Some of the most common accusations against Generation Z (Gen Z), made by members of older generations, are about Gen Z’s supposed incompetence, our delay in achieving milestones and rites of passage, and our validity as “adults.”
While it seems to be a common occurrence that differences in values, culture, economic backdrop, technological landscape, and other things cause generations to war with each other, the charges that have been brought forth against Gen Z carry a weight that is often felt among members of the generation. Are we, as a generation, truly stunted? Are the generations that came before us better at being “adults” than us?
I will start by addressing the claim that Gen Z is helpless. According to The Independent, a survey commissioned by the Nationwide Building Society shows that 41% of Gen Z, aged 16-28, report finding themselves lacking confidence with DIY tasks such as bleeding a radiator or changing a lightbulb. Alongside this, recent studies from the University of Stavanger found that around 40% of Gen Z is losing the skills of handwriting and handwritten communication. Practical skills like these seem to be in decline in this generation.
Additionally, according to neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, citing a 2023 study involving 15-year-olds internationally, Gen Z is the first generation in modern history to be less cognitively capable than the previous generation. From these examples, data seems to show that Gen Z is lacking in more than just practical skills, but in overall cognitive ability.
Gen Z has also been criticized for a purported delay in meeting important milestones and rites of passage, such as working a first job, acquiring a driver’s license, and drinking on our 21st birthdays. While not every one of these events is of massive individual importance, together they seem to spell out the idea that we as a generation are developing more slowly, behaving more childishly or are stunted compared to the generations of our parents. Even within the generation, many individuals report feeling as though they are reaching milestones such as homeownership and career stability far later than their parents.
The numbers do not seem to be in favor of Gen Z’s ability to call ourselves “adults,” but before we jump to any rash conclusions, let’s take a moment to think about the why. Drastic shifts in trends and rituals that have existed for generations don’t just happen out of thin air. Gen Z was born into a world of drastic social, political, economic, environmental and technological shifts that have greatly influenced the way we have developed. We were born into the age of the internet, went to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have had to deal with higher living costs, a drastically changing job market landscape, and increased social and ethical consciousness and responsibility.
According to the 2024 Better Money Habits study, about half of Gen Z cite the cost of living as one of their main financial struggles. Inflation has made it difficult for many young adults in Gen Z to afford housing, food and other necessities as easily as previous generations were able to. Alongside this, the current U.S. job market has become more prohibitive, with NBC claiming that the post-college unemployment rate has risen from 4.1% in June of this year to 5.7% in August.
Gen Z young adults were born into a time of drastic technological advancement and change, defined by advancements such as smartphones, the internet and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many consider Gen Z to have grown up alongside the internet, immersed in internet culture and social media. This shifting technological landscape has had profound effects on our mental health and our way of interacting with the world. Recent technological developments, particularly AI, have made the technological landscape even more nuanced, overwhelming and important for us. According to Martin Korte, a professor of neurobiology, convenient technologies like these can lead to cognitive offloading and reduced brain activity. We are forced to grapple with these risks while still being expected to utilize these technologies as tools.
Gen Z has also experienced increased social consciousness, responsibility and activism compared to previous generations. According to United Way, 32% of Gen Zers (compared with 24% of millennials) are regularly engaged in activism or social work, much of which takes place online. Due to the online world, we can see perspectives, struggles and injustices from all over the world. News regarding the turmoil of other human beings has been amplified tenfold due to the internet, and so has Gen Z’s perceived responsibility to do something about it, utilizing the same technology. While in my opinion this is one of Gen Z’s greatest strengths, it does also add to our list of concerns and responsibilities, making our lives even bigger balancing acts.
With all of these factors at play, I think that it is unfair to accuse Gen Z of being less “adult” than previous generations. While there are certainly many areas in which we can improve, and many staggering and genuinely worrying statistics in relation to our development and cognitive ability, I do not believe that these things make us worse adults than our parents. It is a nuanced discussion; my belief that we are not bad adults does not change my perception of areas in which we can improve or my disappointment at certain statistics, but none of that changes my answer to this question. Gen Z’s young adults have no strange, exclusive condition making us incapable of adulting; we were simply born into a time of great change, turmoil and confusion that has either forced us to adapt or left us in the dust. We are adults, and regardless of what statistics say, we are trying very hard.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.