Are Boomers & Zoomers More Alike Than We Thought?

What does your generation have in common with Gen Z?

If you are an older American, you may believe the answer is “very little.” Maybe even “nothing.”

But the way you think – and your confidence level in our government – may be a lot closer to Generation Z’s outlook than you believe.

There may be more similarities between our generations and Gen Z than you would have thought possible. And not just because they are called Zoomers and many of us are Boomers. Today we’re going to take a look at some of those commonalities.

Who Exactly Is Gen Z?

But before we do, let’s make sure we all know exactly what we’re referring to when we discuss Gen Z.

People born from 1997 to 2012 are considered members of Gen Z. Meaning they currently range in age from about 12 to about 27. A looser definition is those born from the mid-Nineties to the early 2010s.      

Most of them are children of Generation X or younger Baby Boomer parents. Generation X folks were born from 1965 to 1980. Boomers were born from 1946 to 1964.

Those in Gen Z are sometimes called “digital natives.” That’s because they are the first generation to grow up with Internet access. And who used portable digital technology from a very young age.

Gen Z Doesn’t Trust Many Institutions

For the sake of this communication, we’re going to focus on the older segment of Gen Z. Particularly those who have reached voting age.

A recent poll conducted by the Gallup-Walton Family Foundation has some very interesting findings.

The majority of Gen Zers has very little trust in Congress or the presidency. About 44% say they have very little trust in the Supreme Court. Only 20% said they have a great deal of trust in the Supreme Court.

What else does a significant portion of Gen Z distrust? The news (43%) is one. Another is the criminal justice system (41%) and the police (37%). But 70% say they trust the U.S. military and 76% trust America’s medical system.

Other Polls Have Similar Findings

Surprisingly, only 49 percent of Gen Z members say they trust large technology companies. Especially considering how much time they spend connected to technology.

Now, this is only one poll. But another recent poll conducted by the Harvard Institute of Politics revealed much the same thing.

It found that the trust level in many well-known and previously well-respected institutions is down among Gen Zers.   

Those trust levels may have never been high to begin with. But what trust did exist has been eroded.

Older Americans Share Gen Z’s Doubts

Baby Boomers, as well as members of the slightly older Silent Generation (those born from 1928 to 1945) have similar levels of mistrust in a number of institutions.

But as a general rule, those levels of trust among older generations have dropped sharply through the years. And especially over the past couple of decades.

Among older adults, 57% say they have very little confidence in Congress. About 46% percent express the same thing about the presidency.

A little over one-third of older Americans say they have very little confidence in the Supreme Court. Older Americans have confidence in the military and the police.

Most Think Country Headed in Wrong Direction

The overall lack of trust in the government – among Gen Z, Baby Boomers, and others – shouldn’t be too surprising.

Approximately two-thirds of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. That’s according to a recent poll conducted by the Center Square Voters’ Voice.

Only one-fourth believe the nation is headed in the right direction. Others were undecided. Among those identifying as Independents, 69% said they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Other polls found that the percentage of those who believe the country is headed in the wrong direction is higher than two-thirds. Including up to 76%, according to an ABC News poll.

Even Government Recommends Preparedness

It’s been interesting to reflect on the shared challenges and perspectives between older generations and Gen Z. It's clear there are common threads binding us together. 

Both Baby Boomers and Gen Z are grappling with a crisis of trust in institutions. And a sense of uncertainty about the future. But this generational overlap also highlights an opportunity.

By understanding and addressing shared concerns, we can bridge the gap between ages. And work together toward solutions. 

Passing down preparedness and resilience is more crucial than ever. Not just as a legacy. But also as a necessity to create a more stable and hopeful future. 

Mutual understanding and cooperation will help us prepare the next generation to face the changing landscape with confidence and capability.