WISTA UK recently hosted an insightful event in collaboration with HFW, featuring performance coach Tim Hole alongside HFW panellists Joanne Palin, Natalie Seal and Shelby McGreachan and moderator Claire Womersley. The session opened with a review of social media’s most engaging posts, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by younger generations, especially Gen Z.
Central to the discussion was the impact of adult apathy — from teachers to social workers — and chaotic home environments contributing to the struggles Gen Z face today. Screen addiction and the ease of conflict on social media were highlighted as significant stressors, alongside two major themes: intense time pressures in school and pervasive performance anxiety. With everything documented and analysed online, young people often feel under constant judgment.
Tim emphasised how Gen Z, as digital natives, have developed remarkable resilience. They create “armour” through curated online personas to protect their authentic selves and are exceptional at multitasking across multiple digital platforms. Interestingly, they even use AI as a tool for everyday challenges, from navigating personal conversations to managing stress.
Despite the hurdles, the panel celebrated Gen Z’s creativity, moral clarity and sense of purpose. From thriving in the creator economy on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, to advocating for mental health and climate action, this generation is proving to be dynamic and resourceful.
The event sparked a lively, interactive dialogue, shedding light on the complexities and strengths of Gen Z in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, which is an essential conversation for anyone working to support the next generation.
