Gen Z: In Their Words

Lately, there’s been a lot of hype and swirl surrounding “Generation Z.” Brand advertisers and business gurus have dubbed this post-Millennial generation as the next bull’s eye to target on the consumer dartboard. At 2 billion strong worldwide, it’s easy to see why: Gen Z is every brand’s next most important customer.
But who are they, really? How will they change how business is done? We asked them.
For starters, they don’t see themselves as a “generation” at all. To them, they’re just them. Socially shrewd, tech-ified, inquisitive, precocious, caring, eloquent, intrepid, and unapologetically authentic. Equal parts skepticism of the past and optimism for the future, they are “a generation of problem solvers” who are “not happy or content with what has been going on in the past” and are “finding new ways to do old things.”
In their world, change is constant. And normal. They’re always adapting, and they think businesses should, too. To them, companies (if they think about them at all) should practice “good citizenship,” be “more malleable,” more “able to constantly change.” And why shouldn’t they? After all, “the world around us is constantly changing.”

[@dannyroach2741]

Can we PLEASE get people under 20 to represent gen z?

[@konnermonkey7694]

Daphne Roach exactly

[@thumb9928]

Everyone under 20 in gen z is depressed and questions the universe at an alarming level to the point most of them feel worthless. But I mean we just cover it up with random ass memes lol

[@evachan8265]

Hello im Nevaeh im 14 years old Im tired of not being heard and being judged! We are not spoiled brats!we have to live in fear. I go to school everyday planning what to do if my school gets shot up. Hopes and prayers wont save our lifes ! I dont know if anyone will read this but I dont want to go unheard anymore!

[@pronemage8842]

were any of them actually gen z because all of them looked like actor's who are Millennials

[@lotstolearn5350]

Technically, Gen. Z is born between 2005-'24, both years inclusive. The word generation refers to reproduction & is not to be confused with 'period of influence.' By definition, Boomers were born in the 20 year period from 1946-'64. Generation X is from 1965-'84. Gen. Y Millennials are born between 1985-'04.

[@thecentennialconservative1378]

Lots To Learn You got the date wrong some people say gen z started 1996 or 2001 not 2005.

[@lotstolearn5350]

TCC: They don't understand what a generation is & confuse the word to mean 'period of influence' which it doesn't; it's about reproducing the next generation, preferably at least 20 years After the previous one. As the (post WW2 Baby) Boomers must, by definition, be born between 1946-64, therefore Gen. X is from '65-'84; Gen. Y Millennials from '85-'04, making Gen.Z from 2005-'24.

[@kristy.]

Lots To Learn The way that generations are talked about and are used are based on ideas rather than dates. I was born 2001, so by your definition I would be a millennial. But I have nothing in common with millenials. Millenials are those who grew up around the turn of the millenium. They were introduced to modern technology at a young age, but not in the same way as gen z. I don't remember any time that the Internet wasn't big and easy to access. It's always been there. I remember playing Elmo games on our computer before I could even read. This is something that is unique to gen z, at the moment, and it's something that millenials never had. It makes no sense to group me with people I have nothing in common with.

[@lotstolearn5350]

Kristy : Millennials are BORN around the Turn of the millenia (from 1 millennium to another). Yes, the younger Millennials are far more like Generation Z, just as the younger Generation Xers are more like Millennials. The older Generation Xers are more like the Boomers. So you can say "I'm with Gen.Z." (with, but not of, it) Yes, ideally Millennials would be from 1990-2010, half on each side of the turn of the millenia. But Boomers are By Definition born in the 20 years following WW2, so the 20 year periods start & end mid-decade.

[@TheZeroSbr]

"We're a lot more social as a generation" No we're not. It's precisely because we grew up with social media that we're not. Everyone is glued to their phones, no one puts effort into relationships, no one is genuine.

[@VeryFamousActor]

TheZeroSbr All true.

[@danawalkosak447]

Not all of us

[@jam5533]

Dana Walkosak Yes I agree

[@ely9992]

You kind of sound like a millennial?

[@mxthman1259]

TheZeroSbr that’s not particularly true actually, we can be social through phones as well you know. We can reach people we wouldn’t normally be able to, text someone through the night and laugh with them. If anything it’s made life better, easier even! I can talk to my favorite person in the world from my bed, while they’re two states away from me! Maybe the only reason we’re “glued” to our phones is because people are shitty out here! Not all are, but that’s way it feels like.

