Everybody likes to make comments about how lazy, unemployed and sensitive Generation Z is. But the negative qualities that are often attributed to Gen Z can actually be positive.
Sometimes, people call Gen Z too depressed or sensitive. Yes, we may be focused on our mental well-being, but mental health awareness is important.
Our generation is more open to getting help and encouraging others to do the same, and there is so much less stigma around taking care of our mental health now, which can only be a good thing.
Not only is Gen Z attuned to their mental health, but they have also recognized the negative effects of not taking care of physical health.
According to a 2023 Gallup survey, Gen Z consumes the least amount of alcohol of any generation. While vaping and pouches have become a prevalent alternative way to consume nicotine, easy access to online information has made Gen Z more conscious of our health.
Though Gen Z is less attached to alcohol, we surely are attached to our smartphones. We were handed phones as teenagers and even as children, and the generations after us are receiving them even younger.
The pandemic made our reliance worse, as we were basically required to communicate on the phone and internet instead of in person for over a year. However, it wasn’t just Gen Z that had to rely on phones during the pandemic — it was everyone.
In fact, AARP research shows that older adults are spending increasingly more time on their devices, closing the gap with Gen Z, so it is a little hard to criticize our generation for relying on technology. We are all hooked to our screens, but Gen Z didn’t create those screens.
Gen Z also gets criticized for being “lazy” and not wanting to work, but we didn’t create the economy we live in. The job market is continually slowing down, and there are not nearly enough entry-level opportunities.
Furthermore, automated application systems sometimes take out great candidates before they get a chance to prove themselves, and older workers are delaying their own retirement because of the high cost of everything right now, resulting in lower job turnover.
It is also nearly impossible to buy a house in populated areas, and rent is increasing everywhere. The minimum wage in many states is too low to let people truly provide for themselves, college tuition and groceries are higher than ever and gas prices have doubled in my lifetime.
The list just goes on and on, and I hate being labeled lazy when everyone I know is either employed, a full-time student or actively seeking work.
This may seem like unnecessary complaining, but my generation finds solace in speaking out. According to a 2022 BBC report, 70% of Gen Z is involved in some kind of activism and is using online platforms to make their voices heard. Additionally, research from Pew Research Center shows our generation is the most diverse and educated thus far. From climate change to human rights, Gen Z is finding ways to raise awareness and fight for what we want. Ultimately, Gen Z is by no means perfect. But instead of criticizing each other, it’s time to work together to make the world a better place.
