Why I Hate Gen Z

Though I am a Gen Z kid myself, I don't align much with the lifestyle, lingo, and worldview of a normal Gen Z kid. I strongly believe that Gen Z has the requisite caliber to bring a change to society in several positive ways. But today we are living in a trap of plastic human emotion, desires, and validation—a life which lacks substance and the depth to give a meaning to it.

Technology has helped us and opened the doorways to hyper-connectivity and development, but has also defined the parameters for a perfect life which doesn't exist. Social media has changed our perspective about living a good, happy, and successful life. In fact, it has changed the very definition of success, which is now more about an internal contentment while performing our actions to mere silly desires of purchasing gadgets and chasing superficial aesthetics.

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The science and technology that was supposed to bridge gaps and improve inclusivity has become the beacon for spreading a trend of toxic comparisons between lifestyles and wealth on the basis of socio-economic disparities and ideological divides. Early exposure to internet and social media content is indeed having a detrimental effect on the youth—not only reducing the attention span of an individual but also affecting one's physical form and posture. Addiction to content that provides quick dopamine spikes prevents our minds from taking up arduous tasks and weakens us across a plethora of dimensions.

Sports and physical activities have taken a back seat, and most importantly, it has destroyed the room for framing an independent thought process and cultivating fresh ideas for a better society. Eminent personalities like Bhagat Singh and Swami Vivekananda referred to the youth of this country as the powerhouse that will energize the masses with ideas of great spirit and purpose. The education that was supposed to be weaponized to impart a rational and scientific temperament has become a medium to avail lump-sum packages and feed the coaching factories of this country. Somewhere, the government and coaching factories of this country are not doing justice to our abilities.

As Gen Z, we are not doing justice to our abilities. The fresh spirit ought to be mobilized to bring structural reforms to the system and raise voices against any form of tyranny. What our society lacks today is the presence of a Statesman who selflessly works to engage these new-age warriors in activities that will bring development.

Political parties have successfully exploited the vulnerabilities of Gen Z to push them towards fringe activities—spreading communal hatred, consumption of narcotic content, and all sorts of illegal activities to garner support and funds in exchange for some quick earnings. The rich kids are busy flaunting their belongings, which include expensive gadgets, clothes, and goodies, alongside endlessly scrolling content that instills a permanent decay by feeding vacuous substance.

The lower strata are desperate to join the rich and, finding every means possible to make quick money by hook or by crook, form a blind crowd that is running after getting into IITs, NITs, and IIMs and other such well-funded establishments. It is none other than the masses who are desperate to join the club of the rich. Hardly a handful of people exist who are passionate to create a framework of powerful thoughts that can bring a phenomenal impact to society.

Notwithstanding the damages that have been incurred by our languages and methods of expression, blind worshipping of Western culture has unequivocally contributed to the erosion of our culture and traditions. Listening to music in a regional language or using a regional language as a mode of conversation is often referred to as "cringe" in educated circles of this country. As Gen Z, it is our responsibility to revive our traditions and culture that project us as a great civilization.

For this, we need to explore and reflect upon ourselves first. We can't change anything overnight. We need to ignite the spark amongst the people to think, question, and act. We have to hold ourselves accountable for things occurring in our immediate areas of influence before anything else. We exclusively need to invest time in quality observation of events from an unbiased, pragmatic lens, stripping off vacuous double-standard emotions.