Gen Z’s unfair portrayal in the media
When asked to think of films or TV shows that encapsulate the millennial generation, many possible candidates may come to mind. Maybe ‘Friends’, ‘Mean Girls’ or even ‘The Social Network’, but if asked to think of films or TV shows that encapsulate the Gen Z generation, the possible answers become much more scarce. When looking at popular modern media targeted towards the Gen Z demographic, it is hard to find any film or show that really defines the Gen Z generation. Let us use the popular Netflix show ‘Ginny and Georgia’ as an example.
When “Ginny and Georgia” released to the public in 2021, it marketed itself as a show that is relatable to the Gen Z demographic. It was the most-watched title from January to June on Netflix in 2023 (when season 2 first dropped), with a combined 967.2M hours viewed between Seasons 1 and 2. With themes of racism, coming of age, bullying and other topics it seemed that for once the media was attempting to depict Gen Z in an accurate light. Despite the show’s initial popularity and success, some scenes from the show seemed particularly out-of-touch such as the viral ‘Oppression Olympics’ scene which received criticism for its uninspired attempt to recognise racial stereotypes.
This kind of dramatised commentary on the problems that Gen Z face is becoming more common in modern media. Modern TV shows often depict Gen Z in a one-dimensional light which sparks resentment between Gen Z and the media they are depicted in, as it is becoming increasingly more and more difficult for Gen Z to connect with characters that they are supposed to relate to.
A recent study conducted by The Age Diversity Forum, shows that [on average] 63.6% of Gen Z believe that the portrayal of Gen Z in the media was uncomplimentary.
This belief is easy to understand when looking at the most popular films and shows amongst the Gen Z demographic. It is not difficult to find films that are presented as a modern take on the Gen Z generation, however they proceed to display almost every modern teenage cliche possible. With modern films like, “He’s All That” and “Tall Girl” being used to depict the lives of Gen Z people, it is clear to see that despite the meaning of what it means to be part of Gen Z evolving, the media is not adapting to that change as fast. This results in stories where Gen Z characters are depicted with little to no nuance at all and rely heavily upon stereotypes which no longer apply to the Gen Z generation.
This clear misrepresentation in the media then brings about many questions: such as how are shows and films like these being greenlit in the first place. One clear problem identified by many is the nature of ‘the writers’ room’. The average age of a Hollywood screenwriter is 40+ years old, and the average age of a Hollywood director is 45+ years old. These figures clearly display that modern media is heavily influenced by the older generation. Therefore, it is very difficult nowadays for young writers to penetrate spaces that have been previously dominated by older writers. This imbalance is reflected in the authenticity of Gen Z media released today, as one of the most accurate ways to portray experiences of a generation is to have gone through them yourself. Therefore incorporating writers that are actually part of the Gen Z generation into modern media is essential in order to bring more depth and authenticity into Gen Z centred media.
Improving the current condition of Gen Z media nowadays requires there to be more diversity introduced into ‘the writers’ room’. Although this may take some time, it is gradually becoming more common to see Gen Z having an effect on modern media. This newfound presence in the media will result in more topics and modern, multi-dimensional characters being explored: making it easier for the Gen Z generation to have characters that they can relate to, rather than characters based on inaccurate stereotypes that older generations have forced on them.