When this audience were asked to describe themselves, the three key words used were: introvert, fast learner and driven. And it's a surprising finding that UK Gen Zers are three times more likely to describe themselves as introverts than extroverts.
In this way, Gen Z's resemble introverts—they are less motivated by team success, especially compared to Gen X and Boomers.
The reason being, Increase of the use of social media, people now talk to people digitally than physical confrontation used to be before, which makes people less exposed to people and situation.
According to Forbes, they are the “most extroverted generation.”
They tend to play it safe. That's very like the Silent gen. In fact, Time magazine gave Silents their name because they played it safe, keeping their heads down and not speaking out about issues like McCarthyism and civil rights. Silents were shaped by the Great Depression when millions of Americans lost their jobs.
Gen Z also faces an unprecedented behavioral health crisis: US Gen Zers surveyed by McKinsey report the least positive outlook and the highest prevalence of mental illness of any generation, and European respondents report struggling with self-stigma.
Gen Z and the Loneliness Epidemic
Business Insider's research further reveals that 60% of Gen Z has felt the grip of loneliness within the past year. Additionally, an alarming 30% of young people confess they are unsure how to make new friends (Vice, 2022), heightening their feelings of isolation.
Social media use is high for Gen Zs, and rose during the socially-isolated periods, because it was the only way to stay connected. And studies are finding that increased use of social media can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image and loneliness.
They are pragmatic and value direct communication, authenticity and relevance. They also value self-care. They may be more likely than older people were when they were the age of the Gen Zers to question rules and authority because they are so used to finding what they need on their own.
They Are Pragmatic and Financially Minded
Financial mindedness is another core characteristic of Generation Z. Many Gen Zers grew up watching their parents take huge financial hits during the Great Recession. Having witnessed their parents' struggles, this generation is driven by pragmatism and security.
A Tukey post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant differences for antisocial behaviors in Generation Z when compared to the 41-50+ age group. Significant differences between students were not found when examining the categories of sexual orientations and political affiliations.
Gen Z is a generation that has been characterized as having a notoriously short attention span. The average attention span of an individual in this demographic is said to be around 2.7 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the attention spans of previous generations.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
In fact, Stillman's consulting firm found that 84% of Gen-Z prefers in-person communication over text or email. But most importantly, Stillman points out that Gen-Z equates Zoom and other video chats to face-to-face conversation.
Even before the pandemic, social isolation was a growing concern among young people, with studies showing that rates of loneliness and social isolation have been increasing over the past decade. The pervasive use of technology is another factor that can impact Gen Z's mental health.
Purpose: Gen Z is often motivated by a sense of purpose and may be drawn to jobs and companies that align with their personal values and beliefs.
But Gen Zers are different from older generations, because they are the first consumers to have grown up wholly in the digital era. They're tech-savvy and mobile-first—and they have high standards for how they spend their time online.
Members of Gen Z are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation, and they are on track to be the most well-educated generation yet. They are also digital natives who have little or no memory of the world as it existed before smartphones.
Social media and technology use are major contributors to Gen Z depression. While technology has many advantages, it can also be a source of anxiety and stress. Excessive social media use has been linked to feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, and depression, according to research.
That perhaps has to do with the fact that the youngest generation in the workforce have only just entered it and are therefore more likely to hold entry-level positions. Mental health aspects may also be at play. According to the Mental Health Million Project, Gen Z has the lowest rates of overall mental wellness.
Gen Z and mental health. Regarding the stats, it's clear that Gen Z is struggling. A 2022 survey of Gen Z young adults (ages 19 through 24) found that 42% are diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Gen Z (42%) is about twice as likely as Americans over 25 (23%) to battle depression and feelings of hopelessness.
And a survey of 600 individuals found that Gen Z is the most unhappy generation at work. Just 59% of Gen Z workers are happy, compared to 69% for Baby Boomers and 76% for Millennials and Gen X. In addition, 9% of Baby Boomers are unhappy at work, compared to 26% of Gen Z and 13% for Gen X and Millennials.
They're avid gamers. If there's one thing this generation loves to do, it's game. It's a hugely popular pastime for this group, particularly gaming on smartphones. Almost 9 in 10 Gen Z game on any device.