Principles of Generation Z - Essay Example

Generation Z
Born in 1996, I belong to Generation Z, noted to be born after 1994 (Williams, Page, and Petrosky). Scholars study the characteristics, traits, and principles of people belonging to diverse generations, starting with the greatest and silent generations. However, most of the contemporary generation’s surviving family members belong to the Baby Boomers and Generation X. The current discourse hereby aims to present or illustrate a principle that I have observed to be true of my generation. As explicitly stated, the purpose is to use descriptive examples of my peers to support the claim about my generation. In this regard, I assert that predominantly a profound principle manifested by people who are included in Generation Z is social security or the need to belong.
One good example that proves the principle of social security or the need for belongingness for members of Generation Z is the proliferation of registration and users of various social networking sites. All of my friends and acquaintances are members of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, to name a few. As the term implied, these social networking sites were established for the purpose of uniting friends, families, relatives, and acquaintances into a collaborative digital media where updates on personal and professional information, photos, and activities, are regularly viewed, accessed, as well as updated. To be included in a particular social networking site confirms acceptance to a social group; which is an affirmation of belonging. It is within this generation that these social networking media emerged and proved that the principle of social inclusion to a group or affiliation is most revered. The fact that belonging to a social group was exhibited through the electronic medium was also made possible due to the preferences of this particular generation’s use of the Internet and its catapult to popularity.
Concurrently, most of my peers, including me, exemplify the principle of social security through adeptness and acumen in technological gadgets and applications. It is in this particular generation that most of the technological gadgets pertaining to telecommunications abound. When computers were large, bulky, and immovable during the times of Generation X; personal computers, laptops, and other technology gadgets seem to be produced in portable smaller versions to be pocketed and brought anywhere and everywhere. Peers and friends are seen to exchange and sharing information on their latest smartphones, iPads (tablets), portable media players (iPods), Kindles, and other digital media gadgets. The members of the previous generation could be oblivious to discerning one version from the other of one particular gadget (smartphones, for instance); yet, to this generation z, recognition of the feature, specifications, and applications of all updated digital media gadgets is natural to us. Thus, possessing one or more of these technological gadgets affirms the principle of social belongingness by proving that their capabilities enable immediate access to our whereabouts, if ever and whenever, needed.
Finally, another proof that this generation longs to be part of a social group is the innate desire to become affiliated with peers of similar age groups through sharing similarities in sports activities and entertainment: music, films, and physical fitness programs, on a more global sphere. Due to the generation's awareness and growth within the Internet era, members of this generation are more culturally aware of diversity and equality, as a form of social belonging. Though previous stereotyped beliefs of social prejudices and discrimination still exist, this generation is more cognizant of the fact that the world is an interconnected place of people from varied cultural orientations who share similar personal and professional goals in life. Likewise, as learned from previous generations' mistakes, members of generation z were observed to be reverting to conservative values and beliefs. Learning from the mistakes of parents who were divorced or from uncles and aunts who were liberated in views about sexuality, drugs, and free-living, peers and close friends have affirmed the pursuit of higher education and delving into a productive career as the priority in life. In addition, our students from the same academic institution have been very vocal in advocating engaging in regular physical fitness programs to counter the effects of staying online. Most of us are also aware of the effects of global warming or climate change that impact various international communities. As such, the spirit of volunteering and assisting others through social responsibility endeavors is part of the principle of social security and belongingness. Therefore, since we have grown in the digital world, we have been made aware of the need to balance our time between academic endeavors, social networking activities, physical fitness programs, civic and social responsibility endeavors, as well as rest and relaxation through various entertainment alternatives that abound.
Overall, members of Generation Z are unique in manifesting the principle of social security and the need for belonging as predominant to this group. The fast technological advances enabled access to social networking sites, availability of regularly updated gadgets, and accessibility to endeavors that support a more conservative view. I am glad I belong to this generation. It is indeed a remarkable feeling to belong. Read More