Over the last decade, SheKnows has had an ongoing series of discussions with members of Gen Z to gauge how they feel about serious and substantial topics such as politics, gender and racial equality, and women’s rights. We’ve checked in with them as they’ve grown from energetic kids to insightful teens to young adults poised to make their mark on the world. These evolving conversations have provided a fascinating glimpse into their opinions over the years, but more importantly, how they’re feeling now that they’re old enough to vote — and playing a pivotal part in choosing our next President.

Gen Z Voters: By the Numbers — & Beyond

Nearly half of Gen Z voters (45 percent in the general electorate and 47 percent of newly eligible voters) are people of color, making Gen Z more racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations. But their diversity isn’t all that sets them apart — not by a long shot. Gen Z has spent their teen and young adult years trying to navigate a complex web of interconnected crises, including systemic racism, gender-based violence, crippling student debt, and erosion of reproductive and gender rights, set against the ominous backdrop of climate change. They’ve seen only elections that feel polarizing and divisive, if not downright hostile. Older members of Gen Z report feeling disillusioned by the surge of negativity, misinformation, and harmful rhetoric that has dominated the past three election cycles; they’re tired and cynical, skeptical of each party’s true intentions.

Because of this, the resulting fear and uncertainty that many Gen Z-ers feel for their future has made them especially engaged in social activism, and deeply connected to the causes they’re passionate about. “They lean less into party divisions and are particularly motivated by the issues,” Emily Slatkow, communications director for the progressive youth voting organization NextGen America, said in an article for NBC News.

A recent survey revealed that almost one-third of Gen Z (32 percent) report being regularly active in social justice work, as opposed to just 24 percent of millennials — a number that goes up to roughly 40 percent among college-aged Gen Zers. For 62 percent of Gen Z activists, moral conviction is the top driver; they’re compelled by a deep sense of what is right. Another key motivator, cited by over half, is a personal connection — either their own experiences or those of close friends and family — which sparks their passion for specific social causes.

Back in 2020, a Pew Survey found that 22 percent of registered voters aged 18 to 23 — the oldest members of Gen Z — approved of how Donald Trump was handling his job as President, while about three-quarters disapproved (77 percent). In a September 2024 survey by NBC News, half of Gen Z voters say they’re planning to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in November, while one-third say they’ll vote for former President Donald Trump; still a bigger gap for Harris, but not quite the majority seen in the 2020 election. The Fall 2024 Harvard Youth Poll, conducted by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at the Harvard Kennedy School, saw Harris leading Trump by a large margin — 64 percent versus 32 percent among likely voters.

Interestingly, while both genders are leaning heavily toward Harris, the rate of female support has far surpassed males; the gender gap, which stood at 17 points in the Spring poll, has nearly doubled and is now at 30 points. “There is this unprecedented gap in Gen Z, in the under 30s, in terms of political affiliation and voting intention. But it’s also worth emphasizing that more of that gap may be driven by the move of young women to the left than it is of young men to the right, Richard V. Reeves, author of the book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It, told SheKnows. “I think that for most young men it’s actually more a question of feeling quite politically homeless. They don’t see much on the left for them, for sure. And I don’t necessarily think they’re wrong about that.”

But if talk doesn’t turn into action, none of these statistics will matter one iota, which brings us to the biggest question: Will Gen Z show up at the polls? According to the Harvard Youth Poll, absolutely. “Fifty-six percent of young Americans tell us they plan to ‘definitely’ vote in the upcoming election,” the findings state. “Among registered voters, the number rises to 72 percent.” This number has been bolstered by the surprising mid-race candidate swap. Before Harris took over as the Democratic nominee, Gen Z’s motivation to vote was much more lukewarm. “What I’m hearing from my generation, or my peers, is that people aren’t going to vote at all because they’re not feeling satisfied or represented by either of the big options,” Amelia, 21, told SheKnows prior to Biden’s departure from the race. Now, it’s a totally different story.

“Much of this increased enthusiasm among [Gen Z] Democrats is tied to Kamala Harris as their party’s nominee,” says the Harvard Poll. “More than four-in-five (81 percent) of Harris supporters in a direct match-up with Trump are enthusiastic about voting for her, nearly doubling the 43 percent of Biden supporters who said the same in March.” It can’t hurt that Harris’s campaign has intentionally set out to appeal largely to Gen Z voters; after all, teens do spend an average of 8.5 hours a day on screens, swiping through their social media.

The enthusiasm for Harris may be renewed, but it certainly isn’t new. “I hope that a woman could one day be President. I hope that a person of color could be President again,” Gen Z panelist Reed told us in 2020. “And I think that one thing we need to address is this country’s issue with women in office.” And in the same year, fellow panelist Jack mused, almost prophetically, “I don’t know what’s going to happen in four years. I think [Kamala Harris] would be a good President. I’d support her. I’d be able to vote then.”

