Generation Z (Gen Z’s) are a group of those born in 1997 to 2012. Because of the age difference, people expect them to have a bit of a clash with the Millennials (born 1981 to 1996). With their different backgrounds and experiences, it makes you wonder if there really is common ground between them.
Despite the age difference, it’s possible that they have a lot more in common than we expect. Maybe because we’re so used to being with our own group, we don’t even notice.
Career progression
Because they’re the younger generation, there’s the assumption that Gen Z is reckless or irresponsible with what they do. However, with the progression of technology and society in general, there’s been so much development for not only in their talents but also in their soft skills. Now that we are finally at a place of empathy and trust with one another, this generation has the potential to reach for its goals. We finally know what to expect in interviews. We can use our creativity to The only reason why there’s so much hesitation because the job market has faced so many difficulties lately. That’s why we have this collective anxiety for the future.
To add a bit of contrast, as the younger counterpart, the millennials might be referred to as the “stern ones” who stay in their roles. The reality is like Gen Z, they change their roles. They try new things and for similar reasons, too. This may be to support the family, find a new interest, or even to look after their mental health. Surprisingly, both generations change their roles quite frequently to help this. It just goes to show that being ambitious is never a bad thing. In fact, having that drive and sometimes a healthy delusion can help you work towards your own goal and remain satisfied with where you are.
Social media
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok. Social media is everywhere. We are now in a day and age where people use these platforms for more than just sending cat videos. With a majority of Gen Z’s in school or in college, many videos nowadays have been focused on their personal lives. This could be just as simple as a day in the life or even offering them future advice. Now that TikTok videos have been extended, people are enjoying more content, are on their phones more often.
Millennials were actually there for the boom of social media, starting with Twitter. In a way, they started this progression with the updates from a single tweet. The point where the two generations clash is when they both have the same goals – to share their experiences. However, there’s still the concept of oversharing. Now that people are becoming more honest in what they do in their day-to-day lives, other people seem to have a problem with this. It begs the question of whether they’re doing this to gain views or use an excuse to talk about their lives on camera. It feels completely unfair and shifts the blame to them. Now that we’re at a place where we’re starting to get smarter, people can recognize when the situation is different.
Attitudes
Because they’re younger, are Gen Z really “bratty”? Even if they’re younger, are millennials so “sophisticated”? Being in different social groups can mean that they can’t find a common ground. One thing to remember is that we’re all still people. Everyone will have mood swings now and again. That’s just being human. Yet somehow, we treat this as a divide between the two groups.
Some people might not even believe or know what each group is capable of. That’s why Gen Z is going for roles that require responsibilities. It’s not so much down to their immaturity but their experimentation and openness. Using your late 20s to experience as much as you can is so important for your mental and physical health. It’s the place to make mistakes, reflect, and take that first step towards bravery. Your life doesn’t even have to stop in your late 30s! This is where the phrase “young at heart” comes in handy. You can still be who you are while also being true to yourself, regardless of which social group each person is part of, but rather who they really are on the inside.
How involved they are in everyday life
Going towards the previous point, Gen Z is not just “lazy”, like everyone expects. There’s this constant stereotype that young people constantly look for personal gain. It gets to a point where, instead of catching up for an old friend, we just want to have lunch and are used to talking to the person on the phone. But that’s not the case necessarily.
When you first meet someone and you really connect, they still become an important part of your life. That’s why these interactions come through, because you enjoy their company. Nothing else has changed except how we communicate with them. Either way, each social group really does care about the people around them.
Are they really different?
There’s so much understanding we can gain from either group. It doesn’t mean that each person from that group will be the same. Life wouldn’t be exciting if that happened! There will be times when we roll our eyes at each person for having different views, but it gives us the space to really experiment and understand the other person’s perspective. Maybe that’s why there’s less competition between the two, but more so curiosity and sometimes questioning.
