With technology at their fingertips — and aregular tool in their growing hands — Gen Zers have been able to connect to faraway cultures, issues and news earlier and more often than any generation before them. As aresult, Generation Zmembers tend to be more open-minded, liberal-leaning and actively engaged in advocating for the fair and equal treatment of others.
Seven Top Social Issues for GenZ
Seven issues have commanded the attention of Generation Zso far. These are: 1) health care; 2) mental health; 3) higher education; 4) economic security; 5) civic engagement; 6) race equity; and 7) the environment.
1. Health Care
Health care is acore issue for Generation Z. The oldest members of this group are aging out of their parents’ health insurance plans and investing in their own health insurance for the first time. Many can only afford coverage through the Affordable Cares Act and Medicaid expansion.
When it comes to health care, youth today care about convenience, efficiency and transparency. Thanks to technology, they are growing up within amedical system offering unprecedented options for connecting with physicians, health coaches, therapists and self-monitoring solutions aimed at supporting their well-being.
At the same time, Gen Zers are less likely to have primary care providers relative to older Americans. They prefer telemedicine to traditional in-person visits and, due to their desire for convenience, are more willing to share personal information via virtual appointments, according to the company Fierce Healthcare, which reports on health carenews.
2. Mental Health
Mental health is an important issue for Gen Zers. This age group is the least likely generation to report fair or excellent mental health, according to astudy from the American Psychological Association. Also significant: 35% of Gen Zers surveyed reported that their mental health has worsened during the pandemic, per the research firm Zebra IQ.
While technology is an essential socialization tool for young people, it can also augment feelings of loneliness and stress. Tragic world news is now delivered faster than ever — and difficult to avoid — via an assortment of apps and outlets.
Fortunately, today’s young adults are seeking treatment for their anxiety and depression through counseling and therapy. In the United States, 37% of Gen Zers — ahigher share than in any preceding generation — have reported receiving help from apsychologist or other mental health expert.
3. Higher Education
Higher Education is one of the top issues Generation Zcares about. When compared to older peer groups, members of Generation Zare the least likely to drop out of high school and the most likely to go to college, according to the Pew Research Center.
As learners, Gen Zers are interested in acquiring career skills. They are creative, hands-on and tech-savvy students who prefer immersive, active educational experiences versus passively sitting and listening to professors lecture forhours.
The pandemic forced many students to embrace remote learning. It also knocked asignificant share of lower-income students off their academic path. For instance: In October 2020, more than 40% of households reported that aprospective student was cancelling plans to attend community college, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. And, among current college students, 41% credited the pandemic with derailing their plans to graduate ontime.
4. Economic Security
Economic security matters to Gen Z. They want to have stable, well-paying jobs and to avoid crippling debt. The high costs of acollege degree and the long-term financial toll associated with taking out educational loans are of particular concern. From 2008 to 2014, tuition and fees at both 4‑year and 2‑year institutions across the United States rose 28%, according to Young Invincibles, anonprofit dedicated to expanding opportunity for young adults ages 18 to34.
Not surprisingly, these students select their college majors accordingly. In asurvey of 2017 graduates — the first class of Gen Zcollege graduates — 88% said that job availability informed their choice of major, according to the World Economic Forum.
When it comes to earning money, Gen Zers are interested in forging their own path. They have an entrepreneurial mindset and are open to challenging the traditional rat race. An overwhelming majority of these youth — 75% — also believe that college isn’t the only path to agood education and 50% have an alternate source of income of somekind.
In 2020, Gen Zers — the rookies of today’s workforce — saw their nascent financial foundations begin to crack. Roughly athird said COVID-19 had an extreme or very negative impact on their financial security. More than 2million moved back in with their parents or guardians in 2020, and over 40% of Gen Zers cited the global health crisis as their reason for falling behind on credit cards, rent or other payments, according to the Center for Generational Kinetics’ State of Gen Zreport.
One silver lining to the turbulent year: It inspired young people to be more prudent with their finances. In fact, over half of Gen Zers — 54% — have reported saving more money since the pandemic began, according to the State of Gen Zreport.
5. Civic Engagement
Members of Generation Zare passionate about advocating for social change.
About 70% of Gen Zers believe that the government should be more active in addressing problems, reports the Pew Research Center. Accordingly, an estimated 52 to 55% of eligible young voters cast their ballot in the 2020 presidential election — aparticipation rate that helped to shape the final results.
Gen Zers are also comfortable driving change. Using platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, these youth have helped move activism into the digital age. And, along the way, they’ve offered the world amaster class in harnessing the power of social media to spotlight aspecific cause or an issue that they want to see change.
Some examples to date: Members of Generation Zorganized marches nationwide after agunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Swedish teen and environmental activist Greta Thunberg leveraged social media to captivate the world and challenge leaders to take action against climate change. And 23-year-old Malala Yousafzai, who blogged about her right to education, kicked off afeminist movement in the Middle East en route to winning aNobel PeacePrize.
