Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1130365
on social media. (Because they live online, many iGen'ers who disagree with someone's beliefs or actions follow today's common practice of shaming perceived offenders publicly online.) Teachers feel compelled to protect students from things that might offend them by issuing trigger warnings, which let students know about potentially upsetting material beforehand. NASCENT ACTIVISTS According to recent polling by the Harvard Public Opinion Project, over 70 percent of Gen Zers agree that climate change is a problem, and two-thirds of those think it is "a crisis and demands urgent action." Many Gen Zers have become activists for climate change, including those in the Sunrise Movement, Zero Hour, Youth for Climate and #FridaysForFuture demonstrations. Meanwhile, sur vivors of the 2018 mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, have taken on the NRA and conservatives to push for gun control. Other Gen Z activists are advo- cating for racial equality and equity, earning them the new nickname Generation Woke. While Gen Z is shaping up to be a very socially engaged cohort, they largely distrust government, and don't identify with major political parties. In a General Social Survey, 54 percent of those ages 18-29 iden- tified as independent, which Twenge says is why many young adults supported Bernie Sanders and then Donald Trump in 2016. A new report from the Census Bureau shows 36 percent of those ages 18-29 voted in November 2018, which is a 79 percent jump from the 2014 midterms. at trend is likely to continue into the 2020 election, and young people are the most reliably progressive voting bloc, notes Political Data Inc. (see next page). t's clear that Gen Z "is at the forefront of the enor- mous changes under way in the United States today," says Twenge, driven by the Internet and other forces of cultural change. "Understanding iGen means understanding the future — for all of us." Josh Miller, a Gen Z blogger for research firm XYZ Uni- versity, asserts, "We are a generation filled with social justice warriors, civic leaders, and changemakers. Past crises and current events shape us. Digital platforms amplify our messages. Pop culture hero storylines sur- round us. Taken together this forms a 'Heroez' mentality for many in my generation. "And like the young adults and teens of the '60s and early '70s protesting the Vietnam War and fighting for civil rights, women's rights and environmental protec- tions, we are going to leave our mark on this world. Just watch." Twenge, pictured with her daughters, says understanding Gen Z is key to understanding the future for all of us. They are at the forefront of the enormous changes under way in the United States today. Understanding iGen means understanding the future — for all of us." — Jean M. Twenge, California Faculty Association Young activists, such as those in #FridaysForFuture, are demanding action on the environment and other issues. 28 cta.org i special report