Move over millennials, the new kids in town are all grown up and ready to call the shots. That's right, for the last decade or so, people were curious as the mystery of the millennials began to unravel. The world wanted to know everything about them - their behavior, preferences, influences and decisions.
Now, those who were born in the mid-1990s are all grown up and we are now eager to get to know them better. Behold: Generation Z.
Members of these group are those who were born in 1995 onwards and are now between the ages of 12 to 20. At most, there are at least 70 million Gen Z'ers and most of them have digital footprints. These are young people who are born in a very much connected world and are used to having all those devices around them all the time.
They learn different, they think different and they communicate different than the previous generations. Here are some key characteristics that are distinctly Generation Z:
Born digital
Millennials are the digital adaptives. They learned to use and appreciate technology as is it developed while Gen Z were raised in the age of the smartphone. For them, social media updates and instant messaging are not breakthroughs, these are norms.
Frugal
Most Gen Z'ers saw how the the economic crisis of 2008 left many jobless, homeless and in debt. This is why most of them can be wary and will take time making decisions when it comes to spending their money and buying something.
They're not afraid in taking chances but compared to millennials, they would like to take more calculated risks if it cannot be avoided.
Big on creativity and individuality
These kids knew how to use dozens of iPad apps long before they started with formal schooling They have computers that let them create art, take pictures and maybe even learned how to code.
They are not afraid to be themselves and take new routes. This is perhaps why a number of Gen Z'ers are starting to work or build a business even before they are out of high school. Some of them are even open to the idea of skipping college altogether.
They want you to get to the point and fast
These kids are very much aware of their environment. It's not that they are easily distracted or have short attention spans, they can actually pay attention when needed and they have the patience to watch tutorials online in order to learn how to do something.
This is a generation that moves rapidly, they want speed and efficiency in everything and if they get the slightest idea that they might be in the wrong place, they're out of the door as quickly as possible.
