Siara's Thoughts on Gen Z

The standard for the skills needed to survive is an ever changing, intangible concept. In the late 1800s, one did not need to know how to drive a car, but they did need to know how to ride a horse. By the 1960s, the skill needed to be able to ride a horse had become obsolete. Does that mean that the people of the 1960s were less competent or skilled than their grandparents? Not necessarily, because those same grandparents might not know how to drive a car. This paradoxical relationship applies to Gen Z.

Frequently described as nihilistic, Gen Z, born between 1997-2012, has faced a unique challenge when it comes to adapting to society. Gen Z grew up in the Internet Age, where computers and cell phones were always at their fingertips. Phone books soon became phased out in favor of establishments having their number and address online. Social media became popular and a normal, less personal mode of communication. However many people argue that Gen Z has lost touch with their soft skills. The dichotomy between Gen Z simultaneously gaining and losing skills is truly a discussion of how generational attitudes influence the skills a generation acquires.

Soft skills being things such as communication, leadership, problem solving, and empathy, are some of the things older generations argue Gen Z lacks. While there are also more tangible things such as not knowing how to drive a car or filing taxes, I would argue that Gen Z’s tangible loss is not as significant as their gain. When examining a generation, one must understand that they are not a monolith. There might be one or one hundred thousand people in a generation that feel a certain way or have a certain skill that are considered a minority amongst a generation. In looking specifically at what Gen Z has “lost,” there are really evolutionary things to look at. Upon a simple Google search, many people argue that Gen Z cannot understand things like dial up, floppy disks or roll down windows. While some people did experience this when it comes to using an old system, taking a special interest in the history or even having older objects (especially when it comes to older Gen Z) these specific items have simply turned into something else. Dial up has turned into wifi, manual cars are automatic, Limewire is Apple Music, etc. When it comes to generations “losing” skills, it truly is a reflection of how fast we have evolved over time.

While these skills might have been lost by a majority of Gen Z, it pales in comparison to what they have gained. Technological skills are extremely useful in today’s society. The ability to order an Uber, order food, check one’s location, make a document into a pdf and more are small examples of how Gen Z uses technology to their advantage. Grander examples are presented during the 2020 election when Gen Z bought out tickets to former president Donald Trump’s rally only to not show up and make a statement. The foundation of the #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo movement come from social media as well. While many people argue that smart phones have made us less connected, and there is an argument to be made for it, the ability to see someone’s face through a call for free no matter the distance is an advent that has been at Gen Z’s fingertips since they were kids.

Gen Z’s interpersonal skills come through when examining their cultural attitude. The “vibe” of Gen Z is that of taking care of each other, being politically cognizant and being aware of other cultures as the most diverse generation to come. The constant exposure to other cultures as well as unfiltered, unfettered access to the internet has created generational sayings and sentiments. Tiktok has been a guiding factor in Gen Z’s development, taking the place of X or Instagram since COVID; during many Gen Z’s formative years. Many Gen Z rely on Tiktok for news and politics. While the videos are able to be scrolled past, the presence of videos on many people’s apps has been able to cause revolutions.

While there are some things Gen Z has “lost,” it implies it is gone forever. The Internet Age has given us access to almost everything that has existed, ever. As seen on many social media platforms, especially Tiktok, people have taken on an 1800s aesthetic, people still churn butter, people still ride horses, etc. These things have not been lost, they can be regained as people see fit, but they might not be necessary as time goes on. The cultural attitude amongst Gen Z has greatly impacted what skills we think are useful, rather than another generation's idea of usefulness.