The report, released by Duolingo this month, explores the shared values and experiences of Gen Z, refuting their characterization as “tech-obsessed, attention-deficit and self-centered” and highlighting their emerging role in shaping global politics and economics.
“What struck me was the consistency of student perspectives. I spoke to students from different countries, studying at universities all over the world, and a lot of what they said was thematically consistent,” report co-author Anna Esaki-Smith told The PIE News.
“In the past, for generations like Baby Boomers, Gen X and Millennials, geographic boundaries played a big role in differentiating their experiences.
“Gen Z is the first generation to be truly globally connected, and because people now have access to information no matter where they live, we felt there was a greater unity in their worldview,” she added.
The report, based on interviews with seven international students attending universities in the US, UK and Australia, highlights students’ responsible approach to AI, their new awareness of email and a concerted effort to move away from social media.
“While such a small sample cannot be accurately representative of the entire Gen Z population, their perspectives and experiences may indicate emerging trends and how this generation views different aspects of life and society,” the report states.
As the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, Gen Z is expected to be better educated than any previous generation, and the report aims to give policymakers and educators a tool to understand their perspective, promote educational success, and foster economic growth.
What surprised me most was how self-disciplined Gen Z students are.
Anna Esaki Smith, Rethinking Education
The sheer size of Gen Z, defined as the generation born between 1997 and 2012, is having a major impact on global demographics and socio-economic conditions.
The report said that there are an estimated 70 million young people in this age group in the US, up from 57 million in 2010, and that Gen Z could make up 17% of the electorate in the 2024 election.
In China, Gen Z is estimated to be at 251 million, roughly 18% of the country’s total population, while in urban India, Gen Z numbers 116 million.
Despite Gen Z’s diversity, interviews revealed shared concerns about social issues and climate change, as well as how deeply the age group has been affected by the pandemic.
Economically, more than half of Americans who are older Gen Zers (those aged 18-23) say someone in their household has lost a job or seen their pay cut as a result of the pandemic, with younger workers being disproportionately affected by global service sector cuts.
I felt a greater sense of identification with the way Gen Z sees the world.
Anna Esaki Smith, Rethinking Education
Gen Z makes up 45% of the 4.7 billion social media users worldwide, with the average user spending 2.5 hours per day on social media.
For Esaki Smith, the power of this globally connected generation is epitomized by the social justice protests that have erupted during the pandemic, driven by a generation galvanized by social media.
At the same time, student testimony revealed a concerted effort by students to distance themselves from social media, and the report concluded that many of the myths surrounding Gen Z’s social media addiction were born when they and technology were young, and that they have now lost interest.
“What surprised me most was how self-disciplined Gen Z students are. The students I spoke to have goals they want to achieve and they see education as a means to get there.
“Students know how to moderate their behavior, whether it’s muting or completely removing social media apps during class time or adhering to school policies regarding the use of AI tools, so they can prioritize their academic and work responsibilities. I honestly think their discipline is commendable,” Esaki-Smith said.
The report found that Gen Z is proving to be more sophisticated in their use of ChatGPT than older generations would consider, with student testimonials revealing a cautious approach to the tool.
Additionally, while more recruiters are turning to instant messaging apps to communicate with prospective students, interviews revealed the enduring value of email, particularly in academic and professional environments, which “offer a higher level of structure and detail.”