Well, folks, “then” is now — and it’s Gen Z’s time to be heard. Will they realize the full potential of their impact and turn out in record numbers to vote? It’s a question we’ve waited for the past 10 years to answer … and in two weeks, we’ll all know. In the meantime, watch the full video to see the evolution of these first-time voters.

Me: How long have you and [her boyfriend’s name] been dating?

Her: We were in the talking stage for five months before I hard launched him.

If any of this sounds like a NASA briefing to you — stage? Launches? — let me help break it down. I’m only 22, but even since I’ve been in high school, things have changed. Long gone are the days of, “You went on a date? Oh, so you’re dating.” 

Now, teens “talk” — i.e. go to the movies, Snapchat each other daily, attend dances as a pair, FaceTime every night before bed, for MONTHS, before calling themselves anything other than friends. Hence, the Talking Stage.

However, there comes a point when all this friendliness seeks some form of legitimization. Enter the Hard Launch. The Hard Launch is typically a picture, usually in the form of an Instagram post, that can only be interpreted one way: “Those two are DEFINITELY together.” If you see a photo of two teens canoodling on a couch? Hard launch. A selfie of two smiling faces, smushed together? Hard launch.

But for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction: enter the Soft Launch. A Soft Launch is a piece of media that leaves room for interpretation. A teen girl enticing her crush to participate in a silly TikTok trend together, and both are finding the other a bit too funny? Soft Launch. A private Snapchat story of him accidentally spilling his frozen yogurt, and her giggling in the background? Soft Launch. 

And if this twosome who spend a ton of time together have neither hard launched nor soft launched, we may have the bane of every young person’s dating life on our hands: the dreaded Situationship.

A Situationship is a relationship with no labels. Actually the word “relationship” might be too strong here. It’s more of a … and I hate to define the word with the word … but, a situation. If your teen is listening to Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” on repeat, they may be the victim of a situationship (and entitled to financial compensation). In essence, the situationship is a no-label, low-commitment, casual, but often emotionally stressful arrangement that seems to be GenZ’s answer to all of the hard-line dating rules of the past. 

But don’t worry parents, having swung so far in one direction — from formal dating, to talking stages, to well, situationships — things are sure to reach equilibrium soon. And until then, I’m here as a trusty translator (or as the teens would call it, a “snitch”) to help you navigate this all-new dating landscape.

These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.

The A Promised Land author joined La’Ron Hines, a viral TikToker with 9.2 million followers, who has asked everyone from kids to Snoop Dogg, “Are you smart?” for an interview. In the interview with Obama on TikTok, he had to start off with the classic question, of course.

“Mr. Obama, are you smart?” Hines asks.

“I think I’m pretty smart,” Obama answers, adding that his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha, 23, and Malia, 26, may disagree. “Michelle sometimes doesn’t think so, and my daughters definitely think sometimes I’m not smart,” he went on.

Hines decided to test him on Gen Z slang to see if he’s smart. “If I ask you for the addy, what am I asking you for?” Hines asked.

Obama replied, “Man, I don’t know man.” You gotta love his honesty!

“The address, man!” Hines responded, and Obama looked so disappointed in himself. “Sasha definitely — she’s going to be so ashamed of me for not knowing that,” he admitted.

The next term, drip, Obama nailed. “You got drip going on right now!” he said, referring to Hines nice suit. He added, “Obviously I know what drip is.”

Obama just laughed when asked about “No kizzy” (which means basically means “no lie,” btw).

Finally, he asks Obama to tell TikTok viewers how to vote and to do it “with a little rizz.” “Well, first of all, I invented rizz,” Obama quipped. “I’m the rizz OG.”

“The Rizzard of Oz,” Hines added, making Obama laugh. He has the best sense of humor! Finally, he reminded people to register to vote, adding, “We got a big election coming up and you need to vote.”

People were loving this video, which already has 1.9 million views. “Not rizz OG 😂,” one person commented. Someone else wrote, “🥹☺️this man is so suave … just beautiful for no reason.”

Now that Gen Z is gearing up to vote in their first election, it’s more important than ever for politicians to care about this generation. Something that Obama has done throughout his campaign and presidency and continues to do as he encourages people to vote.

Before you go, check out Barack & Michelle Obama’s best parenting quotes.

Fast forward eight years later, and my generation’s mental capacity has moved beyond those lunchroom conversations. Now, Trump’s jests and outbursts no longer appear funny, and the comedic value of a presidential candidate does not determine whether we love them. But what does? As an 18-year-old, it is often hard to understand why so many of my peers have become attracted to Trump. Despite being born into a liberal home, my education solidified my moderate left position. If you ask me why I am liberal, I can give several answers that beef up my arguments and will inform my first-time vote in November. So the question is, what are those answers for my GOP peers?

