How the internet shaped a generation, but not in the ways you might think

In 2019, Gen Z became the largest generation on Earth ever, making up 32 percent of the global population — about 2.47 billion people, larger than both millennials and Baby Boomers. With those numbers, Gen Z has the potential to change the world… but in what ways?

Massive cultural, political and environmental changes seem to be on the horizon for the world as Gen Z continues to enter into adulthood. Dr. Roberta Katz is one of the authors of a new book, “Gen Z, Explained: The Art of Living in a Digital Age.” She works with the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford, and she joins CultureShift to discuss her research with Gen Z, how the internet has shaped the generation and what surprised her about her findings.

“For the longest time, older people were looking at this younger generation and going, ‘What’s wrong with them? They’re snowflakes. They’re coddled, they’re unprepared for adulthood. They’re not willing to work hard.’ We found in our study, it was just the opposite. They are self reliant. They love working together, because they know that’s how things get done in a better way. They’re very pragmatic. They’re actually a wonderful generation.” — Dr. Roberta Katz, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford

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