5 Unique Traits Associated With Gen Z

Generation Z, otherwise referred to as iGen or Zoomers, is that demographic cohort born between 1997 and 2012. Those who belong to Gen Z were the first generation to have been born without the experience of life without modern technology and are thus referred to as "digital natives." Growing up with constant exposure to new technology, along with social media, the political climate of the 2010s, and a pandemic are jointly responsible for shaping Gen Z values. The Gen Z upbringing has, therefore, resulted in a surprisingly perceptive and pragmatic group of individuals with unique traits and skills that prove useful in a technology-driven world.

Of course, the iGen cohort have experienced novel concerns that previous generations have yet to contend with, such as the rise of mental illness and the cost of living crisis. However, such is the case with all past generations and older folk should look at future generations with an empathetic and open-minded approach to better understand the people who will go on to shape the future of society. Learning to understand the values and traits of the Gen Z population will help friends, families, and employers embrace the changes to come.

Now, this may seem obvious, but what researchers really mean when they talk about the benefits of growing up alongside technology is that they possess an unparalleled ability to search and scan for information on websites, applications, and the like through their advanced digital processing skills. For instance, according to psychologist and research associate Ivan Brkljačić, "when Generation Z members open a website, they just 'fly' through the screen, scanning images, symbols and captions, allowing them to instantly decide where to click with the mouse," per a study published in the Proceedings of IAC in Vienna 2022.

Aside from being more adept at navigating digital landscapes, the iGen population also experiences the online world differently than previous generations. Where millennials will remember typing "g2g" (got to go), logging off, and leaving their computer room before dinnertime, the line between online and offline have blurred completely for the younger generations. "For me, online and offline are one and the same, basically the same thing, integrated," one Gen Zer told the authors of "Gen Z, Explained: The Art of Living in a Digital Age." The long-term effects of this now superfluous boundary have yet to be fully studied, so it's too early to say if the advantages of a society fluent in the language of technology are enough to outweigh any social and mental health drawbacks.

Another advantage of growing up during the digital age is the ability to multitask — or multiscreen, to be more accurate. Generation Z is accustomed to juggling tasks and spreading their attention between tablets, laptops, smartphones, friends, and schoolwork. They often use multiple screens at once, maintaining high levels of productivity in a world of pocket-sized distractions. However, this leads to serious concerns over the quality of interaction and connection experienced by these individuals, as well as the fact that frequently switching tasks may actually be impacting their focus.

For instance, earning the undivided attention of a Gen Zer for a certain length of time can sometimes feel impossible, according to a 2019 survey conducted by Cint on behalf of Business Insider. "Something my generation struggles with is that being with people and being on the phone at the same time is a huge problem," said one survey participant. "It's a huge problem because they're doing two things, but they're not really engaged." Although the ability to take class notes while simultaneously binge-watching the latest episode of your favorite Netflix show seems like a useful trick, the question of whether this form of multitasking proves effective or beneficial to these young people in the long-run is debatable.

The Gen Z cohort are mindful consumers, albeit not necessarily in the sense that they refrain from over-consumption but in that they are selective with the brands and companies with which they interact. Growing up facing highly targeted advertising online, along with digital literacy skills, has led to a group of vocal consumers that don't hold back from sharing their opinions and criticisms of major brands that don't align with their social values. For instance, a 2017 survey conducted by Cone Communications found that 94% of Gen Z believes that companies should uphold corporate social responsibility by showing support for social and environmental concerns such as climate change, sustainability, racial equity, and mental health (via Forbes).

This desire for social and environmental change influences the products they buy and the companies they choose to work for. To Gen Z, major corporations can and should address these larger issues and they're not shy about calling out brand leaders that don't align with their values. "Gen Z is definitely very direct," said Megan Brophy, vice president of marketing at Abercrombie & Fitch, during the 2023 Lead Innovation Summit (via EMarketer). "They're very transparent. They want realness. They want authenticity." Their outspoken values and demand for greater corporate responsibility have impacted the future of marketing, but the authenticity of these brands and their so-called changes are another matter entirely.

Some individuals believe that Gen Zers mature faster than Millenials, making them look much older than their age. For instance, a young woman shared a TikTok video to explain how someone believed her to be somewhere in her early 30s when, in reality, she was only 23 years old. Similar stories can be found online with many Gen Z folks claiming that their generation is "aging like milk." Some attribute this premature aging to the stress-inducing events that took place during their formative or adolescent years, referring namely to the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, while others chalk it up to the overuse of retinol and cosmetic enhancements.

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That said, certain experts deny this phenomenon completely. "That's biologically implausible," Professor Meredith Jones, a cultural theorist at Brunel University London, told Dazed. However, participating in certain trends can make you appear older. "Certainly fillers and Botox can make everyone look the same age — for example, Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian look like twins in their latest Instagram photos," said Professor Jones. "A lot of cosmetic work makes the old look younger and, by default, the young look older, because they look the same. So rather than thinking 'oh, everyone looks 25 now' we tend to think 'oh, everyone looks somewhere between 45 and 75'." Therefore, "tweakment" injections such as Baby Botox are one of the Gen Z trends you should skip if you don't want to look older, along with vaping, which isn't just bad for your lungs but harsh on your skin as well.

According to Stanford University scholar Roberta Katz — the co-author of the book "Gen Z, Explained: The Art of Living in a Digital Age" — "a typical Gen Zer is a self-driver who deeply cares about others, strives for a diverse community, is highly collaborative and social, values flexibility, relevance, authenticity and non-hierarchical leadership, and, while dismayed about inherited issues like climate change, has a pragmatic attitude about the work that has to be done to address those issues" (via the Stanford Report). As such, earning the attention and loyalty of Gen Z members requires backing up claims and ideas with concrete data. Due to their access to diverse knowledge and worldwide connections, Zoomers have also grown up to become self-reliant individuals with the ability to work collaboratively when needed.

"For those who are now experiencing Gen Zers in the workplace, my advice is to recognize that these new colleagues are used to working collaboratively and flexibly, with an eye to being efficient in getting the job done. They are pragmatic and value direct communication, authenticity and relevance," Katz added. "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." The propensity toward self-sufficiency, due to their limitless access to online knowledge, results in sensible individuals with an open-minded and non-conventional approach to solving problems and completing tasks.