Generational gaps have existed for, well, generations. We’ve all grown up hearing the same sentences thrown at us in a thousand different ways; a million variations of ‘Well, when I was growing up–”. It’s no secret that every generation has had to deal with its own set of unique struggles and issues.

The Silent Generation faced World War II and the Great Depression, and the Baby Boomers faced the Vietnam War and so forth. No one can definitively say that one generation has had it easier than another. And yet, there’s something different about late millennials and Gen-Z.

What is a 'Snowflake'?

A ‘Snowflake’, according to Merriam-Webster, is a disparaging word used for a person who is seen as overly sensitive or fragile. The term was popularised in the late 2010s, often used by right-leaning individuals to describe left-leaning individuals. But its true claim to fame was around the early 2020s when the more aged members of society decided to stamp a full generation (and a half) with the label.

But is this label earned? Has Gen-Z truly faced issues worse than its predecessors, or are we really just lazy, incompetent, and quick to complain?

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Where does this stereotype come from?

To get to the root of this question, we must examine one of Generation Z’s defining characteristics. We were the first generation to grow up with the internet. Not even millennials were exposed to, or able to communicate and spread ideas, the way Gen Z does.

Social media has shattered geographical barriers, and in an era of oversharing, it feels like we as a society know everything about everyone, no matter where or who they are. Each trip means an Instagram post or story. Every hurdle we face equals a rant on Twitter. Did your parents get divorced? Have you watched the new Netflix show? Post your opinions on TikTok.

Although the lack of personal boundaries is concerning, the idea that an ordinary individual is free to express any thought they want to the entire world is not entirely a bad one, especially when coupled with the mental awareness movement that is currently sweeping our society. As we work to abolish a taboo that humankind has held on to for far too long, we begin to notice an increased level of emotional awareness. Struggling mentally is not a solitary struggle anymore. It's something we all go through, and the internet has helped us realise this.

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Conclusion

Because that’s the missing key for this conversation. Our growing levels of comfort in expressing ourselves. Gen Z isn’t inventing problems to complain about.

These problems have always existed. We are simply talking about them. No one is denying that the world is in a very bad place right now. For most day-to-day members of society, everything seems to be spiralling out of control with no sign of stopping. The fact that we, as a generation, are simply trying to point out issues that have been around for decades doesn't make us weak.

The internet has done a lot of bad in this world, but this is one of the few places it seems to have gotten it right. A global platform where affected individuals can mobilise and unite against forces that threaten them. The ability to spread awareness and shed light on issues we all struggle with is simply a tool to help us better the world, no matter how it's done.

Whether it's a teenager complaining on TikTok or two enraged citizens battling it out on Twitter, these are all simply modern ways to express frustration with current affairs. Because we are not the first. Where the baby boomers had the Vietnam War protests, Gen Z and the Millennials have social media.

So post that 500-word rant on how your landlord sucks. Engage in meaningful (and sometimes non-meaningful) discourse on Twitter. Observe, complain and call out because you cannot fix something without acknowledging that it is broken.