“Gen Z” Explained!

    We know so much. About most everything. We are proud of our knowledge and experience, delighted to pass along what we know to younger generations, and puzzled when we get responses like: “Yeah, OK.”

    So, today’s topic focuses on what we need to know and understand about Generation Z. These are folks who were born between 1997 and 2012, age range today of roughly 12 to 27.

    Look up “Gen Z” and you’ll find a treasure trove of information about this age group that we know and love, but about which we actually understand very little.

    These are our grandchildren. These are junior-high and high school students and athletes whom we watch playing sports and playing music, occasionally reading, excessively online, trying to find the right mix of entertainment and achievement. These are the new crop of hires in our offices and businesses who bring boundless energy and enthusiasm for the work, tempered with equal attention devoted to lifestyles and enjoyment.

    Understanding the rizz of this generational group will help us relate to them and strengthen important relationships. (Don’t know what “rizz” means? Keep reading.)

   Here are a few tidbits from a recent internet search (searching an information source that we think we know how to access, but actually are novices compared to younger folk). A few quotes:

• “Generation Z, colloquially known as Zoomers, succeeds Millennials and precedes Generation Alpha.”

• “As the first real digital natives, Gen Zers, generally, are extremely online.”

• “Zoomers, being digital natives, are known for being politically progressive and valuing social connections.”

• “Gen Z is the first generation to grow up fully connected digitally, without the rise of the internet that millennials experienced. They are known for working, shopping, dating and making friends online.”

• “Gen Z is considered the most politically progressive generation yet. Gen Z values work-life balance, and many agree they won’t work for a company that doesn’t offer a flexible schedule.”

• “Gen Z is the most likely generation to play games, has been most impacted by the pandemic, and is racially diverse—probably the last generation in the United States to be majority Caucasian.”

    And here’s an interesting post by an un-named high school senior:

“Generation Z has been named the generation of technology, the generation of lost childhood, the generation of ambition while lacking hard work. I find it odd to be labeled in this way. While we may be last in the alphabet, we are the first for almost everything else.”

    I’ve been reaching out to Gen Zers to ask about some of the things I’ve been hearing and seeing. Got confirmation about patterns of time spent online. Absent clear rules and expectations, many Zers would likely be spending significant time daily on their devices.

    Rules may not be the preference of Zers, but the value of limitations is acknowledged. And some Zers point out that the reality for most Generation Z individuals is not excessive screen time every day—that has become a common stereotype that is not necessarily true.

    Another observation from some Zers: The life expectancy of many cool and unusual terms is surprisingly short. Meteoric rise in the usage of some odd term is often followed by a dramatic fall. After everyone has used it for a year, often it gets tossed to the side of the road. “Who says that anymore?”

    Speaking of terms, how many of us know the intended meaning of the following terms, many in common usage (at least for now).

Amped: Excited

Ate: When someone delivers on something in a good way.

Bussin’: Means really good—food, an event or anything that is great

Cap: Means lie, or false.

Dank: Anything that is high quality or excellent

Drip: Cool, awesome, stylish. “So much swag!”

Gas: Awesome, dope

Gassing: Exaggerating someone else’s abilities

Ghosted: Ignored

Rizz: Charisma, the 2023 Word of the Year according to the Oxford English Dictionary

Salty: Angry, Upset, Bitter, Annoyed

Slaying it: Great performance; Like “You slayed that test.”

Vibing: Having a positive feeling

    OK, Thanks for reading. I’m off now, AFK. (Look up the meaning of “afk,” but only if you’re bussin’.)