I frequently hear and read, #GenZ words in a negative frame. Every older generation tends to criticize the youth that follows, perceiving their new ways of navigating the world as a decline in standards. The focus on #GenZ stems from the significant cultural, social, and economic shifts they are driving and the inherent differences in perspective between a generation raised in an "always-on" world and those who came before them. Even I often comes across such situation at homes, when the youth going against the family customs and tradition. Even at the work front, I encountered various individuals who had little carefree approach. They prioritize work-life balance, authenticity, and flexibility, and are more likely to leave jobs that do not align with their values or offer growth. Looking at their behavior I get surprise but at the same time a question keeps hindering my mind, are these new generation solely responsible for all the negativity?
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The environment in which Gen Z was raised offers important context for their attitudes and behaviors, which are often responses to external pressures. "Gen Z" typically refers to the person born between roughly 1996 and 2010 were the first true generation of "digital natives,". They grown up with constant access to the internet, social media, and smartphones. This has resulted in shaping their worldview and behaviors in specific ways. It is needed to be understand, that they are not from Mars and Jupitor or from any other planet. They are the extension of "habits" of the society we have created. Be it, parents , elders , politicians , Gurus, or a common man. If we are blaming, GenZ, we should focus on 'What we are' and if we created a better society for ourselves or we need to change ourselves as well, so that younger people learn from our action and not just from the words.
"Small habits, big results"
A little retrospective onto our habits may give us all sort of answer to the problem that we face with GenZ. Human habits are very important and help us shape society by creating collective behaviors that drive large scale shifts. From reinforcing cultural values to driving social movements. Small and repeated actions by individuals can lead to large scale societal changes. GenZ never known a world without the internet, search engines, and social media, making them technologically fluent and constantly connected. This has made them quite different from others. Over reliance on digital communication has given GenZ a different perspective. They follow a different communication norm, which the older generation find very different and so on. Their digital reliance was fuelled by some of our habits too and simply blaming them solely for negativity is not a solution.
Their are many way through which their approach towards life, work or responsibility does not align with older generation people. This may lead to friction of thoughts, but having more maturity, we should navigate friction intelligently and mindfully.
In good faith - Peace!!
