The generation AFTER Millennials is going to change everything.
They think The Jetsons cartoon is about the past. They have an entirely new view of diversity. And, possibly most important, many of them are being raised by a Millennial generation that is breaking in two.
Watch this TEDx talk to see what parents, employers, and thinkers need to know–and why the talk received a rousing standing ovation.
“Gen Z, the generation after Millennials, will soon become the fastest growing generation of employees and customers. This new generation thinks email is snail mail and Facebook is what their grandparents like. Every parent, employer, marketer and neighbor needs to understand this new generation that is poised to change everything.”
~Jason Dorsey, leading Gen Z speaker and researcher
Gen Z, also known as iGen, Centennials or Founders, are part of a generation that begins around 1996. In the U.S., Gen Z has always viewed 9/11 as history.
Many of Gen Z’s behaviors, values, and communication preferences are already baffling older generations—even Millennials.
Here are two of Jason’s latest discoveries about the top trends shaping members of Gen Z as customers, employees, and citizens.
Technology
Since most of us are already dependent on using technology every day, you might think that Gen Z can’t possibly bring a deeper relationship to tech. But Jason shares how iGen takes it to the next level (and how we’ll all get there eventually, too). Members of iGen actually think pieces of technology in The Jetsons are things of the past, not the future! In fact, Gen Z is the greatest indicator we have of future technology trends that older generations will adopt.
Parenting
It can be argued that parenting is the greatest trend influencing behaviors across generations. Gen Z’s parents are Generation X and Millennials. Generation X does not want their kids to turn out like the Millennials (seriously) and Millennials are breaking into two different parenting generations. How Gen Z is parented will have a profound impact on all of us as they enter adulthood.
Many people say that the most thought-provoking point of Jason’s TEDx talk is:
“In generations, the changes and trends we’re seeing are actually rippling up instead of down.”
That means that trends are now starting with teens and rippling up to the rest of us in a way that makes iGen the true trendsetters for everyone, including their grandparents. This explains why Gen Z’s grandparents use Facetime and may make the jump to Snapchat–even if right now they think it is the most ridiculous thing ever.
Which, by the way, is how their grandparents felt about Facebook before they found all their old high school sweethearts. 😉
Can you take ten seconds to share the link to the video on your Facebook page or forward it by email to a few friends? Advancing this conversation is critical to bringing generations together around the world to solve the problems we are all facing.
You can forward this page, or you can forward the YouTube video directly by copying and pasting the video link: https://youtu.be/4f16o9Q0XGE
Thank you for taking a moment to bridge generations!
By watching this TEDx video, and spreading the word with your friends and colleagues, you can make sure the conversation about Gen Z is one that brings us together at a most critical time.
Jason during rehearsals the day before the TEDx event
Backstage right before the TEDx talk!
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