When I ask my conservative friends why they are conservative, I get varied answers. Many cite their hatred of the democratic party, stating that big government is inefficient or that the Democrats are backward in their foreign policy dealings. Some refer to Republican stances on immigration or the economy. These are understandable critiques of Democrats and sensible praises of Republicans. However, I almost always get the answer that the nation is changing too fast. Of course, not wanting rapid change is the natural stance of the conservative. But, when I do a little digging, I find the reasons for this anti-progress headspace to be convoluted.

For hundreds of years, white men ruled the Earth. Images of successful white men in our grandparents’ America, working class and white collar alike, can inspire a sense of calm and security for those of us who fit the bill. Today, although equality is on the rise, white men are still privileged. And the biggest check on progress — the danger to these accomplishments and why equality still remains so far off — is the party of Trump. 

This trend can be seen outside of politics as well. The rise of problematic influencers such as Andrew Tate, the romanticization of convoluted characters such as Patrick Bateman or Jordan Belfort, and the pushback against “woke” culture embody an attraction towards things that represent the outdated order. Even more so, I’ve noticed a deep disdain for things that represent the new world’s direction. The LGBTQ movement, the clean energy movement, and the evolving roles of American women are all things I’ve heard complaints about in conversation. These attitudes directly correlate with the partisan divide, and conservative politicians no doubt play into these beliefs to win the hearts of young men. This political mindset is further fanned by the indestructible echo chambers of social media, turning into an inferno within the underdeveloped head of a Gen Z boy. 

I refuse to believe that anyone consciously thinks this way. Gen Z males believe in equality. However, subconsciously, we are deceived into thinking that we are no longer equal and we no longer have the same opportunities. I hear it: often disguised as jokes, behind a facade of other political reasoning, or within random conversation. I have also felt it myself. I was convinced, put under the spell of populist conservatism — and just as quickly unconvinced. Many of my friends have had the same journey.

My guess is that Trump’s populist rhetoric, coupled with misogynist influencers and the echo chambers of social media, have caused these beliefs, feelings, and actions within our generation. My hope is that once he vacates the political realm, millions will emerge from this rah-rah daydream and become conservatives who once again represent the necessary brakes on liberalism.

My three teenagers can’t believe I spent my own youth having hours-long conversations on a telephone (and even worse, one that was — gasp! — tethered to a wall). My generation picked up the phone when it rang, sometimes even without the benefit of caller ID to tell you what to expect; you were just thrown into a conversation with whoever was on the other end. It could have been your bestie, your grandma, your school principal, or a bill collector wondering why you still hadn’t paid for those “free” Columbia House CDs ( … IYKYK.)

Communication has come a long way since then, and continues to evolve — and our teenagers are evolving right alongside it. And I mean that quite literally: The brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experiences, known as neuroplasticity, means that the environment and experiences unique to Gen Z (like growing up with digital technology) could influence brain development and function. The first generation born into an internet-connected world, these digital natives’ brains are attuned to intricate and advanced visual imagery. Consequently, the brain region responsible for visual skills is significantly more developed, enhancing the effectiveness of visual learning and communication for this generation. Couple this with the fact that Gen Z’s attention span on social media is about 8 seconds, and it’s no wonder that they prefer visually-based, quick-moving social media apps like Snapchat over all other forms of communication.

“[Snapchat’s] visual and instant nature, living in the moment and then automatically disappearing, appeals to Gen Z’s sense of instant connection and more authentic communication,” Dr. Alexa Chilcutt, Executive Education Faculty at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, tells SheKnows. “Users don’t feel the added pressure of creating a message that lives on for others to see and judge.”

According to a Pew Research study on teens, social media, and technology, Snapchat moved above Instagram in 2023, with 60 percent of teens saying they use Snapchat and 59 percent using Instagram, compared to 62 percent using Instagram and 59 percent using Snapchat last year, and 52 percent on Instagram and just 41 percent on Snapchat in 2014-2015. And as we talked to our panel of Gen Z boys as part of SheKnows’ ongoing Be a Man series, we found that Snapchat reigned supreme as the teenage panelists’ favorite method of communicating with their friends and was among their most frequently used apps.

The app’s emphasis on visual communication (through photos and videos) aligns nicely with Gen Z’s preference for multimedia content. This visual nature can make conversations more engaging and memorable. “Ephemeral messaging is a more dynamic form of communication and depends largely on the nonverbal communication images provide,” says Dr. Chilcutt. “Traditional forms of messaging, I believe, are seen as more formal and therefore are living primarily in the business space.”

My own 19-year-old confirms this — through an interesting restaurant analogy. “There’s a certain intention that you get from somebody if you give them your number … it automatically feels more professional. But if you want to be friends with that person, add their Snapchat, because it’s like a separate way of doing things. It’s the modernized way,” he said. “To be honest, it’s like the difference between an Olive Garden and a Denny’s. Would you rather go to an Olive Garden at midnight or a Denny’s?” The correct answer: Denny’s — “because that’s where the party is. Snapchat is a little bit more ‘dingy’ … I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just less professional than iMessage, and it seems like it’s made for Gen Z.”

