“Young adults are ‘too relaxed’ and do not care about the crisis.” The pandemic branded digital natives as careless, unconcerned, and many other characteristics. Two years on, and a bunch of universities and researchers have curiously been intruding into the lives of Gen Z (those born in the late nineties, till the end of 2010), to find out more about their attitude, anxiety, and how they perceive the world that is filled with challenges for most of us.
Yes, Gen Z is the cynosure of attention. No other generation has attracted the eyes of the world as much as this one. The reason is simple, while most countries have aging populations and declining birth rates, GenZ is currently the largest generation on Earth. ‘Impatient’, ‘distracted’, ‘weird’, ‘unconstrained’, and ‘unconcerned’ are the frequently conferred labels they live with. The unbelievable thing is that the generations that have pushed Gen Z into electronic devices, global warming, food insecurity, and homelessness are the same generations that have been labelling them for their inability to wait, understand, and contribute. And this was not enough. Finally, the pandemic had to arrive, and it turned out to be a major event impacting their lives. In the years when their long-lasting values are still being shaped, it is indeed abrupt, a sudden jolt to their stable environment with a so-called robust economy. Several studies before the pandemic had already highlighted higher rates of depression and anxiety, and a need for emotional support; being less resilient than older generations; and disinterestedness in face-to-face contact with other people. So, if this was earlier, what would it be like today.
Can we call these the best years of their lives anymore? Can we think of a worse time than this to enter the job market? Do we understand their anxieties about moving in a virtual world now layered with loads of uncertainty? None of us could ever imagine that this pandemic would prove to be the most defining moment for this generation, impacting not only their social lives but even their future education and career plans. These disruptions mean nothing to us. The inability to date their friends, the ambiguity to plan for the academic growth and the craving to pursue their hobbies, these really mean nothing to us.
The plight is that we consider them lucky and safe to not have been infected by the virus.
There are good things too, but we do not want to observe these. Gen Z can relate well with their grandparents, the so-called Baby Boomers. Their sense and need for financial security is similar to their grandparents. Gen Z are pragmatic, they value relationships, and they love people no matter how different they are or how “astonishing” their lifestyles might be. They like to be self-starters and often find creative ways of dealing with their challenges. They dislike hypocrisy and are unenthusiastic to follow the institutions merely because of it being a tradition. They value authenticity and avoid being judgemental.
Our inability to appreciate them is nothing but our own loss.
Dr Benazir Patil is the Chief
Executive Officer of SCHOOL