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.
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.
Gen Z Terms and Definitions
Pew Research recently defined Gen Z as anyone born 1997 onwards. Gen Z grew up with technology, the internet, and social media, which sometimes causes them to be stereotyped as tech-addicted, anti-social, or “social justice warriors.”
Some 42 percent of Gen Z workers value work-life balance, remote working and flexible leave as their top priorities when looking for a job, according to a recent U.S. survey. What's more, this generation prioritize jobs where they can expand their skills and broaden their talents and experience.
From climate change to mental health, social equity among race and gender identities, gun control and economic concerns, Gen Z is leading the charge for change on a variety of fronts. Here's a closer look at some of the top Gen Z social issues.
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.
Gen Z values flexibility and may be motivated by the ability to have control over their own schedule and work-life balance. As a manager, you can help motivate your Gen Z employees by offering flexible work arrangements and by being open to discussing individual employees' needs in this regard.
Gen Z is the most technologically savvy to the older generations and can adapt quicker than most. 72% of Gen Z are creative and want to start their own businesses and they are able to multitask more than any other generation.
According to a 2021 Consumer Culture Report by 5WPR, Gen Z is prioritizing electronics, technology, health, and wellness. Conversely, Millennials and those from older generations prioritize travel and experiences, home goods, and furniture.
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.
Money causes everyone stress, but Generation Z tops the list for financial anxiety. According to a 2019 Experian survey, Generation Z is anxious about money. 51% of Gen Zers are afraid money issues will prevent them from doing what they want in life.
Gen Z is also the smartest and best educated generation. Having an unlimited wealth of information at our disposal has not gone to waste. In America, 57 percent of Gen Z is reported to have enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 52 percent of Millenials and 43 percent of Gen X.
They are pragmatic and financially-minded
Financial mindedness is another core characteristic of Generation Z. Many Gen Z‑ers 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.
Our data found the people that Gen Z trusts the most—family members (88 percent), friends (84 percent) and ordinary people doing good (81 percent)—far outrank journalists (47 percent), religious/faith leaders (44 percent) and politicians (42 percent) as sources of inspiration.
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.
Gen Z is very concerned about their ability to communicate and forge strong interpersonal relationships. This may be due to the fact that technology has negatively impacted their cognitive skill development, and they recognize that their social skills, like critical thinking and communication, are weak.
The research from the Walton Family Foundation and Murmuration, conducted by John Della Volpe and Social Sphere, shows that more members of Generation Z are grappling with mental health issues than people from older generations.
Emphasize Visual Content
Gen Z consumers want short, snappy videos and eye-catching graphics. If you try to attract them with large blocks of text, they're likely to just scroll past.
Gen Z is the most materialistic generation today, according to a report by Bank of America. Gen Z, ages 10 to 25 per Beresford Research, are much more driven by financial success than millennials and Gen X.
The Deloitte and Robin surveys both show that Gen Z and millennials want a better work-life balance, better learning and development opportunities, improved mental health and wellness support, and a greater commitment from businesses to make a positive societal impact.
For Gen Z, the definition of success isn't material wealth, but rather a life filled with purpose, impact and love. It's been said that money isn't everything, and that one can't buy happiness. Members of Gen Z seem to understand this intuitively, and it shapes how they make life decisions, large and small.
One-third (32%) of Gen Z respondents say they are the hardest-working generation ever, with Millennials ranked as the second-hardest working generation at 25%. More than half (56%) say the Silent Generation is the least hardworking generation of all time.