It’s Giving Spoilt Brat: Are Gen-Z and Millennials Fuelling a Decline in Traditional Moral Values?

A coworker and I recently had a conversation about the moral values of younger generations, Gen Z and Millennials. As a baby boomer, he emphasised the importance of traditional values like diligence, integrity, and deference to authority. Unlike these younger generetions, people from his generation were brought up to appreciate their families, communities, and countries.

He notices that the world around him now differs from the one he grew up in. He observes young people participating in actions that he views as immoral, such as drug usage, casual sex, and disdain for the law. He is astounded by how young people dress and carry themselves, with things like piercings and tattoos that were formerly frowned upon now being accepted. He was especially concerned about how younger generations value individuality above social duty and society. He says, “I’m concerned that this attitude change will harm society.”

This conversation with my coworker made me wonder if Gen Z and Millennials are contributing to what is seen to be a loss in moral principles. It’s a subject that has generated a lot of discussions and has been the subject of opposing viewpoints, both online (aka Twitter) and offline. Since significant generational disparities apparently exist in values and views, regardless of where one stands on this controversy, it’s essential to consider how these distinctions could affect our common morals and values as society develops and changes.