It’s a digital world and Gen Z is making an impact in it. How the next wave of volunteers is using social media to create a better world.
It’s time for Generation Z to join the fray. Also known as Gen Z and zoomers, this generation holds social responsibility in high regard. While some members of older generations tend to mock Gen Z for their “wokeness,” it is through creating awareness of social issues that Gen Z makes its impact. And the mockery isn’t going to get Gen Z to back down from their missions.
Gen Z activists are making their marks at protests, city halls, and the world stage. One of the most famous Gen Z activists is Malala Yousafzai who, at the age of 17, won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with girls’ rights. Her 2014 win made her the youngest-ever Nobel laureate.
With advocates such as Malala leading the generation, it’s no wonder that an Irregular Labs report discovered that 73% of Gen Z considers being socially and politically engaged a key aspect of their identity. Many of their movements reach far and wide through the power of the internet.
They’ve always lived in a world where the internet existed and social media grew as zoomers themselves did. It’s only fitting that social media is where burgeoning activists are making their voices heard.
A prime example of harnessing the power of social media for activism is Greta Thunberg’s #FridaysForFuture movement. In 2018, Thunberg’s message went viral after she posted pictures from a protest in front of the Swedish parliament on Instagram and Twitter. Since then, the climate movement has grown to 7,500 cities with more than 14 million people involved.
Make volunteering easy for Gen Z by meeting them in their digital world. Volunteer management tools have been built specifically for the digital realm. They allow you easily recruit new volunteers, as well as communicate with existing ones. VOMO as taken is one step further by developing a mobile app to connect volunteers to you through geolocation. With a cause-oriented generation such as Gen Z, it’s important to allow them to discover volunteer opportunities by cause category, and our app does just that.
Check out the VOMO mobile app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
At the forefront of their concerns is corporate social responsibility (CSR). A report from Kantar found that 75% of Gen Z believes it is important for the companies they buy from to be clear about the values they stand for.
Motivated by cause over organization names, Gen Z does its research before putting its $143 billion of budding buying power into action. While most Gen Zers trust product recommendations from friends, they know how to learn more about a company’s ethics. A McKinsey & Company study found that 70% of participants try to buy from companies they deem ethical. How do you live up to their standards? Start by making a difference in your community.
Connecting your employees to volunteer opportunities is a great way to start giving back. Whether in the office or working from home, engaging your employees in volunteering can make them feel united, leading to better team morale and increased productivity. An employee volunteer program also shows consumers that making a positive community impact is part of your company culture.
This also applies to hiring Gen Zers. A Deloitte study found that 77% of their respondents prioritize working at an organization with values that align with their own.
Utilizing services such as a Virtual Volunteer Coordinator™ (VVC) can help you manage employee volunteer projects. A VVC sources and creates volunteer opportunities for you so that you can your team can focus on making a difference like Toyota and AARP are doing through VOMO .
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