Snapchat also appeals to another aspect of communication prized by Gen Zers: authenticity. The fleeting nature of ephemeral messaging encourages more authentic and spontaneous communication. Users are less likely to overthink their words or edit their messages, leading to more genuine interactions.

And finally, one of the most compelling draws to Snapchat is its perceived sense of privacy — not only through the disappearing messages but through the use of emojis that we oldsters can’t always clearly understand. “Because of its quick and temporary nature, I’ve noticed that Gen Z’s communication tends to be more concise, short-handed, and to the point with more reliance on acronyms, which is in line with the desire for more privacy as these are essentially coded messages for older generations,” Dr. Christine DeVore, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, tells SheKnows.

Criticisms and Concerns

Unfortunately, the very things that make Snapchat appealing to teens are the things that seem, well, downright alarming when you’re a parent. (Common Sense Media has a helpful guide for parents that explains how it works in detail.) 

“Your messages delete,” reports 16-year-old Calder. “And you can send pictures of yourself as well … to, like, either people that you know or you don’t know. You can add random people … and kinda see what they’re doing.” One teen we spoke to said Snapchat was “designed for teenagers to text each other and send nudes. Because why else would the photos disappear?”

But though the ephemeral element provides users with confidence that what they’re putting out there isn’t permanent, there are always methods of getting around it. Even the company admits this; on Snapchat’s Apple store app page, it says, “Please note: Snapchatters can always capture or save your messages by taking a screenshot, using a camera, or otherwise. Be mindful of what you Snap!”

The DEA has issued warnings about the ephemeral messaging on Snapchat, among other social media platforms, via their “One Pill Can Kill” campaign. “Drug traffickers advertise on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. These advertisements are in disappearing, 24-hour stories and in posts, which are promptly posted and removed,” the agency says. “Posts and stories are often accompanied by known code words and emojis that are used to market and sell illicit and deadly drugs on social media. These code words and emojis are designed to evade detection by law enforcement and by the preset algorithms used by social media platforms.” (A marijuana dealer might have a leaf or a flame emoji by their username, for example; a cocaine dealer, an 8-ball or snowflake emoji, which look innocuous to those unaware of what they stand for — i.e. their parents, as Dr. DeVore points out.)

Also worth a raised eyebrow is the “Snap Map” feature; it uses a phone’s GPS to show users’ locations on a map in real time. The majority of the teen boys SheKnows spoke to said that at least 100 people could see their location on Snap Map at any given time — and sometimes more: “There’s probably about 250 people that can see my location,” says Griffin, 16. Users can go into “ghost mode” — where they can still see others’ locations, but theirs remains private — which is maybe slightly less worrisome to parents, but can be a source of consternation for teens. In a larger survey of SheKnows’ Teen Council, which consists of both boys and girls, nearly a quarter of respondents said seeing their friends on ghost mode makes them feel “anxious” or “left out.”

“Sometimes I get a little bit of FOMO when I see people together without me,” admits Calder. “Especially if it’s my friends, and it’s a plan I wasn’t invited to. Or, even that I was invited to and I couldn’t go.”

In an article about Snapchat and teen friendships for The Cut, writer, podcaster, and Gen Z trend expert Casey Lewis writes, “[M]uch of its staying power comes from its ability to embed itself into the social fabric of adolescent life. The app effectively gamifies friendship with features like streaks and trophies, boosting user engagement while making itself indispensable to maintaining relationships. Its complex web of social rules can also prove incredibly tricky to navigate.” Users can boost their friend rank by communicating more frequently with someone, an easy way to cause rifts and hurt feelings. “If you’re snapping your best friend more than anyone else, she’ll be your No. 1,” writes Lewis, “But if she’s snapping someone else more than you, you won’t be hers.”

These unspoken social rules govern many parts of Snapchat, but there are ways to get around some of them, like “half-swiping.” Unlike other messaging apps, Snapchat creates a sense of urgency and expectation — when you receive a message, you feel pressure to respond immediately or risk social consequences, because reading someone’s message without replying is seen as a snub. “Snapchat locks the recipient into a situation where they have to either answer the message or leave the person on ‘opened,'” says 15-year-old Clive. “Half-swiping is a workaround and a non-committal way to view a message that has been sent to you without letting the sender know. You can see a message and wait to let the person know you’ve seen the message whenever you want.” It might offer a temporary escape from the social pressure, but it undermines the ability to directly communicate that Snapchat is known for. Still, almost 54% of our Teen Council members reported that they half-swiped “sometimes,” with just under 8% saying they never do.

