5 factors defining Generation Z
Generation Z born from 1995 to 2009, were shaped in the era that society started looking at screens more than at faces.
Therefore, many of the names given to this generation highlight the impact of the digital era on their formative years: the net generation; screenagers, click n go kids, the igen, the Ygen, generation connected, Google generation, the digital natives, the dot.com kids.
Not only is technology globally ubiquitous, but we as humans are significantly outnumbered by technologies.
Today there are almost 50 billion connected devices on the planet – that is seven times larger than the number of people!
This generation of children and teenagers will comprise almost one third of the entire workforce within a decade.
Five factors defining Generation Z
1. Digital
Digital change is constant, ubiquitous and fast.
There have been periods of intensive change in history before, of course. But unlike other periods of significant upheaval – the agricultural or industrial revolutions, for example – the digital revolution has no borders or boundaries. Half of the world now use a smartphone, and 75% have access to a mobile device.
What’s more, emerging economies are adopting technologies as fast – or in some cases faster – than developed parts of the world. For example, 12% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have a mobile money account, while globally only 2% do.
2. Global
Generation Z are our first truly global generation. Not only are the music, movies, and celebrities global as has been the case for previous generations, but through our global connectedness so are their fashion, foods, entertainment, social trends, and communication patterns.
3. Social
Generation Z are social in nature.
If social media sites were countries, Facebook would be the largest at 1.5 billion, followed by China at 1.4 billion, India at 1.3 billion and Instagram at 400 million.
4. Mobile
Constantly on the go, moving from place to place – they are moving homes, jobs, and careers faster than ever before.
Today’s school leaver is expected to have 17 jobs across 5 careers and live in 15 homes in their lifetime.
5. Visual
YouTube is a close 2nd global search engine, and more than 100 hours of content gets uploaded every minute. If you were to watch just the content that has been put up this week, it would take you 115 years.
For more information
If you found this article interesting, download our Understanding Generation Z Report and Infographic for more information on how to recruit, train and lead the next generation.
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