[@heilpepe4102]

Half of these are melimials

[@g_thbaa4909]

Y’all aren’t gen z talk to high schoolers

[@RumchevStefan]

"A lot more social as a generation" As a Gen Z representative myself, all I have to say to this statement is: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

[@FELCHINGTON]

Let me continue that * ahem.* Hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaahahhaahhaahahahahahhahahaahahahhhaahahahahhahaahhahahaahhaahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhshahahaahahhahhhhahhhhahahahaahhaahahahahahahahahagahagahahagahaahhaahahahhahahaha

[@SingularPanda4]

2 Freaking Minutes and they didn't even explain shit

[@willmcpherson2]

Interviewer: What does it mean to be apart of Gen Z? Me: FUCK MILLENNIALS

[@lesliecat209]

Nobody Lurker HEY!! DON'T talk shit about the GI generation. They deserve every bit of respect. They died so that we could be free. Ungrateful ingrate

[@VeryFamousActor]

Me: Let's build a new world from the ashes of the old! Also, fuck Millennials and their identity politics.

[@kevinhung1575]

FUCK GEN Z. Go to sleep kids. Grow up.

[@VeryFamousActor]

Kevin Hung *Random guy on the internet tells gen z to grow up.* *Random guy says fuck gen z before telling gen z to grow up* Hmm... Seems like the age old argument of, "fuck you!" "No! Fuck you!" You might have more years than us but your argument skills are pretty shit my dude. Might wanna work on 'em. Just sayin...

[@melaninqueen2413]

I feel like gen z are people who re born from 1995 to 2005 than from like to 2010 or 2012. We didn't grow up watching or doing the same things! I have a cousin that was born in 2012, and he knew how to work a tablet when he was 1 1/2!!! If u try an d take it away from him, he will cry. That's just my opinion!

[@augustinedaudu9203]

True

[@trade_iv]

It’s 2000-2015

[@hollybird2439]

Going up scared of getting caught up in a terrorist attacks.

[@xIG0RAWRx]

Or school shootings

[@angelinagarza3473]

dude gen z is way younger, not to mention we were born right after or just before 9/11. that itself caused a big problem with our childhoods, we didnt have any.

[@trashmenagerie5616]

One of the girls used the word they instead of we?

[@monsterhobbiesonlinestore]

Gen Z...the closest thing Gen X has to a real ally. I love Gen Z and how it's going for them. i own a store and when i talk to Gen Z, they are aware of the world around them. they also know, like they say, through social media and KZbin, what other generations before them did. they also have all that tech, but they want to put it down from time to time and do things that are more like playing with sticks and painting pictures. I see a good future for them and i think Gen X should give them all the support. Also, my 2 daughters are Gen Z and in their school, they are being taught how to be leaders in society and how to talk and deal with people to get ahead in life. It looks like it will be a positive future with them around!

[@monsterhobbiesonlinestore]

@Riso Thank you so much!

[@dannyjonze]

these are ollder than gen z

[@thecentennialconservative1378]

No, the oldest gen z's are 20+.

[@lotstolearn5350]

The Centennial Conservative : No, they're 12.

[@juliocabrera322]

Lots To Learn bitch were at most 20

[@lotstolearn5350]

lol322 : Clearly you misconstrue the meaning of the word generation & assume it to mean something akin to period of influence or some such.

[@lotstolearn5350]

Boomers: born 1946-'64 Generation X: '65-'84 Gen.Y Millennials: '85-'04 Generation Z: born 2005-'24

[@Hasselroeder]

I'm Gen Y, born '86. "1986"! ;-) I'm from Germany. And i don't understand why there is this talking about GenZ=better than GenY,X or why the younger gen'ssupposed to be "crybabies" etc.... . I think every generation should be a bridge between the previous and the next generation. No one can "blame" a whole generation for bad things that happened! Every gen has their own thoughts about the world, values and how things should be. Always influenced by their enviroment and what happened around them. And i think most people loved their childhood! I also think my childhood was better than others in the last 10-15 years. For example today there is only bullshit on tv. I remember watching awesome cartoons every saturday morning from 6:00 - 12:00 as a kid. After lunch i used to meet my friends. There was no influence from internet. Politics were for grown ups. But today there are thousand opinions on Facebook, Twitter,etc. . And no one knows whats the "truth". I grew up and saw the internet "evolve". GenZ is the first generation which doesn't know a world without internet. For GenX otherwise i think internet is not so important because they did everything without in the past and it worked also! My advice to young people is: "Go forward, learn from other generations and don't believe everything you read on social media!" Make your own thoughts, bring into question your own beliefs.

