By Maya Koeppen ’17

After a generation criticized for being lazy, self-absorbed and entitled, many anxiously await what a new generation, those born during the mid 2000s, will bring. Although they have yet to be officially named (at most, they’re tentatively called Generation Z), this generation is slowly beginning to define themselves through their ideologies and their dependence on technology and science. So here’s what to expect of this new generation as they step into the societal spotlight.

Open hearts and open minds: Growing up in the shadow of economic crises and a War on Terror, members of this generation are more aware of the world around them. Going through these events have helped members of this generation slowly become more and more pragmatic in their views of the world. Members have grown up accustomed to the sometimes cruel realities of the world, and are ready to work towards a change. Consequently, they are also more likely overall to accept ideals that up until now were widely unpopular and subdued. After all, members of this generation have witnessed widespread support for same-sex marriage and have lived through two terms of an African American president. Rather than sitting around and waiting for change to occur, these Forbes-proclaimed “rebels with a cause” will be making headlines in the near future.

Phone glued to the hip: A generation born in the era of smartphones, members are quickly taking the place of the Millennials as the poster children of the digital age. They are dependent on technology in every sense of the word- from a news source, to a form of communication, to daily entertainment-their phone is everything and they are unlikely to be seen without it. In terms of social media, they tend to gravitate towards more secretive platforms such as Snapchat and Whisper. Digital privacy is also a generational preference as they learn from the mistakes of their predecessors. If you try to communicate with this generation, your best bet is via text because they probably won’t answer the phone.

Dressed to Repress: Members of this generation prefer the effortless look when it comes to style. The unisex fashion trend of NormCore has been gaining popularity as members look to celebrities for the new “it” look. At the forefront of this new trend are stars such as Kylie Jenner and Kanye West, whose semi simplistic looks are attracting the attention of this new generation and the media alike. Combining normal and hardcore dress, outfits usually consist of “average” clothing that aims to be non-pretentious and seemingly bland. At this rate one can expect the tourist look of dad jeans and old baseball caps to make a comeback in the near future from this new generation.