Remarking on the flaws and failings of other generations has long been an American pastime. In recent years, Boomers have been a favorite target, but as Gen Z people come of age, they’re finding themselves to be common subjects of scrutiny. As it turns out, there’s a lot of criticism out there, and some of it comes from their fellow Gen Zers.
Filming Everything
If cell phones had come out 50 years ago, we might be saying this about Gen X. However, Gen Z is the first to grow up with cell phones, and so many of them seem to film almost everything, no matter how mundane.
Disengagement
Everybody is sometimes guilty of tuning out the world, and sometimes it’s necessary. On the other hand, a lot of young people today seem unable to perform even basic tasks like unloading a dishwasher without having airpods in or streaming a show on their phones.
Narcissism
Social media has lured people of all ages to seek attention for anything and everything, but Gen Z seems to be the leader. No aspect of life is too trivial to share on the internet, especially with the arrival of TikTok.
Disposable Relationships
Perhaps in large part due to the impersonal and transitory nature of the online world, many young people today struggle to maintain healthy in-person friendships and romantic relationships. That’s if they’re even trying at all.
Bailing
An extension of not developing solid relationships built on trust and genuine connections is a spike in bailing by many Gen Zers. No plan can ever be considered final, and it’s common to bail on others at the last minute without explanation or notice.
Poor Manners
Good manners have also taken a hit with this generation. It isn’t just about, or even mostly about, things like proper table manners. It’s about common courtesy and treating others with respect.
Bad Social Skills
Here’s another one where all that screen time deserves a huge share of the blame. Spending so much time online engaging with strangers with fake usernames or not engaging with people at all deprives people of opportunities to develop social skills.
Entitlement
This is where the blame rests not so much with Gen Z but those who raised, taught, and trained them. After being told so often how special they are and not being held meaningfully accountable for mistakes and bad choices, many Gen Zers feel entitled to success and getting what they want.
Lack of Gratitude and Respect
Throughout history, young people have clashed with their elders. However, this generation seems to have less respect and gratitude for older generations than ever. To be fair, many are angry about the serious issues those generations leave them with.
Overly Sensitive
No one likes being offended, but Gen Z has developed a troubling habit of thinking they have the right not to be offended or challenged. That leads to the next time on this list.
Not Open to Unwelcome Viewpoints
Believing you are entitled not to be offended or hear things that upset you makes you closed off to being exposed to other perspectives. This stifles learning and debate, and it in turn leads to…
Quick To Cancel
When you’re not open to hearing other points of view, you’re quick to close doors to people who have them. Sometimes, when exposure to those views does occur, the result is “cancellation,” which can ruin someone’s reputation or career.
Not Dedicated
A common complaint about Gen Z is a poor work ethic. There are a lot of exceptions, of course, just as there are with anything. Still, many younger people today seem not to feel a duty to see a job through or even to take one on in the first place.
Tell Us What You Think