[@angela_somanythings5670]

Sweet response to this Generation-biased nonsense! I am Gen Y, Born 1985 and yes, although we watched the internet elvolve and were the first young people to really use it and have home computers (and to have parents with cell phones or even have a flip phone in high school) we also grew up right before all of the technological luxuries became so easily available. We played outside more and connect with Nature easily. The best of Gen Y are the Most emotionally conscious people i know, most put a considerable amount of effort in evolving beyond college years and they can work just as hard and creatively as any other generation, but not always. This is true for each generational gap, but different ways of life evolve different characters. We are all in this together. & We don't create each other as much as we create Ourselves!!

[@rileygraham8952]

Gen Z are generally the most skeptical generation when it comes to social media. we've grown up around it, and we can see through most lies.

[@nat0106951]

they all look like 30 yr olds lol

[@BlckAddr60]

Good God. I didn't know before that there was a *new* saner generation! Thank you gen-Z. I can leave the world I inherited in YOUR hands with confidence.

[@richardbiggles3573]

"Were a generation of problem solvers"well if that was true i wouldnt be deppressed

[@Nourhismo]

Ki est là pour les cours ??????

[@Ariiimisss]

wesh ta prof c'était madame Labergerie nn ?

[@pandaoneproductionsd9765]

gen z: mental disorder millennials: self centered gen x: criminals boomers: Godless silent gen: irresponsible

[@zackmartin6161]

Prototypes. The real gen Z is 2000+!

[@nathanmedina2809]

Zack Martin I feel if they are trying to interview the next generation they should interview people born more in the 2000s and not people born in the 90s. They should not interview people born in the second half of the 90s who can still be very well consider gen Y between alot of people. I would have talked to people born around the early to mid 2000s like people born in 2003 or 2005. How are people born around 95 or 98 the first to mostly grow up with social media stuff when it didn't even get very big until their teeagers years when smartphone blew up in 2012. I feel there is a cusp but I wouldn't go that far.

[@CP-jo9qz]

1995 little one

[@nka8857]

I'm gen Z (I was born in 2006) and my summary of us is that 99% of the kids on this gen are 11 and up kids who do drugs and have sex.

[@rileygraham8952]

gen z is 1995 - 2005 or some shit so its not surprising to see older people here, for all these comments saying they look like millenials gen z people are 13 - 23 now!

[@dr.blast__2713]

Gen z is 1996 to current day, honestly though

[@elipothesarcosuchus8758]

I'm here because of English class and I hate it

[@CP-jo9qz]

1995 to around 2010 is gen z , use your phone kids and do some research

[@CrusaderRAHHHH]

Memes

[@ruckboger]

In other words, they're young and don't have a clue. That's fair. But the title was a little misleading.

[@sliverforks7591]

so, there was a bunch of millennials pretending to be gen z. Like most gen z kids are still pretty young.

[@Vapor_Man650]

Very social? Great I look forward to being social with you

[@thumb9928]

I'm 12, have a therapy appointment in an hour and haven't slept in 3 days , consider death as a better option because I realized I'm not rlly special or smart or have anything that sticks out about me so I can't do anything useful with my life lmao.

[@KayliDaShizNit]

"Being part of gen z is always asking y"

[@Tufarock]

That's a good thing

[@bsansbanana510]

I’m apart of it and we’re just stupid and I find it funny😂😂😂

[@JohnDoe-ic8hy]

Or in a summary want things given to them. Average age now and days kids getting first job at 24. Yeah.. problem solving...

[@datboi7160]

Why are theses grown adults acting like their in generation z

[@alexnezhynsky9707]

Why Z? There's going to be no more generations after?

[@mennehgambia1962]

we the most fucked up people

[@dvolutionz6950]

Gen z 1995,2014

[@stumpytheclown]

why don't u talk to high school gen z

[@jaylinmsmith]

Most of these are MILENNIALS

[@professorbland]

it's not a thing.

[@trade_iv]

2000+ is genz lol these are wanna be millenials

[@bicuriousdirtbikeboi2594]

Nah. To me Gen Z is 2000 on

[@deedeemcgovern8125]

U have ready conversation on bible and Jesus art fun too. On bAcks of disney dreams hard work 100years ago wwone 1918 end 2018 silen ce generation then baby boomers we lived through old ways welcome tablet to my sharing tool i get to be portable

[@cooolrea8]

Gen z from 1996-2010 or from 1998

[@captainblackeye3138]

Officially, the start date is now 1997, that's what Pew Research is now using. 1995-1998 though I'd say are cusps, they could relate either way depending on their birth order in their family. If the youngest in their family, they could easily relate more to Gen Y. If the oldest, they could easily relate more to Gen Z.

[@trade_iv]

2000+ is genz lol these are wanna be millennials