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Growing up on technology -

Gen Z has never known life without the Internet, and many have never known life without the iPhone, which launched in 2007, when the oldest Gen Zers were 10.

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The most screen time - Over half (55%) of Gen Z use their smartphones five or more hours a day, and 92% go online daily, Pew Research reports.

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Social media stereotyped -

Since they’re also growing up with social media, they’re often stereotyped as tech-addicted, antisocial, or “social justice warriors.”

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"Millennials on steroids" -

Prior to Gen Z, millennials were the largest and most ethnically diverse generation, and it was their stereotype to be addicted to their phones.

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Eight-second attention span? -

Though many say Gen Zers have developed a painfully short attention span, Fast Company posits that they’ve just grown up with limitless options and limited time, so they’ve learned to quickly sort through and assess enormous amounts of information.

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They anticipate clash among other generations - As such a progressive cohort, 45% believe there would be potential challenges working with baby boomers, while 17% anticipate difficulties with Gen X and 5% with Gen Y.

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They want social and environmental progress -

A Nielsen study in 2015 found that 72% of Gen Zers said they would pay more for products and services, like plant-based meat, from companies committed to social and environmental progress.

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Politics are of huge importance -

Gen Zers have been leading the charge with protests for gun control and climate change awareness.

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Changing the workforce -

An Adobe survey found that 64% of Gen Z shoppers think brands should provide a personalized experience, so they’re set on changing the workforce.

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Changing marketing -

Gen Z consumers have different expectations from companies. As a report from eMarketer found, 73% said they preferred brands market new products through Instagram, with Snapchat following as the preferred method at roughly 50%.

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A big emphasis on aesthetics - Fashionable design matters more to Gen Z than any other generation, at 67%. Brands should pay attention, since Gen Z’s purchasing power reportedly sits at US$44 billion and will quadruple in the next two years.

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They only expect more change -

The majority (59%) reportedly don’t think their current jobs will exist in the same form 20 years from now.

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They’re not on Facebook as much -

Facebook is for their parents, many say, as they prefer Instagram and Snapchat.

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They believe in the value of technology -

An international study by Dell found that 80% of Gen Zers said they aspire to work with cutting-edge technology, 91% said tech would influence whether they took a job offer, and 80% said they believe technology and automation will create a more equitable work environment.

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They still want human connection -

While branded as antisocial, 75% of Gen Z still expects to learn from peers on the job, 82% say social media can be a useful tool in the workplace, and 53% prefer going to an office instead of working from home.

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Gen Z wants to find a job early -

According to Yello, one-quarter begin in their freshman/sophomore year of college, while half start in their junior/senior year. Only one in 10 Gen Zers wait until after graduation.

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Salary is important to them -

A reported 65% of Gen Z employees think salary is important, and 24% of Gen Z reportedly thinks they will make US$60,000 or more in their first jobs out of school.

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Money is certainly a big goal - Gen Z is motivated by financial incentives, and more than half (59%) said they’d learn professional skills to make more money.

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They don’t travel like millennials -

Instead, they like beachy vacations. What's more, 86% of Gen Z travelers prefer to stay in hotels. Vision Critical also notes that while 24% of millennials like to use Airbnb, only 12% of Gen Z travelers prefer it.

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Less care about work-life balance -

According to Vision Critical, millennials care more about work-life balance when choosing an employer (47%), while only 38% of Gen Z employees think it’s important.

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They’re worried about their skills -

Gen Z worries about their soft skills, as Dell reported 52% feel more confident in their tech skills rather than non-tech skills. They’re also not entirely confident (only 57%) that their education has prepared them for their careers.

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Where they stand on optimism is highly debated -

There are studies that say 88% are optimistic about their personal future, and there are others that say this generation is the least optimistic of all because they have so much on their shoulders.

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Streaming generation -

While we know CDs and MP3s are long gone for Gen Z, television is also on its way out. A reported 71% have a Netflix subscription, and only 45% watch cable TV.

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Not a fan of ads - The majority of Gen Z (69%) finds ads disruptive, and a study by AwesomenessTV actually found 33% of Gen Z said cable TV is best for falling asleep.

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Not as interested in self-driving cars -

Apparently only 19% of Gen Z are excited about self-driving cars, which is a 9% drop compared to millennials.

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They’re not into substances or getting pregnant so young -

Some researchers say that technology has driven Gen Z to have record low pregnancy rates and substance use, partly because they’re satisfying their novelty-seeking impulses through their phones.

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They’re price-conscious foodies -

The top consideration when Gen Zers buy food is reportedly the price, and 67% also consider the nutritional content of their food, which is 13% less than millennials.

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They’re health-conscious on their own terms -

That said, they also are more likely to rely on the Internet, family, or friends for health advice instead of going to doctors or professionals.

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More open to different gender identities -

Majority of Gen Z (59%) believe forms should include options other than “male” or “female,” and 35% know someone who uses gender-neutral pronouns, the most of all generations.

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They support same-gender marriage and transgender rights -

It’s reportedly rare for a Gen Zer to not know someone from the LGBTQ community, so for the majority of them such rights are part of everyday life.

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They view racial and ethnic diversity positively -

More than 60% of Gen Z says increasing racial and ethnic diversity is good for society, while just 52% of Gen X and 48% of Boomers agree.

See also: Things millennials will never understand.

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