jfid – Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, is the generation born between 1997 and 2012.
They grew up in the era of iPhones and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a government department established in 2002 after the 9/11 attacks, most of which they were too young to remember.
This generation has become an economic and cultural force that is hard to ignore.
Pro-Palestinian and Anti-Israel Attitudes
Gen Z has shown a more skeptical attitude toward Israel compared to older generations in America.
On TikTok, where half of the users are under 30, #freepalestine has 31 billion posts compared to 590 million for #standwithisrael — over 50 times more.
Based on various surveys and data, Gen Z tends to be more sympathetic to Palestine and more critical of Israel than previous generations.
For example, a Harvard CAPS-Harris X poll found that 51% of respondents aged 18-24 said that the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas, a U.S. Department of State-designated terrorist group, could be justified due to Palestinian grievances.
Many online Gen Z activists extend critical race theory and the Black Lives Matter movement into the Israel-Palestine conflict to the point of denying reality.
Many of my peers feel (not think) that this conflict only has victims and oppressors.
The Unbuyable Generation
Gen Z shows the greatest concern for the well-being of the planet and influences others to make purchasing decisions based on sustainability.
They prefer to buy sustainably rather than based on brand. Nearly 50% of Gen Zers are racial and ethnic minorities, and 1 in 4 identifies as Hispanic.
Influencing Factors. There are several factors that can explain why Gen Z has different attitudes from previous generations.
First, Gen Z grew up in the post-9/11 era, where they witnessed war, terrorism, and humanitarian crises in the Middle East through the media.
They are also influenced by social movements like Black Lives Matter, which criticizes racism, injustice, and state violence.
Second, Gen Z has access to broader and more diverse information, especially from social media, allowing them to see different perspectives from mainstream media.
They are also more open to listening to marginalized voices, such as the suffering Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
Third, Gen Z has more progressive and humanistic values, making them more concerned about human rights, democracy, and peace.
They are also more critical of U.S. foreign policy, which is seen as blindly supporting Israel and sacrificing the interests of the Palestinian people.
Conclusion
Gen Z is the most diverse generation in various demographics in America to date.
They have shaped many of the biggest fashion trends, political movements, and memes in recent years.
Their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, along with their concern for sustainability, indicates that they are an unbuyable generation with a unique and different worldview from previous generations.
They are a generation that boldly speaks up and stands for what they believe in, unafraid to challenge the status quo.
