Rally up, we’re the new and the best generation.
As of right now, Gen Zoomers (also known as Gen Z) is one of the youngest generations at this time. It is a generation that is responsible for shaping the next generations to come.
Gen Z, like every other generation, has its own unique qualities and experiences. There are a few things, though, that can be improved in this generation. However, there are many things about Gen Z that can help change the world for the better.
The time period for Gen Z started from 1997 and ended in 2012. The most prominent thing about this generation is technology. As technology has had such an impact on these people, it has been able to develop significantly. Many great events happened in this time period too. Old school views were starting to be replaced with a more modern way of thinking. Barack Obama being elected as the first African-American president took place during this period. Same-sex marriage was legalized after many hard fought years. These events show how views in society were becoming more broad and open-minded than before. Unfortunately, COVID-19 was also a big event that happened for Gen Z and it had many effects on the people within this generation. “I think COVID-19 stunted a lot of Gen Z socially, if not educationally. Setting people up at home in theory was a dream, but it caused many delays in curriculum and social dynamics,” sophomore Nick Wertz said.
Despite the achievements of Gen Z, there are still some negative aspects. Around the time Gen Z was established, school shootings were on the rise. In the past two decades, there have been more than 380 school shootings, according to the Washington Post data. These shootings have affected thousands of students and are part of the reason for terrible mental health issues. Another negative aspect about this generation is its addiction to technology. Although technology has some good effects, Gen Zoomers find themselves addicted to their phones most of the time. Many people can’t stay off the screen when there’s downtime and have to be constantly entertained. This could be a contributing factor to the poor mental health of Gen Z. Many studies have shown that depression and anxiety have dramatically increased in this particular generation. “Calling the findings about the emotional struggles of Generation Z young adults ‘alarming’, the researchers said 29% of them reported experiencing depression, versus 15% of teens, 36% of adults reported anxiety, compared to 18% of teens,” WBUR.org said.
However, despite all of the problems that occur in Gen Z, there are many positive traits that make this generation important. For starters, Gen Z is one of the most open-minded generations in our society. Many people born under this time period have a broader view on race, gender identity and feminine ideas. This generation also tends to be more vocal about obtaining equal rights for all people. Gen Z is also the most tech-savvy group of people in our time right now. Their knowledge on phones and computers are really useful in our world run by technology. This certainly helps when looking for a job or trying to create something new for the world to see. Being open about mental health struggles is also a big positive of this generation. Despite struggling with it too, many people in Gen Z believe that being open about your mental health is one of the best ways to stay healthy. This allows more people to seek help when they are struggling with their mental health. “Gen Z seems to be much more in touch with mental health. In my generation, we didn’t talk much about that… just keep it all bottled up, “Lauren Battcher, teacher at Bullitt East High School, said.
