Generation Z is a digitally native generation.
They are a generation that has grown up surrounded by the internet, computers, and smartphones as a natural part of their environment. Many of them dedicate time to information gathering and communication through the internet, such as YouTube and social media, and as a result, their TV viewing time has decreased.
Generation Z is not explicitly defined, but it generally refers to the generation born between approximately 1995 and 2012.
Time performance over cost performance for Generation Z
Time performance (Typa) over Cost performance (Cospa)
Generation Z tends to prioritize time performance (typa) over cost performance (cospa).This generation uses simplified expressions for social media and reportedly watches movies at double speed. They value how efficiently they can obtain information within limited time and how much satisfaction they can derive from it. Listening to their conversations, it is often difficult to understand what they are talking about.
In the school setting where Generation Z teaches and learns
With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning has increased, and the digitization of school settings has rapidly progressed. My sixth-grade granddaughter handles her smartphone much more skillfully than I do and effortlessly works on her homework using the computer provided by the school.
She says the young homeroom teachers are having a hard time. Despite being part of Generation Z themselves, they seem to be caught between outdated educational methods imposed from above, and the students are looking at them with indifference.
In the era where Generation Z drives society
In the world of Go and chess, which have been influenced by AI, it is now the era where young people like Sumire Nakamura and Sota Fujii are making remarkable achievements.
The Children’s Basic Act, which will be implemented from April this year, states that “opportunities to express opinions on all matters directly related to oneself and to participate in various social activities shall be guaranteed for all children, according to their age and level of development.”
Listening to the discussions in the current parliamentary session, I was deeply disappointed as I realized that the opinions of the children, who should be the main protagonists, are not being reflected at all. The vague statement of the Kishida administration regarding “unprecedented” childcare support immediately left me disillusioned.
Removing the restriction that members of the House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old and members of the House of Councillors must be at least 30 years old and allowing young people aged 18 and over to participate seems to be the most effective measure to make Japan a vibrant nation.
2023.3.2.
