I’m Gen Z ask me anything

[Buffybot12]

I’ve read a lot of threads on here recently about Gen Z - how we dress, how we act in the workplace, how covid has affected us etc. I’m a University student and thought it might be interesting to hear some of it from my perspective as I don’t think there are as many late teens early 20s on mumsnet (I joined for the disability support and then became addicted to parking threads).

What do you think are the most important things about your generation and their experiences that older people don’t tend to understand or recognise?

Do you say gen Zee or gen Zed?
Can you tell the time on a Roman numerals clock?

What do you and your uni friends do to socialise? I'm an older millennial and it was very much about drinking, parties, pubs, clubs, gigs etc when I was at uni, in addition to the usual sports etc. Do you think your generation is more introverted or is it about money or health? Or is it all just tabloid nonsense and you're all out 5 nights a week like we were?

@Moonlighttakethelid The most important thing thats probably shaped us is the pandemic. Whilst everyone went through it I think it had a bigger effect on us missing school and key developmental milestones. Personally I missed exams and slightly older friends missed Uni and then we were expected to go back and behave as though nothing had changed while it had a large effect. The other thing is I think we have a very distinct sense of humour!

@Newsqu gen zee and yes I can!

Do you actually think of Covid as a big deal and in what ways? In your experience does it differ a lot among the people you know? As in, is there a lot of variation in what people think about Covid or do you all seem to have similar feelings?

@TheCurious0range I do think drinking culture is much smaller. I partied probably 3 nights a week during my first year but in my second it went down to once a month. I don't know how my parents generation partied so much and kept up with their academic work. Between work, multiple job applications extra curriculars I mostly don't feel I have time. When me and my friends hang out we like to get a coffee or go bookshopping, bake or watch tv. I do go to quite an academically intense uni (don't want to out myself) and I know other uni's are much more known for being party unis and having better nightlife. I and friends have also had bad experiences with spiking that put us off 😔

@UnfashionableArtex huge deal but its mostly been forgotten about! More people feeling anxious and a huge move online are the two biggest things! I think it had very different effects on different people and thats a large part of the problem. I went to a state school and when the exams were cancelled the school was too busy to teach us and we had 7 months off and many of my friends were sharing rooms with siblings, unable to have privacy, study or talk to friends properly. Contrastingly my friends at private school who i met uni still had rigorous schooling online and were more often that not in large houses with lots of online resources. I think this discrepancy is often forgotten about!

That sounds awful, with the spiking incidents. I was at Durham which geographically was small and the nightlife you don't need to dress up for which probably made it easier. It also feels safer than eg London and you tended to always know people when you were out. I do remember us being told off by our cox for reeking of alcohol when we were out on the river training at 6:30am having only rolled in a few hours before.... I'm not sure how we did it either, most of us had jobs, academically rigorous courses definitely, it was just the way things were. I fondly remember going to the bar for a pint (and to watch neighbours ) after lunch before afternoon lectures 🤦‍♂️

Do you or friends really need external validation from strangers? If so, where do you think this stems from?

Follow up question: are you in UK? Interesting if UK showing US influence…

@user3827 Yes but doesn't every generation? I think every woman in her 20s in every generation has wanted others to think she's smart and attractive and has craved external validation. Maybe more so in Gen z with social media but I don't think thats a huge generational discrepancy

@user3827 I learnt to count roman numerals in primary school maths. I don't know if this is common or American. Its not something I use often but is useful.

Do you believe that trans women are women, and should be allowed in women's spaces?
And what's your take on trans as a 'trend'? Do you know anyone who identified as it and then didn't? Do you see it less or more than say, five years ago?

@DiscoBob Apologies its not something I really want to get into on this thread in case its outing.

Sorry i meant the Zee vs Zed

@user3827 always Gen Zee - I don't know anyone who says Gen Zed

I think previous generations appreciated it when it happened but didn’t really crave it (or expect it). And they generally expected a difference in opinions (and enjoyed debating them) as opposed to an agreement. I do think it’s due the rise in SM because you don’t need to talk face to face - meaning 2 things - people are less respectful but also don’t get the “real deal” satisfaction from talking to an actual person in front of you. -she says on SM - lool

Yeah me neither, funny that.

I think debating is different to external validation. I do think my generation is worse at disagreeing respectfully but I feel that politics at the moment is more polarised for all generations so its hard to tell.

Are you glad to have been born when you were, or would you change it if you could?

I (millennial) think that perhaps being born a few years before I was would have been quite cool (to properly experience the grunge era and also free tuition fees) but other than that am glad I was born when I was and feel we had the best of both worlds - while recognising lots of good things about your generation me and my friends often say we're glad we aren't gen z/alpha because of the constant online presence (as in, if you were bullied at school or fell out with your friends you couldn't just go home and try to forget about it, you'd be bombarded on social media) and how much harder and more expensive it is for you to live.

However my parents think the same (as in they were glad to have been born when they were -despite all the "walked to school in 2 feet of snow with bare legs" stories 😁) so perhaps every generation feels theirs was the "best!"

Every generation has its pros and cons. I do prehaps wish I'd been born in an earlier generation. My grandparents bought their first house for under 10 grand and my parents had no tuition fees and grew up without mobile phones which I wish I'd had. I also think with AI my generation has one of toughest job markets. But then my grandmother couldn't get a credit card until her 30s and I think about how much harder it would be for me as a disabled woman and my friends who are gay or not white. I think like always some things have improved but then theres things my generation are really missing out on.

I don't see how it could be outing? 'person born in a certain twenty year window thinks certain things about trans'?
I'm not anti-trans btw. I have trans family. It's a shame you don't feel comfortable answering but never mind. Thanks anyway.

prehaps outing was the wrong word but I think one thing my generation is wary of it what controversial topics we post about online when entering the job market. It can never really be deleted and employers can find these things.

That's fair enough. I'm getting more intrigued now what terribly controversial views you might have?! Honestly it's fine to not want to speak of it. I know some people on here get quite passionate on the subject. I wasn't trying to cause a pile on or anything.

Is it true employers can find out what people have said on anonymous forums? And discriminate against them because of it? How can they know it's you? Gawd that sounds a bit fishy.