This week on Portsmouth Point: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation

by Max B, Year 12

Every generation believes it is special, different, better, compared to their predecessors. The Boomers think they built the world from the ground up, Gen X claims they were the last to have a “real childhood,” Millennials are still reminiscing about the turn of the millennia. And then there’s Gen Z; the generation supposedly too woke, too lazy, too obsessed with “Tick Tock “ and cancel culture to make any real impact.

Or so we are told.

The truth seems to be far more complicated. We are hyper-aware, more informed than ever before, and yet still deeply uncertain about where we stand. We are radical and ambitious, but often cynical and exhausted. We have access to more opportunities than previous generations, yet we struggle to be taken seriously by those in power.

So, are we really the generation of change, or are we just stuck in an endless loop of overthinking and existential dread? After reflecting myself, I found that there is no singular answer, just an intricate web of ambition, anxiety, and adaptation.

I turned, therefore, to the youth themselves. I needed some different perspectives, ideas, thoughts, on us as a collective generation. So, who are we?

The Search for Identity

If you ask older generations to define themselves in one word, you might hear “resilient,” “visionary,” “strong.” Ask us? The responses I got ranged from "prosperous" and "innovative" to "weak" and "confused."

One student chose “spoiled”,. another went with “hope,” which, quite frankly, feels like a much-needed counterbalance.

But here’s where it gets interesting, the gender divide in these answers. Male students leaned toward words that suggested frustration: “weak,” “spoiled,” “confused”, as if they felt adrift in a world that doesn’t quite make sense to them. Female students, on the other hand, opted for words like “proactive,” “innovative,” and “hope.”

Could this be a reflection of something deeper? Are young men feeling increasingly indifferent in a rapidly changing world? Are young women more optimistic about their ability to create change? Or is this all just a case of individual perspective rather than sweeping generational truth?

Maybe the real issue is why we even seek the need to define ourselves in a single word at all. Why can’t we be both weak and strong, confused yet hopeful, uncertain but determined? Perhaps our defining trait isn’t any single label—it’s the fact that we are constantly shifting, evolving, and adapting.

So, should we stop trying to define ourselves, or is that search for identity what makes us who we are?

Misunderstood, or just different?

We’ve all been there—trapped in a conversation with an older relative, at a family gathering we don't really want to be at, as they launch into the classic “Back in my day…” speech. This is usually followed by a comparison between how they walked fifty miles to school in the snow and how we allegedly can’t function without Candy Crush and WiFi.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that many students feel misunderstood by older generations.

"They don’t appreciate youth for what we are. We’re often looked down on," one student noted. Another pointed out that past generations “think we are immoral because our beliefs don’t map onto theirs.”

The biggest disconnect? Technology.

To our parents and grandparents, phones are the enemy. They are the reason we lack discipline, social skills, and attention spans.

But for many, technology is a tool, a resource, and a lifeline. One student put it: “They think technology is hindering us, but maybe younger generations are using it to boost change.” Several individuals noted that “we take the amazing abilities of technology for granted.”

And they might be right. Social media has been instrumental in modern activism, giving young people a voice in a way that wasn’t possible before. There is a flip side, however. A 2023 study by a think tank, “Pew Research”, found that 46% of teens say they are online "almost constantly." While this means we are more informed than ever, it also raises concerns about mental health, political echo chambers, and digital dependence.

So, what’s the verdict? Is technology empowering us, or is it trapping us in a world of endless doom scrolling and misinformation?

Are We Actually Engaged With Social Change?

It’s easy to say we care. Climate strikes, human rights protests, and online petitions all suggest that our generation is politically active and socially engaged. But is awareness the same as action?

Students were divided. Some believe we are more engaged than any previous generation, largely because social media gives us access to issues in real-time. Others argued that while we are more aware, we are just as powerless as those before us.

Take climate change, an issue that came up again and again in student responses. The United Nations has warned that we have until 2030 to cut global emissions in half to avoid catastrophic consequences. Yet, despite this, global carbon emissions hit a record high in 2023 and the doomsday clock is ticking ever closer to midnight.

The problem isn’t that we don’t care, it’s that many of us feel completely powerless to do anything about it.

Optimism vs. Pessimism

Are we hopeful about the future, or do we believe we’re doomed?

Some students were optimistic, with one stating, “We need to have optimism for change, or nothing will ever improve.” Others, however, saw a more negative side, citing environmental destruction, political instability, and economic inequality.

One student admitted they were “scared, but have faith looking back at history that good will triumph over evil.” Another summed it up bluntly: "Doom and gloom. We’re on track for things not to go well."

This divide is crucial because it reflects the crossroads we stand at. Do we surrender to the belief that the world is beyond saving, or do we actively seek to prove that narrative wrong? The answer is up to us.

What Lies Ahead?

Our generation is contradictory: both hopeful and uncertain, driven yet exhausted, connected yet isolated. We are defined not by one spark, but by millions of them, each of us navigating a world that is changing faster than ever before.

It is easy to believe that our voices don’t matter, that we lack the power to make meaningful change. But history disagrees. Every great movement, every transformative era, was sparked by those who refused to accept the status quo.

So, maybe the real question isn’t whether we will burn bright or fade away. As a generation, we are ignited with curiosity, activism and passion towards the things we care about the most. The question is, can this flame spread to create a joint, generational movement towards improving our future?

Will our generation be defined by action, or by hesitation?