BY ROSEMARY NWAEBUNI
“I live in a country where I am not recognised or valued because I am a Gen Z. I am seen by the country’s leadership as a lazy Nigerian youth, even though I am trying my best to survive in a system where nobody seems to care about me. I have to keep looking for a way to put food on my table. I have to keep hope alive regardless. Although I am fearful for my future, I have refused to give up despite all the frustrating elements around me’’. This was how 23-year-old Jerry Oyana summed up the plight of the average Nigerian Gen Z.
Gen Z, which stands for ‘’Generation Zoomer’’, is used to describe the first generation known to ‘zoom’ the internet. The Gen-Z includes anyone born between 1995 and 2010 (between 13 and 28 years old). Since its birth, Gen Z has been variously described as Zoomers, Internet Generation, Digital Natives and the True Generation.
The Generation Z, also known as ‘’digital natives’’ are the first generation to grow up with the internet, social media and digital technology. They are known to be tech-savvy, diverse, adaptable, financially conscious and passionate about social issues like inclusion and mental health. The Gen-Z are adaptable, digitally fluent young people who value authenticity, diversity and purpose, navigating a rapidly changing world with a unique blend of pragmatism and idealism.
Moral compass, as used in this article, describes an individual’s ability to determine right from wrong based on their ethical beliefs, values and the principles they hold dear. A moral compass thus acts as an internal guide that influences a person’s decisions and actions, helping them navigate moral dilemmas and conflicts. Thus, a moral compass is crucial for guiding behaviour and maintaining a consistent set of ethical standards throughout one’s life.
A fading moral compass, on the other hand, refers to the erosion of morality among young people in Nigeria, particularly those in the Gen Z demographic. It describes a situation when an individual’s ethical standards and values diminish over time. This can lead to confusion about what is right and wrong and may result in unethical behaviour or wrong decision-making.
There are several factors that can lead to the fading of an individual’s moral compass. Some of them include changes in societal norms and values, which influence what we consider acceptable or unacceptable behaviour. Another is regular exposure to unethical behaviour, whether through social media or personal experience. Such exposures are capable of desensitising young people, making them less likely to react negatively or feel guilty about unethical actions.
Young people who reside in environments where unethical behaviour is commonplace or accepted are more likely to feel pressured to conform, leading to a compromise of their own values and principles. Also, when young people feel there are no repercussions for dishonourable actions, they may start acting in ways they ordinarily would not, thereby eroding their moral beliefs.
Gen Z exhibit several distinctive characteristics, which are shaped by social, technological and cultural influences. These characteristics reflect the unique environment that has shaped Gen Z, influencing their behaviour, values and approaches to life in a rapidly changing world. Some of these characteristics include digital natives, diversity and inclusion, socially conscious, mental health awareness, education and career focused, entrepreneurial spirit, consumer behaviour, global perspective, short attention span and preference for visual communication.
Growing up with the internet, smartphones and social media makes the Gen Z highly proficient with technology, and they are known to be comfortable with rapid information exchange and multi-tasking across multiple digital platforms. Apart from being more receptive to diversity in race, gender and social orientation compared to previous generations, the Gen Z are highly aware of social issues and often engage in activism and advocacy, utilising social media platforms to promote awareness and actions.
The Gen Z demographic is usually open about mental health issues and the importance of emotional well-being. Thus, they leverage social media to advocate for mental health resources and support, seeking open dialogues about mental health challenges.
A major characteristic of Gen Z is that they tend to value education, show pragmatism regarding career choices, and often prioritise job security and work-life balance. Beyond these, many of them display a strong interest in entrepreneurship, often looking for alternative career pathways and opportunities for independent work, significantly influenced by social media.
They are well exposed to global cultures and trending issues through digital connectivity, demonstrating more understanding of global differences. They are also more comfortable with platforms that emphasise visual content, such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, over traditional textual communication.
A sterling characteristic of Gen Z is that many of them are on the ‘’fast lane’’. They share a common trait of wanting to make it big and quick due to a combination of intense societal pressures, the pervasive influence of social media and underlying psychological factors that promote the desire for quick success and instant gratification. While the fast lane mentality among the Gen Z can lead to innovation and economic growth, it can also result in stress, burnout and untimely death among them, as the pressure to succeed rapidly can be intense.
Sadly, an alarming percentage of Nigerian Generation Z has lost its moral compass. The erosion of morality among the Gen Z in Nigeria can be attributed to a combination of social, economic, cultural and political factors.
Widespread poverty and unemployment, which are hallmarks of the Nigerian society, have combined to push the Gen Z into a state of desperation, propelling them towards corrupt practices, crime and unethical activities as they seek to survive or improve their circumstances.
The culture of corruption within the Nigerian political and social systems has created an environment where so many unethical tendencies are seen as normal. As Gen Z watch Nigerian leaders engage in corrupt practices to enrich themselves without consequences, many feel encouraged to imitate them.
Nigeria’s educational systems, which can be comparatively described as ‘Weak’, due mainly to overemphasis on rote learning (memorisation) over ethical reasoning and critical thinking, have contributed to the fading of the moral compass among Nigerian Gen Z.
Another major factor responsible for the decline in morality among Gen Z is social media influence. The rise of social media has exposed them to a wide range of influences, including those that promote materialism, superficial values and unethical acts, sometimes leading to the distortion of social values.
Peer pressure is yet another factor responsible for the erosion of morality among Nigerian Gen Z. Many of them are under constant pressure to conform to the behaviour and choices of their peers with questionable character. As a result, they find themselves engaging in risky or immoral activities just to gain acceptance or popularity.
Many Gen Zers are victims of poor parental guidance, as their upbringing was bereft of moral instructions at home, making them more susceptible to negative influences from their environment.
Rapid urbanisation and globalisation have equally led to the erosion of traditional values and cultural practices that once reinforced moral behaviour, replacing them with more individualistic and materialistic values.
Continuous political unrest and poor governance can create disillusionment among the Gen Z population, leading them to adopt cynical views towards moral and ethical standards, which ultimately results in the fading of their moral compass.
Religion, which normally should serve as a source of moral guidance, appears to be giving way to extremism and distorted moral sermons by many clergy, with some encouraging violence, intolerance, quick wealth and other immoral acts. These add to the mix of morality-eroding factors among young Nigerian Gen Z.
Notable among the factors responsible for the fading moral compass among the Gen Z population is media representation of goings-on in society. The Nigerian media appears to focus more on violence, crime and immorality in their reportage. This development tends to desensitise the Gen Z segment of the Nigerian population, making them believe that such acts are not only commonplace but also normal within society.
The Gen Z in Nigeria face enormous challenges compared to their counterparts in advanced climes. Such challenges range from high unemployment, economic hardship, limited political inclusion, lack of opportunities, declining standard of living, to poor infrastructure and a socio-economic system that rarely works.
Oftentimes, the Gen Z express their frustration with the government over the above challenges facing them through social media campaigns, street protests and civil disobedience. They typically use platforms like X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media platforms to organise and voice their discontent with the state of affairs and seeming insensitivity of the government towards young people in the country.
The big question at this point is, how can we address the challenges facing Generation Z in Nigeria in such a way as to reinforce their moral compass?
Addressing the challenges faced by Gen Z in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach that would ensure all relevant hands are on deck. There should be a collaboration among the government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations in confronting these challenges headlong.
For a start, the government should take urgent steps to rejig and redirect its strategies to focus more on youth-related issues, which include education, employment and skills acquisitions, accessibility to quality health, youth inclusion in governance and empowering the average Gen Z to overcome the challenges they face and make it possible for them to contribute positively to their communities and country.
