Generation Z Teens Stereotyped As 'Lazy And Unaware'

Gavin is a junior at Loyola Academy and a reporter for The Mash, a weekly teen publication distributed to Chicagoland high schools.

You may recognize them as your constantly-connected, constantly-moving peers, but to the rest of the world, they’re Generation Z: the lazy, apathetic age group born between 1994 and 2004.

Though they’re characterized as multi-tasking whizzes, they’re simultaneously garnering the reputation among older generations of being lazy, unaware and apathetic.

Gen Z is often portrayed as less engaged in politics; they have short attention spans and don’t care about the weighty issues that confront their generation and the nation; and they’re more interested in technology and celebrity than staying active in their communities and schools.

So what gives with Generation Lay-Z?

“Unfortunately, I do think that our generation is somewhat guilty of that title,” Elk Grove junior Michelle Zerafin said. “I’m guilty of not being knowledgeable about the world and I can name 10 other people right now that aren’t either.”
The characterizations come from the parents of Generation Z and prior generations alike.

“Compared to when I was growing up, I think that in some ways my daughter’s generation is more unaware of what’s going on the world,” Hellen Minev said, a parent of a Prospect student. “I don’t think they’re apathetic, though, I think they just have different priorities like their cellphones and Facebook.”

Like Minev, many adults say much of the blame lies with Gen Z’s reliance on gadgets.

“You guys have all these devices like smartphones, touchscreens, iPhones, iPads, ‘iEverything,’“ Elk Grove history teacher Dan Davisson said. “It’d be hard for you guys to spend your energy on things like volunteering if you have all these distractions.”

Furthermore, sitting around watching videos, texting or playing video games can lead to negative health effects for teens who would rather stay indoors and use their electronics than be active outdoors. They’re leading a sedentary lifestyle that, when paired with a poor diet, can result in obesity, diabetes and other health problems.

A 2009 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that approximately 17 percent of children and adolescents ages two-19 are obese. Since 1980, obesity rates have nearly tripled, the report shows.

“No one calls each other up and says, ‘Hey, want to go for a bike ride?’ “ Zerafin said. “And if they do, it’s rare. Now it’s more like, ‘Hey, want to come over and play some (‘Call of Duty’)?’“

While some worry that Gen Z is lazy and unprepared for the real world, Elk Grove junior Kate DeMeulenaere believes that it’s just a matter of survival of the fittest.

“I don’t think anyone is ever really prepared,” she said. “But I think (some) just adapt better than others and make more logical choices.”

Elk Grove counselor Maria Mroz adds that making the right choices and having the right attitude from an early age is the way to beat the stigma of being apathetic.

“If more teenagers realize the value of their education they can beat those murmurs of being apathetic right here at school,” Mroz said.

Huntley junior Christian Nunez tries to beat the label by keeping informed on current affairs and staying on top of his education.

“Although sometimes I tend to let my grades slip, I try to compensate by trying harder. ... I also try to keep up with things that happen in other places,” he said.

On the other hand, there are those like youth group pastor Jin Kim who believe that the lazy label isn’t really accurate.
“I don’t think this generation is apathetic at all,” Kim said. “If they are, then every other generation, including my own is apathetic as well. I have kids right in front me right now that spend their time and effort volunteering and being active in their community.

“When I look at them I don’t see lazy or inattentive kids. I see kids that are caring and hard-working, not apathetic.”

More stories from The Mash:

• "Beat The Stereotype: How To Get A Job If You're Gen Z"
• "Girls Basketball State Finals"
• "AP Overload"

Comments

[marrrinara]

07:39 AM on 01/31/2013

Despite the negative comments about Gen z being lazy and unaware, I think technology is not all to blame for that because, this generation grew in a different environment. In fact, because most of them are technologically inclined and virtually updated, they are not apathetic at all. Even Facebook, and twitter gives information about what is happening world wide. Most of the teens of today are obtaining more information in a span of a few minutes of clicking than what past generations obtain in a long time. Studies show, that these kids are sensitive to the financial instabilities of their families, economic disasters in their country, and political imbalances. Furthermore, they're not incapable of handling the next generation. Most generations don't realize that they too 'can't handle it' at first, but look where that got us now? People once thought Gen Y had no hope on growing up; but now, many people realize they have the same capabilities as what the past generations had. Now, it is generation z's turn to show that they are capable of handling the next generation. Therefore, Gen z is not at all apathetic, or lazy, they're just being teenagers who was raised by a different environment. Now they are adapting to that new environment and eventually, they will be able to handle the next generation greatly.

I'm part of Gen z and I proudly oppose this article

[RevengeFan15]

03:40 PM on 04/12/2012

I'm a teen of "Gen Z" and I disagree. Of course. i don't think this generation is any less out of touch with politics or world events than any other generation. Honestly, how many of you can say that you cared about politics and global warming when you were 14? I am very connected to world events and politics, and am interested in them and I know dozens of teens like me who are as well. Then of course there are the ones who aren't. The ones who engage in dangerous behavior, are irresponsible, lazy, and don't care. They're in every generation. It's not just this one. On the contrary, while the internet has led to more risky behaviors and laziness, it has also provided a window for more teens to BECOME interested and informed about current and world events. Quit stereotyping and demonizing us all simply because we are the "tech" generation.

