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Module 8 Population Composition 123progressive political candidates, and their desire for universal health care and free college education.Generation ZGeneration Z refers to people born between 1997 and 2012, so this is also the generation of current high school students like you! The most significant event Gen Zers have experienced may be the COVID-19 pandemic. Students had to take classes online from home, and those with jobs were hit hard because they were overrepresented in the high-risk service sector employment. Members of this generation are even more racially and ethnically diverse than millennials, and they are poised to be the most well-educated generation. Gen Zers%u2019 views on major social and environmental issues tend to be progressive, similar to those held by millennials. Gen Zers are sometimes called %u201cdigital natives%u201d who are growing up with smartphones and other mobile devices as well as social media.In addition to the five generations, some have come up with yet another generation label for those born after 2012%u2014%u201cGeneration Alpha,%u201d but it is too early to talk about their traits.Figure 8.4 Celebrity Millennial Taylor Swift (b. 1989). Swift does a %u201cmillennial-style%u201d hand heart while performing at an an Eras Tour show. Emma McIntyre/TAS23/Getty ImagesFigure 8.5 Millennials. Millennials tend to be more socially aware and interested in sustainability and environmental issues. Many believe they%u00a0will make a significant contribution to solve the environment crisis. Andrei Stanescu/AlamyThey seem wary of Wall Street and have delayed pursuing the %u201cAmerican dream%u201d: owning a home, getting married, having kids, finding a good job, and investing in a retirement account. Though many still rely on their parents for financial help, they tend to be more committed to environmental and political causes such as renewable energy, resource conservation, climate change, and gender equality (Figure 8.5).Millennials grew up with the Internet and smartphones, which have affected the ways they live and how they interact with others. For example, they are usually connected to their peers via the Internet, and they may choose to interact with each other through social media instead of face-to-face meetings. They like to shop online, but they are reluctant to make a trip to the mall. They may subscribe to Netflix instead of watching traditional or cable TV networks for entertainment. Some observers believe that financial strain (brought on by college debt and low-paying jobs) may explain some millennials%u2019 preference for socialism over capitalism, their support for populist and TERMS TO KNOWGeneration Z: People born between 1997 and 2012%u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.