Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, zoomers, iGeneration, centennials, post-millennials, or Homelanders, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years. Most members of Generation Z are children of Generation X or younger Baby Boomers.
Gen Z is the first true digital native generation, having grown up with access to the internet and portable digital technology from a young age. They are often referred to as "digital natives" and have been shaped by the digital age. Compared to previous generations, members of Generation Z tend to live more slowly than their predecessors when they were their age, have lower rates of teenage pregnancies, and consume alcohol less frequently.
Some key characteristics of Generation Z include:
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Digital Natives: Gen Zers are the first generation to grow up with the internet as a part of daily life.
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Climate Anxiety: Young people today have come of age in the shadow of climate doom, pandemic lockdowns, and fears of economic collapse.
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Political Clout: One-in-ten eligible voters in the 2020 electorate will be part of Generation Z.
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Skepticism: Gen Z is the most skeptical generation, but also the least trusting of people and institutions.
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Comfort with Gender-Neutral Pronouns: Gen Zers are similar to Millennials in their comfort with using gender-neutral pronouns.
Overall, Generation Z is a diverse and complex group of individuals who are still coming of age and shaping the world around them.