Generation Z

I have a deep belief; it’s one I’m guessing you may share too. It boils down to this: investing in young people is not just imperative because of what they may become, but for who they are now.

Their importance isn’t in the hands of the future, nor is it tomorrow’s game. Our young people are, right now, today, our agents of change, our creators, innovators, entrepreneurs; today’s culture shapers and both makeshift and shift-making leaders. To borrow sociologist Judith Harris’ words, ‘When you put together a group of people who are not children and not adults, what you have is a mechanism for rapid social change.’

The future doesn’t own their potential and tomorrow isn’t holding them back. The stage is set, there is a new kid in town and it’s a generation who are hyperconnected, globally conscious and digitally empowered. People have tried to describe them, name them and box them, but this generation is still emerging, still growing, still coming of age. They have been called Gen Z, Post-Millenials, Centennials, Social Natives (not just digital natives), Plurals, iGen and, with a respectful nod to Katniss Everdeen, Gen K.

While researchers, sociologists, and unqualified geeks (like myself) try and learn about their trends, characteristics and traits, they are busy influencing culture and shaping the landscape of our horizon. Columnist Laurie Penny writes of this generation, ‘If ever there was a cohort born to save the world or die trying, it’s these kids.’

Culture curiosity

If young people are shaping culture, what does culture show us about them? The following are reflections on four characteristics of an emerging generation. But a caveat first: these are generational generalisations (!) which are always a risky game. I think of them as having an artistic license; they are not a piece of ‘paint by number’ artwork, instead, they are rather like an abstract painting which leaves an impression, although not necessarily depicting reality as you see it. Feel free to disagree with every statistic or love every story; question it or quote it. Play with the ideas, let them prompt or provoke; describe or disrupt. But most importantly, you know your young people better than any piece of research or any removed reflection. You know the story of God in their lives and how the Holy Spirit is at work. So hold this lightly or let it ring deeply.

Timeline snapshot

Baby Boomers

Born post-war, between 1946 and 1964, they experienced an affluent era and expected the world to become a better place. For many, they were coming of age and young adults in the 60s, listening to rock and roll and The Beatles. They were the first generation to grow up with a television.

Gen X

Born between the early 60s and the early 1980s, Gen X are characterised by social diversity, cynicism with a disdain and distrust for authority, including religious institutions. Xers are sometimes called the MTV generation, noting the rise of music videos. Significant factors on family life included divorce, birth control and latch-key kids.

Millennials

Also known as Gen Y, they were born between 1981 and the early 2000s, currently aged 18-35. They have grown up astute to the threat of terror and world-changing moments such as 9/11. They’ve been characterised by tolerance, narcissism and consumerism. In Lily Allen’s words, ‘I’m a weapon of massive consumption and it’s not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function.’

Gen Z

Born roughly between the late 1990s and 2010, they are today’s tweens and teens, the children of Gen X. They have been surrounded by an age of austerity and live in the aftermath of recession. Described as anxious, connected and well-behaved, they are altruistic yet selfinterested; playful while also serious.

Four characteristics of Gen Z

Resourceful

I am resourceful, I‘m growing up in an age of austerity and resigned to strive; I’m 15 and already working towards my career. Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, or own a business. I’m self-taught, only a few clicks away from learning anything I want. ‘How to’ videos and crowdsourcing give me the kick-start I need to turn my ideas into production.

Gen Z are self-starters, motivated and determined, but also anxious and distrusting of institutions. From a young age they have worried about their future; American research suggests that at 15 years old, over 70 per cent of teenagers are worried about terrorism, finding a job and getting into debt. Academic Norrena Hertz says: ‘This is a generation who grew up through 9/11, the Madrid bombings, the London bombings and Islamic State terrors. They see danger piped down their smartphones and beheadings on their Facebook page.’

Alongside their resourceful nature are generation Z’s challenges of anxiety, stress, pressure, and mental wellbeing. A recent World Health Organisation report found that when asked to rate their life satisfaction, 15-year-olds in England and Wales were among the least satisfied compared to their European and Western peers. Scotish young people reported a higher rate of life satisfaction.

Hertz’ research notes that approximately 60 per cent of adults trust big corporations to do the right thing, compared to six per cent of young people. Young people need a reason to trust us and to know that the Church isn’t another institution not doing the right thing. They need a safe place that understands that quoting Matthew 6 (do not worry) isn’t enough to help them through their anxiety.

We don’t need to look far to know that, despite their trials, young people have an enterprising spirit. The challenge for us is whether we can harness it and enable them to become our spiritual entrepreneurs: allowing them space to fail and supporting them to try again.

Digitally native

I’m a multi-screening 15-year-old; I don’t remember getting my first computer or what the fuss is about with tech innovation. It’s my norm. There’s no such thing as the real world and digital world; it’s all just me and my friends.

This generation are the first kids to have digitally-astute parents, superfast communication and unlimited access to information. The rich digital landscape isn’t inspiring as much as it augments their everyday: a functional tool by which to do life. It gives young people a platform from which to speak and create.

