Gen Z is the generation born between 1997 and 2012. They have been shaped by the digital age, rising concerns over climate change, a tricky financial landscape and the pandemic. The internet and technology have had a massive impact on their lives and so the way they view the world and interact with it, differs significantly from previous generations. However, it could be argued that much of the media coverage of Gen Z does not put it in a favourable light. Many articles written about the generation tend to focus on the faults rather than the potential benefits of the cohort, benefits we discussed in a previous editorial. To discover more, we created a questionnaire and got a population of Gen Z to complete it.

The results from our research show, 63.6% of respondents said that they believed the portrayal of Gen Z in the media was uncomplimentary. Much of the language used in headlines and articles paints a negative picture: ‘difficult’, ‘oversharing’, ‘lazy’ – not words that inspire businesses to take on younger workers. This is a serious problem when considering the difficulty they already face getting careers, as mentioned in an earlier editorial.

“there has been a rise of new trends and languages brought in by the younger generations”

The bulk of our research was presenting respondents with images of headlines in the news about Gen Z in the workplace. We then asked if they felt this presented the generation in a negative light.

The first was about oversharing and how it could hurt job prospects. Naturally, this seems rather obvious. With the rise of social media and platforms like TikTok, many Gen Z collate together and share things online.

The concept of this being oversharing however can be harmful. Not everyone who uses social media will say too much, it’s a very small percentage. However, the word ‘oversharing’ is quite harsh and paints Gen Z as immature and potentially untrustworthy. This could make employers less willing to hire these younger workers. 90.9% of respondents stated that they felt that this points to the younger workforce in a negative light, emphasising the point how it is not fair to generalise a whole generation from a few examples.

Another interesting result was on an article about “lazy girl jobs“, apparently a new trend within Gen Z. 81.8% of respondents stated that they felt that this put the younger workforce in a negative light and it is simple to see why. There were many articles covering the topic of this new trend and without reading into them, it can very easily be misinterpreted.

At a glance, it implies that Gen Z does not take work seriously and wants the easiest route possible in life. This could create conflict with older generations who often have a strong work ethic due to having to work through several challenging economic periods. In reality: “lazy girl jobs” are simply well-paying, flexible jobs which allow for leisure time. With Gen Z’s increasing concern for issues such as mental health – this new trend is a push against burnout culture and ensuring that employees have time to relax. Following the rise of the Quarter-Life Crisis (which we covered in an earlier editorial), this is a potential solution. It also makes sense due to the pandemic where everyone moved to more flexible working, why should Gen Z be punished by certain areas of the media? Some research done by the ADF on hybrid working has reflected that there is a multigenerational view.

As a generation that has a strong connection to social media, there has been a rise of new trends and languages brought in by the younger generations, this quickly spreads because of the internet. 81.8% of our respondents said that they felt trends and language brought in by Gen Z were frowned upon by older generations. This can often lead to serious impacts. 87.5% of respondents who work felt they were taken less seriously because of their age. Overall, 63.6% of all respondents said they felt Gen Z is the most ‘disliked’ generation whilst the other 36.4% said maybe.

But why is there such a negative view of Gen Z. As mentioned, being born into the digital age means they often have a natural affinity for tech and a strong ability to adapt and understand it quickly. They are often more open about previously taboo topics such as mental illness and are often key figureheads in pushing for more inclusion and diversity due to the ever-changing environment they grew up in. They also have strong morals and values – generally being known for their idealism and socially progressive dreams. With demands for purpose and accountability, they tend to be more likely to be sustainable and open to opportunities for underrepresented groups. This can all be summarised by the word “woke” which has turned into an insult in recent years despite it simply being aware and politically conscious. Was this change caused by differing opinions between generations?

To conclude, it is generally agreed by the younger generation that the media coverage of them is negative. But why is that? Why does the media write articles that present Gen Z as lazy and rude? How much impact does this have on the perception of the generation? What can be done to try and put Gen Z in a more positive light? As older generations also struggle with the media’s perspective, why are they not more understanding? We stand for inclusion and positivity in the workplace but does the negative portrayal of Gen Z lead to division between generations?

 

Sonya Knight | ADF Comms Team

Read our previous editorial here

To respond and/or for more information, please contact the ADF Comms Team at: [email protected]