by Julie A. Wein

Created on: August 01, 2011   Last Updated: August 03, 2011

Generation Z refers to anyone who was born between 2001 and today. This generation has never known a world without the Internet. Generation Z kids are mainly the children of Generation X parents and in some cases, Generation Y. Generation Z kids are used to a fast paced world and are accustomed to instant gratification. They are not familiar with the old dial up Internet of yesterday, because all they have ever experienced is cable Internet. Members of Generation Z are growing up with such applications as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, things that did not exist when their parents were their age. Unlike in their parents' time, members of Generation Z don't always value privacy.

Children of the Generation Z era are not reading traditional paper books, but are simply reading whatever they can get on their Ipad or Kindle. Older members of Generation Z are acquiring learner's permits on the road to getting themselves full blown driver's licenses, a milestone in any young person's life, even for members of Generation Z.

The relationships made by members of Generation Z are based on electronic communication. Current technology is allowing people to maintain and acquire friendships in a way that was never possible for past generations. Even the world of politics has been affected by developments in technology between the current generation and older generations. Generation Z kids saw the power of social media when a new President of the United States was elected with the help of social networking. This generation is more involved in politics than any other generation has been because it is more accessible to them with today's technology.

Even the corporate world has been, and will continue to be, affected by the members of Generation Z. As Generation Z members begin to enter the work force they have different expectations and different work ethics than their parents or grandparent's generation did. Many Generation Z members are striving to find a healthy balance between work life and family/personal life. This is a trend that members of past generations haven't placed as much value on. Generation Z workers quite often want to find a way to telecommute for their job and expect bonuses such as extended maternity leave and, for women, the ability to work part time after their baby is born. Generation Z is changing the working world to suit their needs, an option that they often have because of the advances in technology between their parents generation and this one.

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