Through the millennia of human society, we have organized ourselves into generations- humans born in set periods of time that have a significant impact upon our society and culture. In this crowd, the first generation to start having a taste of the ever-growing power of technology is Gen Z. As a generation, we have our strengths. We are adaptable to our technological environment, have our singular point of view and our very independent identities. But needless to say, we also have our downfalls. We are stubborn, we are technology-dependent and we are lazy. Nonetheless, we are here to stay as the future ambassadors of this fast-progressing 21st century. We are the ‘Gen Z’!
Strong, Different and Assertive
We have our strengths, and we have found ways to draw these strengths to fight through challenges. We have come together to start abolishing some traditions that do not match our style. Our self-righteousness has also made for the right to stand up to other people no matter their age. This is especially true when it comes to elders. Now there is no denying that we still respect our elders, but it doesn’t mean that we will endure falsehoods or accusations from people older than us quietly. We definitely know how to be assertive and stand our ground.
We have also become much more connected with each other; this extends to people beyond our families. With the conception of the internet and its modern-day capabilities, we can connect to each other over the computer. Without really seeing the other person, or knowing where they come from or what racial ethnicity they belong to, we are ready to embrace the ones who seem to be our kind. While many argue that the internet is a very wide and dangerous place, it also means that you won’t be judged like in real life. You are essentially a blank slate yet you can make bonds regardless of where you come from.
Not really So Perfect
But we aren’t the perfect generation and we never will be. The problems for our generation are a byproduct of our environment. We tend to ‘not’ put in a lot of effort or use half the amount of brain power as the previous generations. With the advent of technology and its ever-increasing capabilities, we have grown more and more dependent on it as a means to an end. We have started using AI for doing school work and plagiarising essays for assignments. We have started to use technology as a means to cheat our way through school instead of using it as a tool to increase our scope of view.
Our dependency on technology is a very two-sided blade. As an advancing civilization, we are growing more and more dependent on technology. We do not seem functional without buttons and gadgets. But of course, total dependency is simply pushing us towards a robotic lifestyle which indeed is worrisome. If technology was to be taken away from us, then almost all human progress would be reduced to rubble. Sometimes I think, we would be reduced to rubble. But whether or not being dependent on technology is a good thing, we as the current generation and for all the generations to come are yet to understand. What we do understand for the time being is that we must learn to control this gift of human ingenuity instead of letting it control us.
We are Emerging
Gen Z is still in the cradling era. We are emerging during a time when technology is only just starting to fully show off the possibilities available to us. But as humans, we still need to keep our heads in the game. We cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into a sense of false security. Vigilance is a virtue that Gen Z will have to cling on to in our day and age.
Also, we will have to exercise our strengths! Embracing the winds of change blowing towards us, we have started a cultural reform in which we appeal more to the individual human instead of sticking to traditions. We as a generation still embrace tradition, but we refuse to let it control us. Now only if we could do the same with technology.
This is Gen Z, a generation who is having their backsides on a chair while they have technology slave away at menial tasks. We have become a global civilization by connecting over distance with great ease that previously would have been quite difficult. We continue to explore and improve our own capabilities to propel ourselves to new heights. But who knows, there might come a day when a crazy eccentricity might break us. Only time will tell the story of our generation. How we continue, how far we’ll go and what we will achieve is anybody’s guess. But what I know for sure is that we are hopeful, welcoming and rational.
This is how I describe my generation- the Gen Z.
Writer : Ethan
Grade : 10 (Year 2023)
Place : Sydney, Australia
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