Generation Z

The digital world has now gone beyond being a reflection of societies'/communities' cultures. It is a distinct plane of existence with its own language and unique culture. It transforms everyone who chooses to exist within it with its own set of values, imagery, and life rituals. I don't know if identity definitions are made more through judgments, labels, and behavioral patterns in that culture, or if they just catch my eye more, but I'm still trying to get used to encountering many concepts that we have been using as management tools in the business world for many years as ordinary cultural elements of the digital world. 

Actually, I shouldn't be surprised; it's certain that people feel more secure about information that the human brain identifies, categorizes, and stores, and to which it attaches an adjective from its vocabulary. That's why models, jargon, and pithy sayings about categories and generalizations easily find an audience. Generational language is one such thing. Discourse and labels concerning Generation Z, especially as children who were born into the digital world and did not have to learn technology, are an important source of nourishment for social media. Both the "old" people of the pre-digital world and Generation Z itself try to fit a generation into a singular human identity by making generalizations, even though everyone's description is from their own perspective...

While the old school describes young people as impatient, indecisive, anxious, quick to give up in the face of obstacles, selfishly prioritizing their individuality, and unable to socialize, young people describe themselves as a generation that is integrated with the world, does not judge differences, chooses to live life with multiple identities, and socializes while maintaining their individuality.

The spirit of the times undoubtedly shapes the children it nurtures with common characteristics, but I fear the limitations of squeezing an entire generation into a single body through social media. 

These children may or may not be impatient. They may reject patience as a form of passive waiting imposed on them by their parents, or they may simply be enduring the same daily routine without being called patient while being put to work somewhere as children.

These children may be indecisive. From an early age, when faced with an endless array of choices, primarily regarding food and toys, many of them find opportunities to change their minds or procrastinate whenever they hesitate. However, because life itself offers them few opportunities, many continue to cling to a single point of escape, sometimes desperately, sometimes resolutely.

These children may be more anxious. Because they view the world from a broader perspective and consider more possibilities. They may be more anxious because they have high expectations of life. Or, conversely, they may see the seemingly insurmountable gap between alternative lives and their own reality, and become anxious as a result of the pessimism they fall into.

One might try to fit multiple lives into their world while seeking multiple identities, without judging the differences. Or one might fill their life with the identity of a branded coffee poured into a disposable plastic cup, without knowing where life will take them...

Can we judge him because, in a world increasingly shrinking due to technology and globalization, he chose his role model from another part of the world; because the sense of easy accessibility blurred the boundaries in his eyes, leading him to consider the entire world his homeland; or because he questioned the references to the land of his birth more frequently and more loudly than his parents?

Or perhaps the opposite is true: can we blame those who, unable to teach critical thinking and questioning while still in school, resort to empty rhetoric and rhetoric to quickly stir up emotions, seeking a sense of belonging?

One might spend two hours preparing a photo for Instagram, engaging in an existential struggle within the social sphere, while another might anonymously publish their digital creations, seeking to live out their individuality within the crowd. 

In summary, generational discourse is dangerous to the extent that it is useful, and reductive as long as it is generalizing. In fact, all modeling carries its own limitations. If frequently displayed behavioral patterns help us understand them, relate to them without judgment or devaluation, and support them, then let us open our hearts to generational theories. On the other hand, if the goal is to better manage, manipulate, or determine the type of identity politics these young people, who are growing up with the spirit of the times, will buy into, then to hell with all theories. 

Ultimately, beyond all theories and understood by children of all times, there is one thing that remains unchanged: the language of sincere love…

Emine Ebru Arslan