Generation Z
Generation Z is the generation of people living in Western or First World cultures that follows Generation Y. Experts differ on when the earliest members of Generation Z were born, as the generation is still in its infancy, with some members yet to be born, making it difficult for demographers to determine the proper cohort.[1][2] Several other names have been used to refer to this population group, including "Generation V" (for virtual),[3] "Generation C" (for community or content), "Generation Cox" [4] , "The New Silent Generation",[5] the "Internet Generation", the "Homeland Generation",[6] or even the "Google Generation". There has been very little noteworthy media attention for this generation as the current generation coming of age is the Millennials.
Defining traits
A number of different traits have been ascribed to the generation. It is claimed that members of Generation Z are very active consumers, with a high degree of influence over their parents' purchasing decisions,[7][8][9] They are highly connected, having had lifelong use of communications and media technologies such as DVDs, the World Wide Web, instant messaging, text messaging, iPods and cellular phones, earning them the nickname "digital natives".[10][11][1]
They have grown up in a world with widespread equality of the sexes at work and at home, and where single-parent or same-sex parent families are commonplace, as are two-income families.[3][12][1]. Due to the vast technology available to this generation, some speculate this generation may produce the next great artists and literary figures of the 21st century, similar to how the Silent Generation produced the most important of the 20th. Some sources claim that Generation Z will be more conservative than the "anything goes" Generation Y. [13] Their lives are full of structured activities, and a number of social researchers anticipate members of Generation Z will have a strong social conscience and work ethic – though researcher Hugh Mackay disagrees, saying that Generation Z is more indulged and anti-social than Generation Y.[1]
A study performed by Jan Van den Bulck of the Catholic University of Leuven on mobile phone addiction found that most teenagers have been wakened at night due to incoming text messages, and use of social networking sites such as MySpace that 20% regularly have sleep problems due to night time text messaging exchanges.[14]
Other names
Due to the poorly defined "starting date" of Generation Z as well as its members having many traits in common with Generation Y, a number of names have been applied to both generations.
Authors Strauss and Howe have suggested the name "Millennials" to define a group born from 1982 to some time after 2000,[15] with the name "New Silent Generation" proposed for the generation that follows it.[16] "The Internet Generation" is another popular name for the youth culture, although it has also been applied to members of Generation Y.[17][18] "Generation Now" has been suggested to reflect the "culture of immediacy" the generation is exposed to.[19]
Generation C
The term "Generation C" has also been used, with the "C" having multiple, often simultaneous meanings: "click", "content", "connected", "computer"[20] "community",[21] "cox", "creative",[22] and "celebrity"[23] have all been suggested. The American Press Association's Media Center describes Gen C as "creating, producing and participating in news in a connected, informed society."[24] Like the "Internet Generation", this term has been used in reference to both Generation Y and Generation Z.
In May 2006, New Zealand's Idealog magazine published an article "Meet Generation C", which brought together many of the already-identified characteristics of Generation C. The article compared Generation C to the archetypical Renaissance Man or Woman, positing that the rise in creative expression was due to the same conditions that led to the renaissance - namely trade and widespread peace.[25]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Parenting - Life & Style Home - smh.com.au
- ^
A survey of sources:
An Educator's Guide to Information Literacy says "in or after 1990";
McCrindle Research, "1995";
Fundamentals of Library Supervision, "after 1995";
The New Recruit, "1996";
Investment Megatrends, "1998";
IBISWorld Research, "2001";
Strauss and Howe, in their 1991 book Generations predicted "2001", but more recently have suggested "200?"
Three stories published by news.com.au offer three different dates: "after 1991", "1995 onwards", and "born since 1998". - ^ a b Ask an Expert: Avoid hard sell when marketing to younger generations - USATODAY.com
- ^ http://www.cable360.net/cablefaxmag/business/marketing/20970.html
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=IrAJSBcZUAkC&pg=PA18&dq=%22generation+z%22&sig=ACfU3U0T5qSs9lH9mVVh2xTPiiIpMUISbA#PPA18,M1
- ^ http://www.morningsun.net/opinions/x1246329655/Packed-in-cotton-wool
- ^ Book: 'What Women Really Want'
- ^ Augusta Georgia: features@ugusta: Clothing for 'Generation Z' more demanding 06/02/99
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=IV0YhsMHZ4wC&pg=PA59&dq=%22generation+z%22&lr=&sig=ACfU3U1B60MdWyXW9SLLvXR6sYIpVS2WzA
- ^ The generation Z connection: teaching information literacy to the newest net generation. | Teacher Librarian (February, 2006)
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=EM7xXAx9vcQC&pg=PA14&dq=%22generation+z%22&lr=&sig=ACfU3U3t_wyBuSo2zg814sy-GPDbgOu4mA
- ^ It pays to know your XYZ | Herald Sun
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23270222-5007133,00.html "They will have more degrees, certificates and more diplomas than any other generation preceding them."
- ^ Mobile phones and video games 'are depriving children of sleep' - Science, News - The Independent
- ^ Lifecourse Associates: Generations
- ^ Lifecourse Associates: Millennial Fourth Turning
- ^ Internet generation riding technological wave into the future, Arizona Star (AP story)
- ^ The Emergence of the Millennial Generation: A Golden Age for the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector?
- ^ Talking to Generation Now (November 14, 2006)
- ^ Social networking online Resources
- ^ futuretext - Communities Dominate Brands
- ^ Ch-ch-changes :: Idealog :: the magazine and website of creative New Zealand business, ideas and innovation
- ^ GENERATION C | An emerging consumer trend and related new business ideas
- ^ Meet Generation C
- ^ Meet Generation C: Renaissance revisited :: Idealog :: the magazine and website of creative New Zealand business, ideas and innovation
Further reading
- John Palfrey: Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives, Basic Books, 2008, ISBN 978-0465005154
External links
- Generation Z McCrindle Research.
- Generation Z in Israel (in Hebrew). Research by Nimrod Kamer, Firma, Globes, July 2008.