As for the obesity discussion going on in the comments below, why is this limited to our generation? Tons of women especially, and men everywhere struggle daily with the choice of eating healthy foods or grabbing a Hershey's. It's not limited to us. yes, physical activity has decreased with advances in technology,

[marrrinara]

07:38 AM on 01/31/2013

I totally agree to this. In fact, some people define "laziness" as I'll do it now so I don't have to do it later.

For the obesity problem, diets and exercises are being widely promoted in today's society. No longer are there a lot of people who are obese in Generation z. In history, there were more obese people than the ones of today. Yes, fastfood, junkfoods and chocolates are widely spread today, but the fact that the entire world has that desire to become thin totally negates the writer's opinions. It has been spread in magazines, televisions and media that being thin is considered beautiful.

Second, I too am also a teen of Gen Z and I do believe some of these are barely true. Yes, technology can cause a person to become "lazy"; but if we flash back to the past, when has it ever happened in history that technology didn't make people's lives easier? In the middle ages, for example, before they 'upgraded' the plow, it was difficult for a farmer to farm and when it upgraded into the 3-field land and the use of horses and horse shoes, it had made people's lives easier. See, a simple thing such as a plow is technology. What is technology? It is something invented and destined to make man's life easier. the laziness that was being referred to is the long term effect of that matter.

[Rhancheck]

10:47 AM on 03/11/2012

I have to agree with the thought of laziness, I'm gonna sound old saying this,which i guess i am getting there, BUt one never sees the youth outside as much anymore, the only games they play involve sitting in front of a screen, no wonder the kids are getting fatter, I ate like a pig in the 70's and 80's but was always outside till sundown, bicycled everywhere, ran around with friends outside, it was a lot more active generation than this current one.. (lol) maybe all the glittery vampire movies make the kids think sunlight is bad for them?

[Simona Sohiya Katsman]

06:27 PM on 03/30/2012

LOL nice one *high five*

[marrrinara]

07:41 AM on 01/31/2013

Blame global warming. It would be too hot or too cold to go play outside.

[Kailei]

10:41 PM on 03/09/2012

I think there are so many smart kids who are perfectly active and stuff like that in any generation. But I do agree that it's becoming normal to just be "lazy." I recently left high school and the amount of kids that just "didn't care" was extremely alarming to me. I would hear kids talking about drugs and sex and things so carelessly, thinking it was hilarious, and they showed absolutely no excitement for anything else. I was a member of AP classes and things like that, but when I wasn't a part of those groups, it was very disheartening to see the number of students who just didn't care about themselves, their peers, or their future.

[PortaPotty]

08:39 PM on 03/08/2012

I agree, my generation is lazy.

However, I blame obesity on the food industry. Young people will eat whatever they see on tv. And guess what? There are tons of candy, sugary cereal, fast food, soda, and other junk food commercials airing very commonly on children channels. If someone young see's those commercials everytime they view tv they will beg their parents to buy it for them.
Parents are also at blame, they need to enter their kids in sport activities at a young age to encourage them to have an active lifestyle; parents also need to stop buying junk food.

[kittykat464]

05:52 PM on 03/12/2012

In my opinion, I think the blame on obesity is a shared one. Yes, the food industries fill food with as much sugar, carbs, fat and other crap as they can, and then make their commercials so delightfully wonderful that children go running to mom and dad for all of it. And yes, parents indulge these children because they either can't say no or are tired of hearing the begging, and buy it for them anyway.

BUT! Let me say, generation Z, some of the other blame IS ON YOU! If you are smart enough to know that it is bad for your health and will cause obesity or even worse diabetes at a young age (which, I'm assuming you are since you are posting about it) then YOU need to be the one to resist the fast food and candy in the first place! The information about it is everywhere! Start growing up and thinking for yourselves!

[J R M]

12:05 AM on 03/07/2012

I have never claimed the younger generation is lazy. Some really want to party, but that was as true 50 years ago as now. It is just that the serious party kids didn't try to go to college then and the colleges were very happy to flunk them out the first semester if they tried.

Many of the kids in my 14 year old daughter's IB classes are both very smart and very hard working. At this point, study has consumed my daughter's life - she is probably studying 60 hours a week. She has 3 months more of this death march. Then she can shift to a relaxed schedule - volunteering / observing in a technical medical area, doing on-line and Skype Ukrainian lessons, reading, hiking, and sleeping. Then it is off to college.

[Shawn1966]

07:34 PM on 03/06/2012

It's a generational thing Every generation thinks that the generation that comes after it is lazy. The Greatest generation was sure that the boomers were a bunch of overindulged & lazy punks. The boomers & the greatest generation called generation X the slacker generation. Now the boomers and generation X is calling the generation Y lazy. We are all victims of our own success. We try to make life for our children better/easier than we had it when were kids then we b**ch about how lazy and unappreciative our kids act. Just wait history will repeat itself when you have kids.