Our generation may be stuck – but yours may be stuck in its thinking

 

(image by pexels, 3823542)

Our generation may be stuck – but yours may be stuck in its thinking

by Luzie Limbach (born 1999)

Gen Z – the youngest and yet one of the most conflicted generations. It includes people born between 1997 to today and its members are often perceived as self-centered, glued to their phones, dedicated to change but too politically correct, and ultimately lost within the uncertainty of their future. This is not the full story, however. These common misconceptions about my generation not only undermine communication between age groups, they also fuel the rising antipathy between older and younger generations, leading to ever-expanding generational divides. But what really makes us so different? And what can we do to prevent fights about things universal to all generations?

One of the prime examples when talking about Gen Z is that its members were born and raised in a highly technological world, thereby making them receptive to using all kinds of technological devices and interactions, such as social media. Although it still depends on when exactly you were born, compared to Gen X, Gen Z does have the advantage of a better understanding of all things concerning new media. Does that mean that all Gen Zs are smartphone zombies only receiving external gratification online? Not exactly. Instead of assuming that both generations can only be divided by their varying experiences with digital media, we should rather view it as creating an opportunity to learn from each other and confront the condescending stereotypes. In the same way we can help improve older generations’ use of technological devices, we might benefit from them teaching us  how not to overuse them, and possibly to rediscover the many pleasurable analogue activities that these days have all too often been supplanted by staring at a screen.

Another topic known for sparking discussions between these generations is sustainability and environmentalism. As a generation of the 21st century, confronted with the aftermath of decades of fossil fuel use and worsening climate change, and the sometimes inescapable feeling of impending doom, changing the world for the better has become some kind of generational duty. This demand to change individual behavior might cause conflict, especially between the youngest and older generations, as it often almost implies some kind of recrimination. Gen Z does not want to be solely responsible for problems developed over the last few decades, in the same way that Gen X does not want to be the scapegoat for all of them. Finding ways to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable therefore has to become a team effort, and thereby further helping to close generational gaps.

As with everything there is no quick fix to the concept of generational ‘war’, as it requires us to constantly challenge the received wisdom about what each generation is accountable for. Instead of emphasizing the differences between the generations, it demands an universal effort to overcome outdated stereotypes and unstick our thinking step by step.