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Gen Z vs Millennials: Battle of the Generations

In the history of generational wars, it’s safe to say the battle of Gen Z vs Millennials has been the tensest (or is it most tense? Why is English so hard?). 

These two generations, following on the heels of one other, have been at it for years trying to determine who is superior. 

In this article, we will explore the similarities and differences between Gen Z and Gen Y, and why it seems like these two generations never agree.

GEN Z VS MILLENIALS

Gen Z vs Millennials: Who are the Gen Z?

Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, are the newest generation to enter the workforce. They are also known as zoomers, iGeneration, centennials, post-millennials, or Homelanders. 

Gen Z are digital natives, having grown up in an environment of technology and social media, and they are often seen as challenging the status quo.

SEE: Gen Z in the Workplace: How to Handle Them

Gen Z vs Millennials: Who are the Millennials?

Also known as Gen Y or the net generation, Millennials preceeded the Gen Z. They are born between 1980 and 1996, and seen as the generation that introduced the world to the digital age. 

Keeping up with the Gen Z 

One major characteristic of Gen Z is audacity! 

Gosh! They have it in abundance. A Gen Z will not care if you were the president of the world or the first son of your father’s house; they will call you out.  

Perhaps this is why they are called the soro soke generation. 

They are ready speak up against any form of injustice, unfairness and would do it unapologetically, as evidenced during the EndSARS protests in 2020.

Gen Z are funds oriented, and for them, work is a necessary evil. Unlike Millennials who need to love their jobs in order to excel at it, Gen Z do not care about all that. If you pay them well enough, they will stay till a bigger and better paycheck comes. Then it’s bye felicia! 

Gen Z vs Millennials: Battle of the Generations - battabox.com

The zoomers are also tech-inclined; you will never catch them asking how to insert a sim card into a phone. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z were born into the age of technology. They grew up with these gadgets and learnt how to navigate them along the way. They are natives to these innovations and they constantly find the best use for them.

Gen Zs are also liberal thinkers. They strongly believe that life is not that deep and everybody needs to calm down. They believe in freedom of speech, equality for all and will take an active part in whatever they believe in. 

Gen Z are also more practical, cautious, global, and individualistic than other age groups, especially when compared to the Millennials.

READ: Zodiac Signs – All You Need To Know

Meet the Millennials 

Millennials are generally more complacent in nature. Compared to Gen Z, they are not as outspoken or radical. 

Unlike Gen Z, most millennials actually enjoy working. The process of waking up in the morning, taking a bath and stepping out of the house seems to be a pastime for them. They hardly understand the concept of remote work; this explains why they’ll always complain that Gen Z are on their phones. 

Perhaps this is owing to the fact that the oldest of them do not fully understand technology. How do you expect someone that cannot operate “wozzup” to fully navigate a zoom meeting? 

Most millennials grew up in the analog age. Therefore, the idea of digitalization is still a little strange to them. We can only hope one day they catch up. 

Millenials are also quite rigid in their thoughts and ways. They are the definition of “can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. 

Imagine telling your 40 year old aunty that your mental health is fragile. How???

GEN Z VS MILLENIALS
That will definitely be her response

Millennials also tend to take things like formal education, cultural norms and traditions seriously. Unlike the Gen Z, who are here to scatter the status quo. 

SEE: 5 Apps That Improve Time Management

Similarities between Gen Z and Millennials

If you think that these two generations are always at war, you are definitely right. You should see the arguments between Millennial parents and their Gen Z nephews and neices (and kids for those who married early). 

There are times however, where both generations agree in certain things and they have similar traits as well.

One main similarity between these generations is that they both enjoy forming bonds. With family, friends and loved ones. The two generations understand the beauty of friendship and take it seriously. 

Secondly, although Gen Z will like to deny it, many of their fashion choices are widely inspired by the early millennials. 

The natural hair, afro wigs, wide legged pants and bold makeup looks; all have early millennial trademarks on them.

Another similarity between both generations is that they both have a need to be morally right, albeit on different spectrums. Millennials believe they are right in their moral views, while Gen Z believe they are the custodians of the new morality.

All in all, both generations like to believe they are doing their quota to contribute to the greater good. 

Both Gen Z and Millennials favor instant gratification. If they are doing a good job, they want to know, although millennials tend to need it more than Gen Z. They both want their hard work to be acknowledged. 

Millennials can be satisfied with a public recognition and a pat on the back, but Gen Z want performance-based incentives. Show them the money please! 

For both Millennials and Gen Z, knowing they’ve accomplished small wins on the way to a big goal helps them stay motivated.

READ ALSO: How To Build Professional Development

In conclusion

So far, we can see that both generations have their desirable and not so desirable characteristics.

The fact remains, they are both important to keep a balanced world. And hopefully the war ends soon but till then, we will enjoy the bants.