Why Gen Z Is Luckier Than Baby Boomers

Being a business journalist, I am often invited by schools, colleges and even parents to speak to young people about careers and opportunities. In other words, what are the traits of successful people, and what should students do to succeed in life?

I am not a professional career adviser. But as a journalist, I have had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people—industrialists, bureaucrats, politicians, sportspersons, film stars and, once in a while, even underworld dons. That kind of exposure gives you a broader perspective. You begin to see the world through a different lens.

My generation—Baby Boomers and Gen X—grew up with many disadvantages, while Gen Z and Gen Alpha have almost everything going for them. Personally, I believe India's Gen Z is materially the luckiest generation, but perhaps psychologically the most vulnerable.

It is distressing to read about students and young celebrities dying by suicide or struggling with depression. We know that Deepika Padukone, Varun Dhawan and Virat Kohli have spoken openly about their struggles with mental health. Even with money, fame and success, many still seem unhappy. Why?

So I decided to compare the school and college days of Baby Boomers with those of Gen Z, and I found the contrast striking.

A lot is happening in India. It is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world, expanding at around 6.6%, driven by robust domestic demand, structural reforms and a resilient services sector. Around 52% of India's population is below the age of 30, while nearly 62% is below 35. The demographic dividend is firmly in India's favour. No wonder the world is looking at India with renewed interest. We are witnessing history in the making.

Now let me explain why I believe Gen Z is luckier than the Baby Boomers.

When I was growing up—during the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s—India was a closed economy.

· We had no calculators.

· No television, cable TV or OTT platforms. Radio was our only source of entertainment. Today, there are over 1,000 television channels, besides streaming platforms and online radio.

· No computers, laptops, tablets or Kindles. We relied on typewriters, pencils and pens. For historical information or general knowledge, we depended on our parents, teachers or uncles. There was no Google.

· No smartphones. Very few families had landline telephones, and the waiting period for a connection could stretch to 10 years.

· No Internet or Gmail. We depended on the postman.

· No Google, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram or X.

· No McDonald's, Domino's, Café Coffee Day or fast-food chains.

· No shopping malls or multiplexes.

· No ATMs, credit cards or GPay.

· No Nike or Adidas. It was mostly Bata and Carona.

· No Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Uber or Ola.

The list is almost endless.

Even in education and careers, our choices were limited. After school, the options were largely confined to Arts, Science or Commerce. Those who wanted to become doctors or engineers chose Science. There was little scope beyond that. Acting, singing or pursuing cricket as a career was a big no for most parents. If you became a lakhpati, you had truly arrived.

Today, the world is your oyster.

Gen Z has an abundance of career choices. Besides becoming doctors, engineers or chartered accountants, they can aspire to be chefs, tattoo artists, film or television actors, singers, dancers, wrestlers, cricketers, hairstylists or fashion designers. The possibilities are endless. Clearly, India has transformed. There is greater dignity attached to pursuing one's passion.

Unlike in my generation, today's parents are far more willing to encourage their children to follow their dreams. That is undoubtedly a positive change.

So, Gen Z begins life with enormous advantages.

Yet, despite unprecedented opportunities and comforts, anxiety, loneliness and mental health concerns appear to be on the rise among Gen Z. It is not that these issues did not exist in our time, but they were certainly discussed far less openly. One reason could be that life has become intensely competitive. It is, quite literally, a rat race.

I also feel today's parents often put enormous pressure on their children to excel, sometimes so they can showcase their achievements within their social circles. Beyond parental expectations, peer pressure and social media add another layer of stress. Earlier, comparisons were limited to the neighbourhood topper or a cousin. Today, social media compares a teenager in Indore with one in Dubai. Success has become global. A Baby Boomer rarely faced such relentless comparisons.

Another casualty is childhood itself. Tuitions begin almost as soon as children enter primary school. In urban India, many working parents leave their children at crèches before or after school. From school to crèche to tuition and then home—that has become the daily routine. As a result, many children grow up with very little free time. Playing with friends has largely given way to a relentless cycle of study, study and more study. Their idea of relaxation is often scrolling through social media or playing online games.

Many parents also seem to micromanage every aspect of their children's lives. Children often feel loved, but they also feel constantly evaluated. As someone aptly observed, many parents have become project managers.

Digital addiction is taking its toll. People are glued to their mobile phones—at the dinner table, in the doctor's waiting room and even at restaurants. Excessive screen time has shortened attention spans and disrupted sleep patterns. Add to this the fact that many children today grow up without siblings, and it creates another set of emotional challenges.

Ironically, the most connected generation often reports feeling the loneliest. Thousands of followers on X, Instagram or Facebook do not necessarily translate into one trusted friend. Baby Boomers, by contrast, were better connected in the real world. In fact, during our time, there was something called pen pals. Even today, many of us remain in touch with old neighbours, school and college friends, and former colleagues.

The real worry is that much of social media is built around carefully curated lives rather than real ones. Many people exaggerate their wealth, lifestyle and achievements, and countless youngsters get carried away by this illusion. Being "cool" has become an obsession, while acronyms and online slang define everyday conversations. Those who feel they do not fit this carefully constructed image can end up feeling inadequate, lonely or even depressed.

Now let me turn to the Baby Boomers.

Money was always a constraint. Most of us grew up in joint families where sharing was a way of life—from books and clothes to toys, towels and even beds. Caring and sharing came naturally.

Usually, a single earning member kept the family going. Career options were limited. Most youngsters found jobs in government offices, banks or the private sector. A secure government or bank job was considered the ultimate achievement. Very few dared to become entrepreneurs. Careers progressed slowly and predictably. For many, an HMT watch at retirement symbolised a lifetime of service. Very few owned homes or could afford to send their children abroad for higher education.

Owning a car, a two-wheeler, a telephone or even a refrigerator was a luxury. New clothes were bought mainly during Diwali or on birthdays. Eating out was rare. Family holidays usually meant visiting one's native place rather than travelling to exotic destinations.

Leisure was simple. We would gather at a friend's or neighbour's house to listen to Binaca Geet Mala on Radio Ceylon, presented by Ameen Sayani, or tune in to English music programmes on Vividh Bharati on Wednesday and Saturday night. Radio was the family's constant companion.

Mental health was far less understood than it is today. There was considerable social stigma surrounding depression, disability, hearing aids and even wearing spectacles. Many suffered in silence, while families often tried to maintain the appearance that everything was normal.

Yet the Baby Boomers had one important advantage. Peer pressure was limited, expectations were modest, opportunities were fewer, and every small improvement felt like genuine progress.

For Gen Z, the equation is almost the opposite. Opportunities are virtually limitless, expectations are sky-high, and every achievement quickly becomes the new baseline. Economists describe this as the hedonic treadmill—as circumstances improve, expectations rise just as quickly, which means happiness does not necessarily keep pace.

Every generation has its own struggles. But when we compare the Baby Boomers with Gen Z, one thing is undeniable: India has produced its most educated, healthiest and digitally empowered generation. Yet, in giving young people almost everything that money can buy, society may also have burdened them with something previous generations largely escaped—constant comparison, relentless performance pressure and the persistent feeling that they are never quite enough.

Economic growth can create prosperity. It cannot, by itself, create contentment.