They are able to shoot films, make documentaries, publish articles and tell their story with an Instagram-picture-perfect lens. They have the tools to speak loudly and, with the right content, the potential to be heard, to build community, to gather followers, to create something and to start something.

We are in the infancy of the digital revolution, learning how to handle privacy, cyber-bullying and authenticity online, yet at the same time young people are empowered, and these peer leaders may look unlikely, different to an era gone by. When there is so much platform and space for them to communicate, how does the Church make sense if we don’t also give them our platform?

Participatory and collaborative

I’m 15 and looking to participate, don’t tempt me with an invitation of partnership that’s tokenistic; I’ve experienced more advertising in one month than my grandparents did their whole lives. I’m a master of the market and know when it’s not authentic. I’m looking for the honest invite.

The 2014 Scottish Referendum was a compelling example of when young people were invited, not tokenistically, to participate. We saw newly enfranchised 16-year-olds grab hold of the chance to engage passionately and articulately with a political process. Teenagers across Scotland discussed, disagreed and debated. They engaged and influenced the conversation.

Young people want to collaborate and they are looking for authentic invitations. Last year at one of the big Christian summer festivals, there was a leadership seminar stream, of which one session was titled ‘vulnerable leadership’. The host told me the attendees for that session doubled and the age demographic halved.

When they enter the work place, my guess is they may be looking for a CEO who prioritises company culture, where the most junior can directly email the most senior. Perhaps less Alan Sugar (‘You’re fired’) and more Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz (‘You’re invited’).

We don’t need to be like the Wizard who wanted to appear to have all the answers; we need to be honest leaders, aware of our fragility, humanity and vulnerability. Offering them an authentic opportunity to co-create and participate in what we deliver. Helping them to believe that God’s way is true partnership between deity and humanity; dreaming together to see God’s kingdom come on Earth, as it is in heaven.

Globally conscious

I’m 15 and Malala Yousafzai is my hero. She was shot in the head by the Taliban for being a girl and getting an education.

Recently when interviewed by actor and activist Emma Watson, Malala’s message to young teenagers was this: ‘Don’t think that you are young and can’t do something. When I was writing the blog for the BBC I was 11 years old... Don’t think I’m young and I can’t make a bigger change and explore big ideas. Age cannot put a limit on what you want to do. So come forward…. Don’t think one day I will grow up and I’ll do things. Don’t wait for the stage. It will be too late.’

Gen Z may be dubbed the selfie generation, but it seems they are also a cohort of people who are passionate about campaigning, volunteering and giving money. They understand the consequences of the previous generations’ toll on the environment and refuse to be passive victims of the world, instead living out a care for creation.

In the US, Sparks and Honey report that over 70 per cent of Gen Z are concerned about humanity’s impact on the planet, world hunger and children around the world dying of preventable disease.

Although we are talking to a generation that is altruistic, they are also self-interested. Our challenge, as leaders, is that if a young person’s belief in Jesus is emotionally based, or peer-dependant, it is fragile. The call to no longer live for ourselves must be anchored in God’s value system, with a high view of others, a high view of self and a high view of God: one that is rooted not just experientially, but in scripture and community. Because in the end, if someone’s reference point for mission or engaging in the world is not Christ, their individualism will triumph.

The up side however is that we are engaging with a generation who are so globally-connected and socially conscious that we have an opportunity to communicate the gospel in an accessible way. Our evangelism needs to tell a compelling story to a generation invested in making this world better: that Jesus was and is a revolutionary, not living for Caesar’s empire but God’s kingdom, where the losers win and the out are in. It’s a call bigger than ourselves and not one to walk alone. But together we can leave sacred footsteps across this land; living a faith and a theology that embraces and loves those living in poverty. One that cares about the factories our fashion items are made in and has made the link between following Christ and loving this Earth: where caring for the environment is as much an active part of our discipleship as our Saturday night shenanigans.

Let us give young people a cause to live for that is bigger and more profound than a golden ticket heaven bound.

The potential and impact of young people got under my skin a long time ago. Engaging with a new generation is an essential priority for any leader, whether they lead corporations, charities or churches. But more than that, we believe in a God-story which believes in them. Where God repeatedly uses the unlikely, unexpected and young for his purposes; the advice being, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.’ (1 Timothy 4:12).

I believe we need young people. Culture needs their influence, the world needs their power for good and, every day, we need their potential. I believe God invites them to host heaven on Earth, and that they can walk this land differently: walking it lightly, taking care of creation, and gently along each step, inviting those on the margins to come along. They are our story tellers, crafting a kingdom-culture and communicating a gospel hope. Their friendships are surprising and judgement-ceasing. They are people who embrace the hidden places, where fear lurks, running into them postured like Christ saying, ‘Come as you are’. And I too hope to be postured like Christ and forever say, ‘Let the children come’.

Kiera Phyo is head of youth and emerging generation for Tearfund.