the rise of technology and the fall of social skills demonstrate that Gen-Z is predisposed for failure.
Although some individuals believe Gen-Z is destined to be a “failure”, others believe the iGeneration will revolutionize the world. Since the early 2000s, Gen-Z has had to deal with never-ending world-altering situations. The early Generation Z individuals were brought into the world along-side 9/11. In the early 2010s, Gen-Z had to spend their childhood growing up in the Great Recession. Since the 2000s, Generation Z has witnessed “… more than 230 school shootings.”(Zegers 1) Because Generation Z has experienced countless incidents in such a small amount of time, numerous individuals believe iGeneration will be the most influential and thriving generation of all time.
Technology is not the only source of difference between Gen-Z and other generations. Generation Z seems to be completely different on issues such as climate than the generation’s predecessors. Based on the Pew Social Trends database, Generation Z is the most accepting generation that has ever existed. (Parker 7). Elizabeth Matto, a research professor, agrees with the study and firmly believes “Gen-Z is more diverse, more politically engaged and less bound by political party labels…”(Norwood 3) The Internet allows people to connect with one another, but also connects people with different cultures. Statistics show that about “95%” of Gen-Z individuals own a mobile phone. (Apps 3)Because the iGeneration has not had to experience a life without Google, knowledge is never not available. The technological revolution of the ’90s has allowed Gen-Z to be more accepting of different ideologies.
The evidence is clear.
Technology will always advance onward. In the span of two decades, Generation Z has been set-up to lead a global revolution. Although the trends of mental health issues are on the rise, the Covid-19 Pandemic proved to the world how united the iGeneration is. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Gen-Z demonstrate to the world who they truly are. Gen-Z is not made of a bunch of sensitive “snowflakes”. (Mailonline 1–4) Generation-Z is composed of individuals who are destined for greatness. Gen-Z strives for justified change and will stop at nothing to receive the change.
Work Cited:
Apps, Business. “A Look at Gen Z Mobile Behaviours — 64% of Mobile Users Are Always Connected.” Business of Apps, 19 June 2019, www.businessofapps.com/news/a-look-at-gen-z-mobile-behaviours-64-of-mobile-users-are-always-connected/.
Darke, Tiffanie. “The 1990s: When Technology Upended Our World.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 22 June 2018, www.history.com/news/90s-technology-changed-culture-internet-cellphones.
Jubilee, Youtube, director. Gen Z vs Boomers: Is “OK Boomer” Ageist? | Middle Ground, 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EjeFnw0cZY.
Magazine, Time. “How Generation Z Will Change The World According To Experts | TIME.” YouTube, YouTube, 23 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFaEPe6T_m4
Mailonline, Tim Collins. “Millennials and Gen Z Really ARE Snowflakes.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 15 May 2019, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7033111/Millennials-Gen-Z-really-snowflakes.html.
Norwood, Candice. “How New Gen Z Voters Could Shape the Election.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 31 Oct. 2020, www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-new-gen-z-voters-could-shape-the-election.
Onal, Esra. “The Story behind ‘Nothing Ever Gets Deleted from the Internet.’” Medium, Medium, 10 July 2020, medium.com/@esra.onal/the-story-behind-nothing-ever-gets-deleted-from-the-internet-82fed2abffa9.
Org, Do Something. 11 Facts About Cyberbullying. 2019, www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-cyber-bullying.
Parker, Kim, and Ruth Igielnik. “What We Know About Gen Z So Far.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, 19 Oct. 2020, www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far/.
Schawbel, Dan. “Why Gen Z Is Unprepared for the Jobs of the Future.” LinkedIn, 2019, www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-gen-z-unprepared-jobs-future-dan-schawbel.
Zegers, Kelly. “By the Numbers: School Shootings Since Columbine.” NECN, NECN, 19 Apr. 2019, www.necn.com/news/national-international/school-shootings-since-columbine/1908046/.
