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Behold Generation Z
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Behold Generation Z
By Kamal Siddiqi
Published: March 5, 2018
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The writer, a former editor of The Express Tribune, is director of the Centre for Excellence in Journalism at
IBA, Karachi. He tweets @tribunian

After the millennials, I am told comes Generation Zee. At

a workshop organised by IBA for staff recently, trainer
Asim Rashid informed us of not only the millennials but
Generation Z. One has to be ahead of the game – I
strongly believe in this as a parent and as a teacher. So I
listened closely to what Rashid told us.

To begin with, Generation Z, as they have been named,

are those born in 1995 or later. In comparison, a
millennial is a person reaching young adulthood around
the year 2000. A closer look suggests that my children are
in Generation Z while my current batch of students
comprises largely of millennials.

Generation Z (also known as Post-Millennials, the

iGeneration, Founders, Plurals, or the Homeland
Generation) is the demographic cohort following the
Millennials.

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The difference between the two is important to know in
order to prepare to stay relevant for the future. By the
way, in case you are wondering, I am Generation X. The
years 1965 to 1984 define Gen X so that Boomers, Xers,
and Millennials “cover equal 20-year age spans”. In many
cases, we are now parents and grandparents. And in
almost all, we are struggling in our interactions with the
succeeding generations.

The question of course is: why do we need to know all

this? To begin with, we need to understand the habits and
expectations that we can hold from this generation and
vice versa. In case you haven’t noticed already,
Generation Z is less focused and yet more familiar with
technology. It lives in a world of continuous updates and
processes information faster than other generations
thanks to apps like Snapchat and Vine. When you are
speaking to them and they are twiddling on their phone at
the same time, chances are they are indeed listening.

They will create a document on their school computer, do

research on their phone or tablet, while taking notes on a
notepad, then finish in front of the TV with a laptop, while
face-timing a friend. These traits, however, irritate us as
parents as well as teachers. My advice? Hold our peace.
Generation Z can quickly and efficiently shift between
work and play, with multiple distractions going on in the
background. This is how they are: we have to live with it.

Given how Generation X grew up on Jet Sport lollies and

litre-pack Polka ice-cream shared with the family, our
comparatively restricted childhood has affected our

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children. Millennials are mindful of money and prices.
They will do their research before buying online. But
Generation Z will simply buy. We, in comparison, don’t
even trust online sales.

Not only play, work will also change. In the West,

employers are predicting that more teens, between the
ages of 16 and 18 will go straight into the workforce,
opting out of the traditional route of higher education,
and instead finishing school online. Both blended and
online learning are also catching on in Pakistan. This trend
would mean lower class enrollments possibly ten years
from now.

Gen Z also has higher expectations than millennials.

Millennials remember playing solitaire, coming home to
dial-up internet and using CyberNet. Generation Z was
born into a world overrun with technology. What was once
taken as amazing and inspiring inventions are now taken
as a given for teens.

Finally, Gen Z is big on individuality and are global in

outlook. A vast majority have a digital footprint. Arguably
as a result of the celebrities and media they follow, Gen Z
seeks uniqueness in all walks of life. Hence the success of
services like Netflix which allow the new generation to
choose for itself.

But what does all of this have to do with us? To begin

with, both family structures and businesses have to
change to keep up. Gone are the dinners over 9 o’clock
Khabarnama. Cooking at home has become burdensome

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for those who prefer ordering from outside. The new
generation does not like to be told things. They prefer
being given options if at all.

While we are at it, let us also admit that they are smarter
than us. And much clearer about what they want – an
attitude which makes some elders lament that they are
selfish in their approach. Possibly, they are more
outspoken and honest in expressing their needs. It’s a
sea-change for all of us. Let us enjoy the ride.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5 th, 2018.

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