In this programme, we look at Generation Z – a name that describes the people born in the late nineties or early noughties. Also known as Gen Z, they are seen as the social media generation. We discuss other characteristics of this young generation and learn some new vocabulary along the way.
This week’s question:
No one can quite agree on who first used the term ‘social media’, but we do know from which decade it came. Was it…
a) the 1980s,
b) the 1990s,
c) the noughties, that is the first decade of the 21st Century?
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
generations
this is a term used to describe people born in a particular period of time (usually, but not always, a period of about 18 to 20 years)
noughties
first decade of the 21st Century, from 2000 to 2009
to cater for
to provide something that is needed or wanted for a particular group
tech-innate, hyper-informed consumers
(here) describes people who are extremely comfortable with modern technology and social media and, as a result, have a lot of information about what’s going on in the world
savvy
smart and intelligent
the norm
what is normal, what is usual for someone
Transcript
Note: This is not a word for word transcript
Neil
Hello. Welcome to 6 Minute English, I’m Neil.
Rob
And I’m Rob.
Neil
Rob, what generation are you?
Rob
Well what are my choices?
Neil
You can’t choose what generation you are, it depends on when you were born.
Rob
Oh, OK then, what are the different generations?
Neil
Well, there are baby boomers, who were born in between the 1940s and the early 1960s. Then there was Generation X, born between the mid 1960s and the early 1980s. Then there is Generation Y, also known as millennials, born mid 1980s to late 1990s, and …
Rob
OK, let me guess, Generation Z? Born in the late nineties or early noughties?
Neil
You’re very smart. So, which one are you?
Rob
Ah, that would give away my age, wouldn’t it? OK, I have to confess I am Generation X. And what about you, Neil?
Neil
Yes me too, Generation X. But today we’re going to focus on Generation Z, also known as Gen Z. What marks Gen Z in particular is that they are the social media generation. They have never known a time without social media.
Rob
Oh, poor them!
Neil
Mmm, well, that’s one view. Other opinions are available. Before we look at Gen Z in more detail, a question though. No one can quite agree on who first used the term ‘social media’, but we do know from which decade it came. Was it:
a) the 1980s
b) the 1990s
c) the noughties, that is the first decade of the 21st Century.
Rob, what’s your answer?
Rob
Well, come on, it’s quite a recent thing. It’s got to be c) the noughties.
Neil
We’ll find out the answer later in the programme. Now we’re going to hear from Hiral Patel who is an analyst for Barclays. She appeared on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme and was asked whether there was much difference between millennials and Generation Z. Does she think they are the same or different?
Hiral Patel
Most people view Generation Z as mini-millennials – and that’s because there is an obsession with the word ‘millennial’. Our research shows that Gen Z are different and that they have their own set of values and preferences which consumer brands need to cater for. Our research found that Gen Z are tech-innate, hyper-informed consumers, and extremely savvy. This hyper-connected world that we live in today is a new norm for them.
Neil
So Rob, does Hiral Patel think there is much difference between the two generations?
Rob
Yes, she does. But she comments that not everyone does. Millennials a term that is used so frequently that many people think it refers to all young people. Gen Z, she says are not mini-millennials, they are quite different and have their own values and preferences.
Neil
And this is important for consumer brands, for companies who want to sell to this generation. They need to cater for that generation, which means they need to provide goods that Gen Z want.
Rob
And she describes Gen Z as being tech-innate hyper-informed consumers.
Neil
It’s a bit of a mouthful but essentially it means that they are extremely comfortable with modern technology and social media and as a result have a lot of information about what’s going on in the world. This makes them savvy.
Rob
And being savvy means being able to understand situations well and make clever decisions because of this knowledge.
Neil
Now, I think I’m pretty savvy when it comes to modern connected technology and media, but I didn’t grow up with it, it’s new. For Gen Z, this level of technology is what is normal, it’s all around and always has been, it’s their norm, as Hiral Patel put it. Here she is again:
Hiral Patel
Most people view Generation Z as mini-millennials – and that’s because there is an obsession with the word ‘millennial’. Our research shows that Gen Z are different and that they have their own set of values and preferences which consumer brands need to cater for. Our research found that Gen Z are tech-innate, hyper-informed consumers, and extremely savvy. This hyper-connected world that we live in today is a new norm for them.
Neil
Right, time to review this week’s vocabulary, but first let’s have an answer to that quiz. In what decade was the term ‘social media’ first coined? Was it:
a) the 1980s
b) the 1990s
c) the noughties
What did you say, Rob?
Rob
Yeah, well I said c) the noughties.
Neil
You’re wrong. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 1990s is the answer. I’m sure most of you got that one correct. Right, now, the vocabulary.
Rob
Yes, this week we’ve been talking about generations. This is a term used to describe people born in a particular period of time, usually, but not always a period of about 18 to 20 years.
Neil
And we were focussing on Generation Z or Gen Z which includes those born in the early noughties, which is the first decade of the 21st Century from 2000 to 2009.
Rob
The next expression was to cater for. This means to provide something that is needed or wanted for a particular group. And if you are trying to sell something, you need to cater for your target market.
Neil
And if your market is Gen Z you need to be aware that they are tech innate, hyper-informed. They have grown up with connected technology and are very knowledgeable.
Rob
This makes them extremely savvy. This adjective means smart and intelligent. In this context it means they are able to make smart decisions about what to buy because they are connected so many sources of information. And for Gen Z, this level of interaction and connectivity is the norm. It’s what is normal, what is usual for them. So where I struggle sometimes with modern life and technology – for Gen Z, it’s easy.
Neil
Well, that may be true but I’m savvy enough to know that it’s time to end the programme.
Do join us again next time and remember you can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and of course our website bbclearningenglish.com. And let’s not forget our app, Rob!
Rob
Download it now. It’s free!
Neil
Join us again next time. Goodbye.
Rob
Bye!
