To put it simply, I think the answer is a mixture of yes and no. Of course, there are a few people who take things to the heart too quickly. There will always be people like that. Older generations allowed things that Gen Z doesn’t.

Gen Z for the most part has a sense of respect. We, well most of us anyway, don’t tolerate ignorance and educate ourselves. We call people out on their ignorance, especially if they have a platform. We prioritize mental health, understanding the role it plays in an individual’s ability to function. I think the awareness Gen Z has is too often associated with being a crybaby. Most of us Gen Z individuals don’t go out of our way to offend people. For example, an individual’s race, features, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc are not things that we look at as weaknesses or obstacles.

Older generations for some reason have pride in being disrespectful toward people because of their traits, Gen Z does not. Just because there is “Freedom of Speech” doesn’t mean you should say the things that are said. As Gen Z continues to evolve, older generations can call us soft all they want. I feel like we as Gen Z call out the problematic behavior that the generations before us should have done a long time ago, and that is what is going to lead to a better world for us to live in.