Gen Zers are digital natives. Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with Internet access, playing on computers and tapping on smartphones – and some members can't remember a life without them. Technology is simply part of the fabric of everyday life, rather than a tool they use.
Generation Z considers itself more accepting and open-minded than any generation before it. Almost half of Gen Zs are minorities, compared to 22% of Baby Boomers, and the majority of Gen Z supports social movements such as Black Lives Matter, transgender rights, and climate change.
On the other hand, Gen Z students are digital natives who prefer an independent learning style with less passive but more visual and kinaesthetic learning. They also desire convenience and are open to honest feedback (Issacs et al., 2020).
Zoomers Believe in On-demand Learning
This is not the case when it comes to learning. In terms of education, Gen Zs believe in a collaborative approach where everyone's learning speed matters. On the other hand, millennials believe in a setting that everyone should learn at the same pace.
Many Generation Z students believe that higher education is important. However, they place a lot of their attention on value, especially because they are overwhelmed by the cost of college.
Gen Z folks are fast tech-savvy learners and strategic spenders. They are determined, creative, and collaborative students who want to make positive change and secure a stable future for themselves.
Seven Top Social Issues for Gen Z. Seven issues have commanded the attention of Generation Z so far. These are: 1) health care; 2) mental health; 3) higher education; 4) economic security; 5) civic engagement; 6) race equity; and 7) the environment.
Gen Z wants engaging, interactive learning experiences. They want to be challenged, they want to be empowered to make their own decisions, and as digital natives, they expect technology to play an instrumental role in their educational experience.
Gen Z is interested in programs focused on skills development and career preparation. 44% of high school students say landing a solid job is a top priority, with 50% citing future costs as a concern, according to ECMC Group.
Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with smartphones glued to their hands. That's how they communicate, consume information, connect to opportunities and, more importantly, learn new things. They are active, fast, and independent learners who want to connect everything they hear, see and read to the real world.
In a study by Seemiller and Grace (2016), more than 70% of Generation Z college students identified with characteristics of loyalty, thoughtfulness, determination, compassion, open-mindedness, and responsibility.
Generation Y, often referenced to as millennials, were raised by Baby Boomers, while Generation Z has less hands-on parents from Generation X. This alone impacts their values, which are often reflections of how they were raised.
Gen Z activists and their older peers are united in their concern over the same issues – climate destruction, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights – but their voices appear louder and more urgent because they have more ways to source inspiration, disseminate information and mobilise.
70% of Gen Z say that anxiety and depression are significant problems among their peers. ² 30% of parents surveyed felt that their child was experiencing negative effects on their emotional or mental health due to social distancing and school closures.
Provide career growth opportunities
They are a constantly evolving generation and they desire a job that suits their need to develop and grow. Gen Z-ers are ambitious and they're always on the lookout for advancement in their careers, so they can be easily motivated if you provide a pathway to career development.
Inflation is the top problem Gen Z and Millennials name as the biggest they are facing today. Over-dependence and addiction to technology ranked second as the top problem among young people for the first time. However, racism and COVID-19 are still top concerns for these gens.
Gen Z prefers microlearning; with so much information trying to get past their filter, standing out from the noise is key to engagement. Keeping it simple, but sparking their curiosity can hook them into paying attention to your mission.
First-generation students often experience guilt over leaving their families and possibly their financial responsibilities at home. Many first-gen students feel badly that they have an opportunity other family members did not have, as well as guilt over feeling as though they are rejecting their past and community.
Be Authentic
Sending fewer, more meaningful messages will increase your reach and impact. Gen Z students will be grateful for deadline updates and missing form reminders. “They're getting overloaded with a lot of messaging. It's really easy to see and believe when something's not authentic or worth their time.
Gen Z Is Inspired Most By The Real People In Their Lives
We know consumers are more likely to follow creators who look, act and live lives they can relate to—like everyday people—vs. celebrities or even social celebrities.
Millennials are the most educated generation ever. This trend is likely due to higher income returns from a college education, as well as many young people choosing to wait out the recession and lack of jobs by staying in or returning to school.