Who made Gen Z? Every generation is framed within the ers into which it is born.
Usually, we blame Gen Z because their behaviour feels different from previous generations because of their behavioural differences. They are often called irresponsible, lacking commitment, and unwilling to invest time in understanding things deeply. They tend to apply quick logic to solve problems without patience. Many say they struggle to maintain relationships, are more attached to their phones than to real human connections, set extreme boundaries, and prefer staying within comfort zones. In the job market too, they are among the most criticized.
Then comes Gen Alpha. They appear even more detached from society, living almost entirely within a technological world. Many of them have not experienced the true sense of the earth, the simplicity of life, or the depth of human connection.
Looking ahead to Gen Beta, they are expected to grow up in an even more advanced technological environment. Their lives may be deeply integrated with artificial intelligence, automation, and virtual realities. Learning, thinking, and interaction may largely occur through digital mediums. While they may become highly efficient and technologically skilled, there is also the possibility that emotional depth, patience, and real-world understanding may weaken. Dependency on systems may increase, and independent thinking could reduce drastically.
In reality, none of these generations are born with such characteristics. These patterns develop over time. The world into which children are born shapes them. Generational categorisation itself largely reflects the degree of technology influencing society at a particular time.
When we assign generational labels, we must also recognise that many children do not fit these definitions. Some grow up in forests, villages, or regions relatively untouched by intense technological influence. Can they truly be called Gen Z in the same sense? Many of the traits associated with Gen Z may not exist in them at all. If categorisation depends only on birth year, does it truly hold meaning?
It is society, the changing world, and rapidly evolving technology that create these behavioural patterns. Children become what the environment presents to them. Parents, shaped by changing habits and circumstances, raise their children differently from how they themselves were raised. Upbringing remains deeply relative.
Therefore, when children fall into generational categories, responsibility does not lie with them. Parents, educational systems, and social environments play significant roles in shaping them. No child is born carrying a generational label.
Technology-driven lifestyles and education begin at a very young age, gradually becoming a form of conditioning. What appears as development may not always represent true progress.
People who think deeply question systems. They demand better, react, and challenge norms. Yet the structures that govern society do not always encourage such thinking. Corporations and governing institutions often function more smoothly when people follow instructions, adhere to systems, and avoid deep questioning. When individuals simply consume what is presented to them, a generation is shaped accordingly.
Within such systems, individuals may grow up unaware of their rights, disconnected from their surroundings, and distant from the beauty of life. They may miss nature, meaningful relationships, intimacy, and deeper human experiences.
Perhaps the real question is not what kind of generation we are creating, but who is responsible for creating it.
Children are not born limited; many become restricted through the process of growing up. Isn’t it better not to bring a child into this world than to mould them in ways that suppress their innate energy and human charm?
Because the problem is not the generation.
The problem is the environment we are creating for them.