Generation Z 16-22 Year Olds My View

Generation Z.

What exactly is that?

Well Radio One produced a survey/report all about Generation Z, who are people aged 16-22 years old.

One overwhelming result was the older generation overwhelmingly said they consider 16-22 year olds as lazy, selfish, and obsessed by social media.

How wrong could they be?

In my opinion, and I think I have the right to express my opinion as I’m a father five children of which three of them are in that age bracket.

First of all I will say that there have not been moments when my older three children have  been very lazy and incredibly selfish, but I’m fairly confident that when I was that age I was definitely lazy and yes selfish too. Isn’t that part of growing up? I think it is. I will come to the fact that they are supposedly obsessed by social media later in this post.

When I was growing up I didn’t always clean my room or help out with chores around the house. I can still here my mother shouting “Nigel, bring down your clothes that need washing”, and on occasions I never did. I was more interested in getting ready to go out to meet my friends, which I guess is considered selfish and not putting my family first.

Well all this got me thinking, that nothing has really changed. Young people today are doing exactly what I was doing all those years ago. It really hasn’t changed. So it really shocks me that the elder generation consider Generation Z as lazy and selfish. It all sounds a bit hypocritical to me. We were no different. It’s called being young and free without too many responsibilities, enjoying life. I wonder if the elder generation remember that. I do and they were great times.

My three older children all try not to be selfish, I know that, but when you are that age you just want to experience life to the full and cram as much as you can in.

My three older children have all had part-time jobs whilst they’ve been going through the education system. My oldest is now in full-time employment and works incredibly hard, and consequently earns very good money. My 20 year old daughter is in university carving out a career and she has a part-time job to help fund her life. Plus my 18 year old son has just gone to university and I don’t doubt for one minute he will find a part-time job to help fund his life when he settles in. So that’s lazy out of the way.

Recently my mum had a fall and was in hospital. My eldest daughter has visited on a very regular basis, and my 20 year old daughter phoned on a regular basis, but she couldn’t visit because she is in University 200 miles away. My son before he went to university came to visit his grandmother regularly with me. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I wouldn’t call that selfish behaviour. It’s actually putting family first.

Is generation Z obsessed by social media? Well I think obsessed is a bit strong, but what it is, is that 16-22 year olds really don’t know life without the internet, just the same as I wouldn’t know life without television. So does that make me a telly addict? Not one bit! Social media etc is totally part of their lives and will forever be in their lives, but that doesn’t make them obsessed. The truth is I think I am more obsessed with social media. In fact I know I am, I’m constantly on Twitter and FaceBook.

My thoughts are we have a generation of 16-22 year olds that are dynamic, ambitious, educated and aware of the problems that need fixing in the world that previous generations have messed up.

I personally think the world is in safe hands, and that the future is bright. Generation Z is more tolerant of people and less likely to be stereotyping individuals. They won’t question people’s sexuality and women will hopefully eventually get equality. They more likely to accept other peoples choices in life. I think they are generation to be proud of.

My final message to the elder generation is simple. The world has changed, and Generation Z is it’s future.

So that’s my view on Generation Z. Would love to know your thoughts.