Generational Shift

If you are a millennial, you will probably find yourself in a bind. Neither are you the trending Gen Z nor are you the sagacious Boomer. Millennials, born within the years 1981-1996, grew up just when the internet was taking off. Particularly, the internet boomed in the 1990s. Seeing the wonders of the online world, this generation thought itself pretty confident tech-wise but that notion has been thwarted by the Gen Z, who is redefining the global tech market.

Gen Z is a generation born in the years 1997-2012, surrounded by technology. Facebook boomed in the 2010s while the iPhone was introduced in 2007. Smartphones proliferated and online connectivity became the norm. Not surprisingly, Gen Z took to technology like ducks to water. As the youths of this generation grew, so did the dynamics of the employment sector. Side-hustle became commonplace as only 9-5 jobs didn’t cover the rent amid the rising living costs. Young people have been starting to earn as early as their teenage years due to their tech-savvy nature, as millennials watch competitively. 

With its social media prominence, Gen Z has started conducting business online, whether it is in arts and design or in the entertainment business, such as music. Social media such as TikTok is quite lucrative for those with high followings, views and content engagement. The dynamics of the changing job market are proven by the new job titles such as influencers, content creators, social media managers and so on. Before social media, there were no influencers or content creators. 

The last five years have seen people transitioning from 9-5 jobs to remote, self-employed and social media-related jobs. The rise of Facebook, Twitter (now X), Instagram, and particularly TikTok has led to the concept of side-hustle and once successful, people have been shifting fully to such professions. The fact is that social media has opened up new concepts in the employment sector and it is here to stay despite critics decrying the fall of such media. 

Increasingly, people live their lives online and each content is curated to catch the most attention for the longest time. Driven by views, follows, likes and shares, people are competing to get creative and introduce new trends online. And Gen Z is at the forefront. However, Gen Z youths aren’t just tech-savvy and side-hustle innovators; they are also political activists who are fighting for their future against the aging and orthodox generation. In Nepal, Gen Z protests not only toppled the KP Oli-led government, it also established a new interim government that is set to hold elections in March next year. This wave of Gen Z revolution has shifted across multiple third-world countries.

It is said that change is the only constant. Every new generation brings with it a wave of change as the world sees advancement in science and technology. Now that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the front seat in Silicon Valley, it has upended the world market. It will mean fewer entry-level jobs as more graduates enter the job market and AI replaces humans for most automated jobs. It might be challenging for Gen Z, as this generation will have to balance creativity with opportunities in an increasingly uncertain and divided world.