And, of course, there’s the argument that the way kids communicate on Snapchat is making communication with adults weirdly uncomfortable. “For 11 years, I taught up to 500 undergraduates each semester at The University of Alabama,” says Dr. Chilcutt. “Gen Z’s preference (and, somewhat, dependence) of ephemeral messaging greatly impacted their ability to formulate well-constructed emails and increased their level of anxiety when having to interact face-to-face. It seemed as if the level of anxiety students exhibited in 2021 compared to 2016 tripled.”

Despite reporting overall positive feelings about social media (even though a whopping 77 percent of the teen boys on SheKnows’ Teen Council surveyed said they spend too much time on it), there was still hesitance among some of the teenagers in our panel about being tethered to Snapchat. Being slightly less into the app, or at least some features of it, seemed to be more prevalent among the group’s older teens, a finding backed up by some of the comments we received about “Snapstreaks” — a tally of how many consecutive days users have spent sending Snaps to their friends (and for some users, sort of a badge of honor — or a “flex,” as the kids say these days). “In terms of Snapstreaks, I think the older you get, and the more you use it, the less it becomes something that you care about,” says Xavier, 17.

“I find Snapchat to be a waste of my time,” adds 19-year-old Lincoln. “I really got so sick of sending people just a photo of my face … it’s very important to do and it’s somehow ‘offensive’ when you forget to do it.”

Snapchat, and similar social media apps, are a two-sided coin, Dr. DeVore tells SheKnows. “In my clinical practice, I’ve observed that Gen Z’s use of ephemeral messaging can have both positive and negative impacts. On the positive side, it can foster a sense of connection and belonging, especially for those who may struggle with face-to-face interactions. It can also provide a safe space for self-expression and experimentation,” she says. “However, it’s important to be mindful of potential challenges, such as the pressure to maintain a constant online presence or the risk of cyberbullying. There’s also the risk of reducing face-to-face interaction, which can impact social skills and relationship development.”

As Snapchat continues to evolve and shape the way Gen Z communicates, it’s clear that the app’s ephemeral nature, visual emphasis, and authenticity have struck a chord. While there are valid concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse, Snapchat’s appeal lies in its ability to create a more dynamic and personalized communication experience. It’s like Gen Z’s digital playground, a place to connect, express themselves, and have fun. As parents, understanding and navigating these trends is crucial to ensuring that Gen Z can enjoy the benefits of digital technology — while protecting them from its potential risks.

The I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here co-host chatted with Australia’s Pedestrian TV to break down what popular slang words mean — or, at least, give it his best shot. In the clip, Robert is dressed in a black shirt with a black suit jacket over it. “Low-key, this interview is bussin, no cap, rizz, etc.,” he jokes at the beginning of the clip.

“’Cap’ — I wear those when it’s sunny,” Robert jokes about the first word, before admitting he does know what it means. “That’s a lie, that’s cap!” Other words he explains include “slay” (“what I do all day, every day. Enough said”), “bet” (“yes, absolutely, indeed”), “bussin” (“it’s good”).

But even though he is a Gen Z, he still had some trouble with some slang words — as a millennial who also struggles, this was a relief! He thought “slaps” was a hand game at first, which he helpfully demonstrated with the reporter before realizing it meant something was good. (“That beat drop slaps!”) And he admitted with a laugh that he had “no idea” what glizzy means. Apparently, it means “hot dog” … but thanks to the, um … phallic shape of hot dogs, the term is often used in more suggestive ways. IYKYK!

Elsewhere in the interview, Robert hilariously joked that “delulu” sounds like the name of a dog. He also defended the word “sus,” which means “suspect” or “suspicious.” “See, as Australians, we’ve actually been using this long before the Gen Z of the world said it was cool,” he explained. “Sus has been, forever, ‘a bit sus,’ like ‘suspect; not quite sure about that.’” Pretty cool, right?

They had to explain “gyatt” meant “butt,” making Robert laugh. “I’m never using that, but that’s great,” he said.

“I don’t know what the kids are saying these days, but I’m clearly behind the times,” Robert quips in a twangy American accent. “I’m just gonna leave before this gets out of hand.” He added, “I do not know Gen Z lingo. Eh, I grew up in a zoo. Forgive me.” Amazing! We need to protect Robert Irwin at all costs.

“I gotta up my Gen Z game 😂 thanks for a fun chat @pedestriantv,” he captioned the cute video. Terri commented, “I am definitely a boomer! 😂” She’s not even going to try to understand the younger generation, and honestly, that’s such a mood, Terri!

“’I grew up in a zoo, forgive me’ is the best get out of jail free card I’ve even heard, hahaha,” someone else commented. Another wrote, “This is just confirmation that Robert really is an old man vs 20 years old … I love how he sounds like Gen X instead of Z 😂”

“I GREW UP IN A ZOO 💀💀💀Robert Irwin, never ever change,” one person said. Another commented, “The American accent at the end pulled it all together 😂😂”

Even if he doesn’t know all the slang, Robert often shows his funny personality on social media. Like when his older sister Bindi Irwin turned 26 last month, he shared a video of his birth to troll her. In the cute clip, the Crocodile Hunter tells his daughter that her baby brother was born, and she looks so excited.

