Friction between different generations is nothing new. In fact, elders have been at odds with younger ones for centuries. Although millennials have borne the brunt of this intergenerational pressure over the past two decades by being labeled entitled and lazy, they are now in their thirties and forties and have already earned their stripes, so to speak. This means it’s Generation Z’s turn to carry the mantle of stereotypes.
As expected, Zoomers are now the laziest and unreliable. While some of the criticism comes from the expected attitude of “those kids,” Gen Z also has to contend with its unique position as the first digitally native generation. So there’s no shortage of older colleagues eagerly clinging to Gen Z’s worst tech myths that simply aren’t true.
Are Generation Z glued to their screens and unable to communicate? Well, data shows that most prefer in-person interactions. Can’t concentrate? Use AI for everything? All of these are relatively easy to challenge. But why is this important, exactly? For starters, it leads to shame. One of the most common myths about Generation Z is that their status as digital natives automatically gives them magical “computer genius” powers. As a result, they experience a high dose of embarrassment and inadequacy when faced with certain technology-related issues, especially in the workplace.
Generation Z is glued to their screens
Ask any older person (including aging millennials who still wear skinny jeans) what they think of Gen Z. Chances are they’ll just mention phones and TikTok. The myth that young people are rotting their brains by mindless scrolling is out there, and most Zoomers are aware of this perception.
Although Gen Z does indeed represent the majority demographic on social media platforms like TikTok, and 59% of them believe they are addicted to these apps according to one survey, this may not be a problem reserved for just one generation. In fact, about 44% of Millennials feel addicted to social media and, surprisingly, so do 26% of Baby Boomers (according to a PlayersTime survey). In other words, young people are not the only ones to be hypnotized by dopamine hacking platforms. Gen Z may spend more than six hours staring at a screen (Millennials spend about five and a half hours and Gen
Zoomers are hyper-aware of their dependence on technology and are increasingly nostalgic for decades they didn’t even live through. So it’s no surprise that they’re one of the driving forces behind the retro revival, much like the offline music craze in the streaming era. Despite all the challenges, data shows that 91% of Gen Z prefer in-person interactions, proving that they are no less “human” than older generations.
Generation Z has a short attention span
Even though some Gen Zers may treat Google like a relic and turn to TikTok for their queries, it’s easy to assume that this automatically indicates that they can only handle short-form content. Therefore, the assumption that seems like a natural progression is that because of their preference for TikToks, they also have short attention spans. However, this would be a classic error of erroneous causality, which has not prevented the myth from becoming widespread online.
Dispelling this myth is relatively simple as it is just another example of the “kids today” attitude. For example, Millennials were obsessed with Vine, which, for the uninitiated, was a proto-TikTok limited to 6 seconds. Gen
The data doesn’t support the narrative either. About 59% of Zoomers reported using short-form videos as discovery tools for longer videos, according to the YouTube Culture and Trend Report (PDF) 2022. The trend isn’t limited to the in-depth true crime podcasts that Gen Z consumes, as it also extends to reading (BookTok, anyone?). Younger people may not worry about the same things as their older colleagues or family members, but claiming this is due to shortened attention spans is disingenuous. At the very least, it pushes criticism into “old man yelling at the cloud” territory, which is never a pretty sight.
Generation Z uses AI for everything
Given that some of Gen Z had the opportunity to try out ChatGPT during their college years, it’s logical to assume that they use it for basically everything, right? According to an EduBrain survey, only 25% of Zoomers use it daily. Additionally, millennials are generally more excited about AI, with 35% of them using the technology every day.
In the same way they are trying to break free from phones, Gen Z is very uncertain about AI technology, even though they still use it. Some believe it could make them lazier and less intelligent, and there are even serious concerns about AI’s impact on their broader critical thinking skills. Many young people are notoriously unsupportive of AI – a sentiment that may be partly born out of fears that AI will destroy the job market. So it’s funny how older generations accuse them of being pro-AI.
However, this is not a way of denigrating the “elders”. Some argue that Generation Z has more reason to fear AI due to their recent entry into the workforce. Since Gen X and Millennials are more established in middle management positions, they may not be as exposed to risk as those in entry-level and junior positions. Regardless of why kids oppose technology, it’s simply not true that Gen Z is more likely to “cheat” in the workplace, especially since Millennials represent a larger user base.
Generation Z is inherently good at technology
Even though Gen Z’s worst myths are nothing more than empty critiques that most young people could simply brush aside with a simple, “Okay, Karen,” that doesn’t mean stereotypes don’t cause active harm. Because they have practically grown up with modern technology, it is automatically assumed that young children are proficient in its use. However, not only do Gen Z individuals struggle with typing (so much so that they have developed a strange thumb typing technique, thanks to smartphones), but they also struggle with conceptualizing traditional file systems.
Gen Z individuals are also aware of this: only 32% believe they have adequate digital skills in the workplace, while only 17% believe their AI skills are up to par, according to Salesforce data. In other words, growing up with user-friendly apps has made Gen Z less proficient with older office systems, and even physical machines like photocopiers. As a result, young people feel inadequate in traditional workplaces. Dubbed “tech shame,” this can be overwhelming for many people who feel that their colleagues expect them to know everything, which could discourage struggling workers from seeking help.
Ultimately, Millennials and older generations have likely experienced their own version of tech shaming aside from being labeled as lazy. The lines will likely blur as younger Gen Zers begin their adult journeys as well. Yet this does not mean that seniors should make their lives unnecessarily more difficult by propagating myths that are nothing more than cultural misunderstandings. We’ve all been there, but in every generation, children eventually recover after a few years in the adult world.
