Generation Z: what you need to know about today's teenagers

It is always difficult to communicate with children during adolescence. They differ from their parents not only in interests, but also way of thinking. To find an approach to them, you need to understand how modern teenagers live. Now they are called Generation Z - these are children born at the beginning of the "zero", or centenials.

1. Communication and social media addiction

These teenagers no longer imagine what life is like without smartphones or the Internet, which occupies the city telephone line. They cannot imagine themselves without gadgets - and they spend a lot of time on the net. In fact, on the other side of the screen is their whole life: entertainment, like-minded people, study. Numerous studies show that without access to gadgets and the Internet, these teenagers experience anxiety, and even panic, and they absolutely do not know how to occupy themselves otherwise.

2. Erratic attention

Modern technology gives access to a huge amount of information, in attempts to filter it by teenagers constantly switch attention from one to another, as a result, it can be difficult for them to concentrate even on something important. It is not surprising if only one smartphone receives a notification every minute. The adolescents themselves consider multitasking to be their second self, but this self-confidence is erroneous, since a large amount of information simply passes by their consciousness and memory.

3. Love for naturalness

Today's adolescents are more relaxed about the features of their appearance than the previous generation. They do not use Photoshop to "fix" something in themselves and do not pursue a "luxury" lifestyle that could be paraded on social networks. Overall, they prioritize comfort and experience over ostentatious luxury.

4. Focus on quality

Modern adolescents are much more interested not in the quantity, but in the quality of the things and services they receive. They prefer natural products to take care of their health.

5. Priorities for interests and dreams

Centennials strive to make a hobby a work of life that generates income. They are not ready to change their dreams for a stable home and boring routine. For them, material well-being is still important, but career ambitions are receding into the background. It is also important for adolescents that their activities have a meaning and purpose that they understand, and not just be the execution of someone else's instructions.

6. Change of authority

Generation Z is not ready to respect someone based on seniority alone. If a teacher or boss isn't worthy of respect, then today's teenagers won't be hypocritical. They are well aware of the importance of expertise and knowledge, they value freedom and breadth of thinking, and not positions and titles.

How to find rapport with your Generation Z teenager?

Do not try to forcefully "pull" the child from the phone. You can show by your own example how great it is to go hiking, play sports, communicate live, read paper books with their unique flavor. However, gadgets are an integral part of the life and socialization of the modern teenager. And you will have to come to terms with the fact that he will "sit" in them.

Teach your teenager about digital security. Tell us what you can and cannot do online. How to protect yourself from scammers and extortionists, with which people not to enter into any conversations, on what questions not to answer to anyone and what photos not only not to send, but simply not to store on your gadget. And, of course, from which sources to get verified information, and which links to never click.

Use your teen's love for the gadget to your advantage. For example, using a collective planner, in which you can connect all family members. You will be able to enter reminders and tasks that the teenager will see on his device and put "check marks" on the work done.

Don't discount your teen's interests and concerns. You may not understand the music or movies / cartoons your child is watching. But if they do not pose a danger to his life and health, then try to understand why the teenager likes this art so much. Be a reliable home front to which the child can come with his problem. He must be sure that he will not hear ridicule, reproaches and contempt in response, but will receive unconditional support.

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