Later, she holds a bowl of ice cream in one hand and her brother in the other, confidently telling her parents, “I’ll call him Brian!” Steve tries to correct her, telling Bindi that his name is Robert, and she responds, “But I’ll call him Brian for short.” Already trolling her baby brother, and he’s not even one day old!

“Happy birthday, Bindi … love, Brian,” Robert captioned the post. Even when he tried to steal the attention on his sister’s special day by posting his own birth, Robert’s post showed how cute and silly Bindi is. They may rib on each other, but you can tell how much love they share, too. Now that’s bussin.

These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.

In the above video, I reacted to Walz’s “weird” line of attack against the Republican ticket, JD Vance’s “childless cat ladies” comments and more. As the 2024 Presidential race continues, it is the candidate’s social media efforts that may prove who does a better job at speaking to Gen Z. So, how are they doing so far?

It feels to me, post-Obama politics has been forced to evolve into a scrappier, less refined version of itself. Politicians are using social media to appeal to younger audiences, and appearing on Twitch streams to reach the youth vote. On one hand, I’m glad politics is adapting to appeal to teens and find avenues to speak to them directly. But on the other hand, such direct speaking feels targeted.

Politicians never appear tech-savvy, and usually their attempts to do so are out of touch. Recent social media campaigns such as Harris’ use of imagery from Charli XCX’s album Brat on TikTok (after Charli XCX officially declared her “Brat”) seem less disconnected. But already such campaigns are souring as a trend they took advantage of moves out of style.

In Trump’s collaboration with streamers like Adin Ross or Logan Paul as well, I see a similar tension between a more exciting, populist political environment and clearly manipulative campaign tactics.  

As much as Trump and Harris try to wield the massive energy of their youth voters, it’s also clear to me they don’t actually understand how to appeal to youth voters. Brat summer, for instance, which worked so well for the Harris campaign has recently claimed Walz as well, a pick intended to soothe middle aged, middle class white voters. Politicians are not so much commanding control of their Gen Z voters as they are tapping into trends of which they don’t really grasp. 

I admire the attempts to connect with youth, but it is impossible for a politician to truly tap into the zeitgeist— because politicians can never be cool.

As much as their youth staffed social media teams try, the closest a middle aged politician will feel to my generation is how their children describe brat summer to them. And even then, chances are they themselves don’t even understand it. To impact youth vote in a meaningful way, I recommend politicians share policies rather than trying to go viral. To win my vote in the upcoming election, I want to hear about what the future president is going to do about issues that threaten my future— like AI, climate change or gun control. Although, if it must be packaged into bite-sized pieces dressed in Brat green, that’s fine too. 

Our society traditionally links certain traits with being masculine or feminine, which has probably led to most of us — including these teens — internalizing specific gender roles. But Gen Z’ers seem to be breaking away from these norms. They often have qualities or express themselves in ways that challenge the usual ideas of gender, maybe even subconsciously; our 14-year-old panelist Joan, for example, expressed mild surprise when it was pointed out that the terms he chose to describe himself — “caring,” “cooperative,” and “logical” — were unanimously considered to be feminine.

Whether they consciously realize it or not, this indicates a growing awareness of gender fluidity and a desire to challenge stereotypes. Defying traditional norms is actually something Gen Z is known for; data has shown that when it comes to gender, this generation is more acutely aware (and more accepting) of a less black-and-white view. In a survey of over 10,000 people by Pew Research examining different generational views on political and social issues, most Americans said they know people who don’t identify strictly as male or female. Additionally, at least 60 percent are familiar with terms like “non-binary” and “gender fluid.” Gen Z stands out with the highest awareness: almost three-quarters of Gen Z respondents said they’ve heard of non-binary pronouns, compared to just 65 percent of millennials and 54 percent of Baby Boomers.

Maybe the shift in attitude is due in part to the new landscape of media and pop culture, which play a significant role in shaping gender stereotypes. Unlike previous generations who primarily encountered gender as a binary concept through more “traditional” media and role models, today’s youth have unprecedented access to information about diverse gender identities and expressions. Gen Z, in particular, has been exposed to a wider range of gender concepts and terminology through online communities, sparking new conversations and perspectives.

The fact that Gen Z teens still largely associate certain attributes with traditional gender roles highlights just how deeply these stereotypes are ingrained in our society, and how far we have to go in dismantling them. Our panel voted the words “violent,” “strong,” and “toxic” as masculine, while “emotional,” “caring,” and “logical” all rated as feminine; pretty traditional perceptions that continue to shape how we view the world, and ourselves. There was one surprise outlier that our team found interesting from a generational standpoint: the teens overwhelmingly voted that “logical” was a feminine word, but also “emotional” — two terms that have traditionally been viewed as mutually exclusive (and used as the basis for a very tired argument about why a woman wouldn’t make a good president).

