Who is Gen Z?

🌍 Who is Gen Z?
• Generation Z refers to people born roughly between 1997 and 2012 (though the exact years vary slightly by researcher).
• They come after Millennials (Gen Y) and before Generation Alpha.
• Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, surrounded by the internet, smartphones, and social media from childhood.

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📜 Historical Context of Gen Z

1. Early Life (late 1990s – 2000s)
   • Born during or after the rise of the internet (Google was founded in 1998).
   • Grew up with technology as a constant presence—YouTube (2005), iPhone (2007), Facebook (2004), and Instagram (2010) all became part of their youth.
   • Experienced major global events in childhood:
   • 9/11 attacks (2001) and the War on Terror.
   • 2008 Global Financial Crisis, shaping their family finances and views on money.
   • Climate change awareness movements gaining traction.

2. Adolescence (2010s)
   • Social media dominance: Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok became cultural hubs.
   • The “selfie culture”, influencer economy, and digital activism flourished.
   • They witnessed events like:
   • The Arab Spring (2011)—often called the first social media revolution.
   • Global climate strikes led by Greta Thunberg (from 2018 onward).
   • Growing awareness of mental health, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights.

3. Young Adulthood (2020s)
   • Came of age during COVID-19 pandemic (2020)—remote learning, social isolation, and online life became the norm.
   • Faced high unemployment and economic instability, driving interest in side hustles, crypto, and digital entrepreneurship.
   • Active in movements like:
   • Black Lives Matter (2020 protests)
   • Gen Z Protests in Nepal (2025) against corruption and social media bans
   • Global climate and equality movements.

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💡 Characteristics of Gen Z
• Digital Natives: First generation to live with constant internet access.
• Socially Conscious: Values diversity, equality, climate justice, and political activism.
• Independent & Entrepreneurial: Many prefer freelancing, startups, or content creation.
• Global Mindset: More connected across borders than any previous generation.

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🕰️ Historical Importance

Gen Z is often described as a “transitional generation”:
• Bridging the pre-digital and fully digital eras.
• Driving political change through grassroots activism and social media.
• Redefining work, culture, and identity in the 21st century.

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👉 Do you want me to connect Gen Z history specifically to Nepal’s current protests and politics (since you asked about Nepal earlier), or keep it as a global generational history?