Dear Old People, Meet Today’s Teenager

“THEY (TEENS) WILL CREATE MASSIVE CHANGES IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS, AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TEACH AND INFLUENCE THEM AS THEY BEGIN TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEM.”

Today’s teenagers are part of what many call Generation Z, a group that is now the largest segment of people in the U.S. with over 26% of the population. With their recent success advocating for stricter gun laws and spreading awareness of issues that are important to them, it’s clear that this generation will impact all of our lives and the world significantly, but what do we really know about them?

In late March, OFF RCRD host Cory Levy spoke on the subject of teens at a Talks at Google presentation. Cory, who is in his mid-twenties, has stayed on top of what teens are up to even though they would now consider him an “old person.” As the Co-Founder of teen-focused social network After School and Internapalooza, it’s Cory’s job to understand young people.

Weeks before the talk, Cory tapped into his network to ask teens what they think “old people” don’t understand about them. Cory turned their responses into 10 points, which he shares in this special edition of OFF RCRD.

Listen to Cory’s talk to hear the 10 points, which include that today’s teens have no interest in working with big companies, idolize gamers, and think that you’re close-minded.