However, while Gen Z thinks about personal qualities in traditional ways, they tend to describe themselves in new ways that are less defined by gender norms, which says a lot about their openness to doing things differently. Where defining things as either “masculine” or “feminine” can restrict personal expression, viewing gender as a spectrum opens up space for a wider range of experiences and identities, and Gen Z is embracing that in a way no generation has before.

In a previous interview, our panel of young adults unanimously agreed that if the election were held tomorrow, Trump would win. Amelia, 21, predicted that he would “feel emboldened by the fact that he survived an assassination attempt, and use it as a campaign point.” Jack also thought that Trump’s chances were bolstered by a combination of recent events: “I feel like Trump’s gonna win. Especially considering the assassination attempt, but also the debate and his V.P. pick … he’s just skyrocketing to victory. With each step, it’s like he’s propelling himself, just gaining momentum.”

But a lot has changed in the last few days. To say it’s been a political whirlwind is an understatement, as President Biden dropped out of the presidential race and V.P. Harris is poised to take his place. Within the first 24 hours of her campaign, Harris raised a record-breaking 81 million dollars, as the Democratic party gathers behind her in support.

Harris has also caught the attention of Gen Z — a wise move, considering the 41 million members of that demographic who’ll be eligible to vote by the election — with the viral TikTok trend “brat summer” being credited with kickstarting her presidential campaign. The phrase alludes to pop star Charli XCX’s June album “BRAT,” which USA Today described as “an embrace of a hot-mess pop star aesthetic, prioritizing club culture at its core but still offering introspective lyrics on aging, womanhood, grief and anxiety.” (The singer herself said in a TikTok interview, “It’s very honest, it’s very blunt, it’s a little bit volatile … It’s brat, you’re brat, that’s brat.”) On Monday, President Biden’s former campaign account on X changed its name to “KamalaHQ” and its banner to bright neon green, mimicking the cover of the BRAT album. The account is very clearly aimed at the younger voting demographic, posting a mix of serious news clips and more lighthearted interviews and memes, and using language more consistent with Gen Z (a retweet of one of Trump’s blustering tweets was captioned “Oh he’s mad mad”).

“After her rebranding in the last couple of days I feel like she has a good chance,” Jack tells us. “And she’s raised a ton of money. Her campaign’s barely started … so I’m interested to see how she actually campaigns.”

That being said, our Gen Z voters approached the campaign with a renewed sense of hope, but remained skeptical that things could change so substantially this late in the game — especially given the sexism that tends to run rampant.

“I feel a little better about the political climate right now … but I kinda still feel like this country isn’t really ready for a Black woman to be President,” confesses 18-year-old Ajani.

Amelia isn’t as worried about the willingness to elect a female President, but thinks if Harris’s V.P. pick were also a woman, they wouldn’t stand a chance. “This sounds terrible, but I don’t think Kamala’s running pick could be a woman,” she says. “It’s representative of our country right now that I don’t think two women on the ballot together could win.” Jack agrees, opining that for the best chance at a Democratic victory, Harris’s running mate should be “a safe white male candidate from a purple state.”

Our panel of new voters were still persuaded that Trump would win — at least at this point.

“Last week I was certain that if the election were tomorrow, Trump would win,” says Jack. “But right now, I have no idea.”

Amelia feels the same. “If the election were tomorrow I still think Trump would win. I’m not happy about it either!”

“I still think Trump would win the election,” Ajani proclaims. “I do hope I’m wrong though.”

Still, they expressed some optimism given the immediate success of Harris’s campaign, which seems to have breathed new life into the election race. “I feel excited about what these four months could bring,” says Jack. But perhaps it was Ajani who summed it up best: “She’s a very poised and fierce woman. … She knows how to take down a man like Trump.”

“Young adults in Generation Z — those born in 1997 or after — have emerged from the pandemic feeling more disillusioned than any living generation before them, according to long-running surveys and interviews with dozens of young people around the country,” reported The Wall Street Journal earlier this year, a disillusionment reflected in Gen Z’s widespread skepticism of politics and discontent with both parties. “Young Americans’ entire political memories are subsumed by intense partisanship and warnings about the looming end of everything from U.S. democracy to the planet. When the darkest days of the pandemic started to end, inflation reached 40-year highs. The right to an abortion was overturned. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East raged. All of the turmoil is being broadcast — sometimes with almost apocalyptic language or graphic video — on social media.”