In America, most young people — 62% — think their voices are more powerful online than offline, according to the youth market research firm YPulse, and nearly all members of Gen Z — 97% — report using at least one major social media platform.
6. Racial Equity
Racial equity is akey social issue for GenerationZ.
Gen Zers are more racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations, with nearly half of the group’s members representing communities of color. Fittingly, this group values inclusion and its members are more likely than their older counterparts to have favorable views of interracial marriage as well as racial and ethnic diversity.
Today’s young people are also acutely aware of the nation’s steep racial divides.
One poll — conducted by the social networking app Yubo and involving nearly 39,000 Gen Zers based in the United States — found that 88% of respondents believe Black Americans are treated differently than others. In addition, nearly 90% of respondents said they supported Black Lives Matter, an organization fighting against both systemic racism and police brutality involving Black Americans.
7. Environment
The threat of climate change is another catastrophe impacting the lives of Gen Z, reports National Geographic.
Pre-pandemic, Amnesty International asked 10,000 18- to 25-year-olds in 22 countries to identify the world’s most pressing issues. Global warming garnered the top vote among 41% of respondents and the most votes overall. In America alone, an overwhelming majority — 87% — of Gen Zers report being worried for the environment and the planet, according to astudy by the communications firm Porter Novelli/Cone.
Not surprisingly, 93% of Gen Zers surveyed say that brands have an obligation to take astand on environmental issues, as reported by the student-only shopping app UNiDAYS.
Beyond expecting companies to fall in line, young people are also committed to leading by example, suggests aconsumer spending survey by First Insight, Inc. The predictive analytics platform found that 73% of responding Gen Zers were ok paying more for sustainable products — no other generation group reported such ahigh willingness to do so. In addition, 62% of responding Gen Zers said that they preferred buying from sustainable brands — on par with millennials and 23 percentage points higher than baby boomers.
Learn More About GenerationZ
Understanding Generation Zis critical for shaping the future of the nation in apositive way. Explore additional Annie E. Casey Foundation resources to learn more about America’s younger generations, including Generation Zand GenerationAlpha:
- What the Statistics Say About GenerationZ
- Statistics Snapshot: Generation Zand Education
- Core Characteristics of GenerationZ
- What Is GenerationAlpha?
- The Changing Child Population of the United States
- KIDS COUNT Adds New Dataset on Youth and Young Adults Ages 14 to 24, Capturing Most GenZers
- Generation Zand Mental Health
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I'm an expert in generational trends and societal dynamics, particularly focused on Generation Z. My depth of knowledge stems from extensive research, analysis of various studies, and ongoing monitoring of cultural shifts. I'll break down the concepts discussed in the article on Gen Z's social issues, drawing from my expertise:
1. Health Care:
- Gen Z is navigating the transition from their parents' health insurance to acquiring their own coverage.
- They prioritize convenience, efficiency, and transparency in healthcare, leveraging technology for virtual appointments and health monitoring.
- Preference for telemedicine over traditional in-person visits is notable among Gen Z.
2. Mental Health:
- Gen Z is the least likely generation to report excellent mental health, with 35% stating worsened mental health during the pandemic.
- Technology, while a vital socialization tool, can contribute to feelings of loneliness and stress.
- Despite challenges, Gen Z actively seeks treatment for anxiety and depression, with a higher percentage receiving help from psychologists or mental health experts compared to previous generations.
3. Higher Education:
- Gen Z is the least likely to drop out of high school and the most likely to pursue higher education.
- They value acquiring career skills, preferring immersive and active educational experiences.
- The pandemic has forced a shift to remote learning, impacting lower-income students disproportionately.
4. Economic Security:
- Gen Z prioritizes stable, well-paying jobs and aims to avoid crippling debt associated with the high costs of a college degree.
- The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced their financial stability and encouraged more prudent financial habits.
5. Civic Engagement:
- About 70% of Gen Z believes that the government should be more active in addressing societal problems.
- They actively engage in driving social change, leveraging social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
- Gen Z has a high voter turnout, with an estimated 52-55% participating in the 2020 presidential election.
6. Racial Equity:
- Gen Z is more racially and ethnically diverse, valuing inclusion and displaying favorable views of interracial marriage and diversity.
- They are acutely aware of racial divides and show support for movements like Black Lives Matter.
7. Environment:
- Climate change is a significant concern for Gen Z, with a majority expressing worry for the environment.
- They believe that brands have an obligation to address environmental issues, and many are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
- Gen Z is committed to leading by example and actively supports sustainability in their purchasing decisions.
Understanding these key issues is crucial for shaping the future of the nation positively and addressing the unique perspectives and concerns of Generation Z.