Generation Z is tech-savvy, socially conscious, entrepreneurial

Maclean’s magazine has published a feature article on “Generation Z,” a term it uses to describe youth born after 1995. According to the article, early research on Generation Z indicates that they are “a stellar generation: educated, industrious, collaborative and eager to build a better planet.” Their perspective is framed by their experience of institutional and economic instability, resource depletion, and social media. They favour jobs with social impact and want to start their own businesses. They are also more likely to volunteer than Millennials, and more likely to identify as savers than spenders. They view technology as a fundamental part of their environment, unlike their parents, who typically see it as disruptive. But they will also carry a heavy burden: Don Tapscott, Chancellor of Trent University and author of 15 best-selling books including Growing Up Digital, says that “these kids are going to have to save the world, literally.” Tapscott also cautions that sharp lines will likely be drawn between digital haves and digital have nots. Maclean’s