Just days ago, one of Gen Z’s own — 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks — attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a campaign rally, leaving one bystander dead and two more seriously injured, and losing his own life in the horrifying process. While there are still a ton of unanswered questions regarding his motives, we do know one thing for certain: it was a defining moment in the current state of politics. And for Gen Z, a defining moment in their perception of what’s happening in America.

We asked our panel of first-time Gen Z voters to weigh in on the event and the days surrounding it: what they’re seeing and hearing, how they think it will shape the rest of the election, and whether they’re feeling personally impacted.

Like most of us, they were stunned — but those who found out via social media were a little more skeptical, since the internet is renowned for churning out less-than-accurate information. “We all thought it was fake news at first,” recalls Amelia, 21. Stephanie, 20, who saw the news on Twitter, didn’t initially believe it either, saying she thought it was “some kind of joke people were making online.”

“There were a couple moments when nobody knew what was happening,” says Jack, 19.

As the news began to sink in, so did the gravity of the situation, leaving members of our SheKnows Teen Council feeling deeply unsettled. “The assassination attempt made me scared because I think it’s emblematic of the political division that is just getting increasingly out of hand,” confesses Amelia. Ajani, 18, reports that the assassination attempt made him feel “nervous and scared,” while Jack says, “it doesn’t make me feel super secure that Trump was shot at. Even if I don’t support the candidate politically, personally it feels bad that we’re still in an era of political violence.” It’s an era that Stephanie thought we were well beyond, and she describes the event as “eye-opening.”

“I thought it was, like, something of the past because of the security and level of intelligence that we have with technology,” she says. “I didn’t think that could occur again.”

Across the board, our panel of Gen Z-ers says they think the attempt will have a positive impact on Trump’s presidential campaign, especially given the candidate’s now-infamous reaction.

“I thought it was wild that he raised his hand afterward, like he was in a boxing match or something,” Amelia says. “It seemed like a really triumphant response to someone literally trying to, like, take you out.” She adds that she believes Trump is going to “feel emboldened by the fact that he survived an assassination attempt, and use it as a campaign point.”

“The photo of him raising his fist and saying something like, ‘Fight!’ and the Secret Service crowding around him I think is gonna be very important in the campaign moving forward,” says Jack. “It’s a picture that makes him look defiant and strong.”

“It’ll definitely benefit Trump because his supporters now see him even more as this kind of heroic figure for the country…he’s going to now push that agenda to help him create and gain even more supporters,” says Ajani.

Our panel also unanimously agreed that if the election were to happen tomorrow, Trump would emerge victorious. “I feel like Trump’s gonna win. Especially considering the assassination attempt, but also the debate and his V.P. pick…he’s just skyrocketing to victory,” says Jack. “With each step, it’s like he’s propelling himself, just gaining momentum.”

“If the election were held now, it would have an impact,” agrees political expert Dr. Nancy Beck Young, Moores Professor of History & Chair of the Department of History at the University of Houston. “[But] since the election is in November, it might well not have that much impact. Recent good news about the economy and news developments over the next three and a half months might overtake the assassination attempt.” She also believes that the now-iconic photo of Trump post-attempt will cement his exalted status to those who already support him, but won’t sway any opinions in the long run. “The image of a bloodied Trump with fist thrust upward will resonate positively with voters who were already in his camp,” Dr. Young tells SheKnows. “I doubt it will have much impact on voters who view Trump as a legitimate threat to democracy and would never cast a ballot for him.”

When it comes to casting ballots, our new voters expressed major concerns, seemingly reflecting Gen Z’s overall attitude to voting; according to data from a CNN poll, just 37 percent of voters ages 18-37 said they were satisfied with the presidential candidates, and this was at the end of April, prior to the first debate and the assassination attempt. Our panel overwhelmingly felt like their choice was to vote for “the lesser evil.”

“What I’m hearing from my generation, or my peers, is that people aren’t going to vote at all because they’re not feeling satisfied or represented by either of the big options,” says Amelia.

Around 8 million Gen Z voters are newly eligible to vote this year, and by 2028, millennials and Gen Z will make up half of the electorate. A study from Berkeley University reveals that they largely feel betrayed by older generations for failing to tackle pressing issues and instead passing them on: “[T]hose tens of millions of young Americans face risks that older generations could scarcely imagine: extreme economic inequality, climate change and warp-speed technological change that is shaking political and economic stability in the U.S. and much of the world.”

It’s a tough situation for them to be in, this generation who holds the country’s future in their hands. The gravity of this particular election feels unprecedented, and for many, it feels like we’re treading on shaky ground.

Despite all this, the newest generation of voters are overwhelmingly (and surprisingly!) optimistic, with a Gallup poll reporting that 76 percent of Gen Z surveyed felt “they have a great future ahead of them.” The political landscape of late may be tumultuous and uncertain — but perhaps they’ll take these lemons and make lemonade. At least, as Amelia says in true Gen Z fashion, “The memes are really funny.”