Gen Z’s ‘Kryptonite’ Has Been Revealed: They’re Social Media Experts but Don’t Know How to Use a Printer

Gen Z is changing many labor dynamics as its members enter the workforce. However, they’re not living up to many expectations. The most visible is the lack of technological skills expected of a generation that has had to complete its education from home. Furthermore, many have started their career in a remote job.

Experts refer to this lack of technological preparation as tech shame. Basically, they don’t know how to use basic office equipment like a printer or a scanner.

Technology pressure for digital natives. Unlike Gen X, members of Gen Z were born and raised immersed in technology in every aspect of their lives. Yet, they face unexpected challenges when it comes to basic office devices like printers and scanners.

Despite their technological prowess in apps where they share their personal lives, a study by LaSalle Network reveals that 48% of young graduates in 2022 don’t feel technologically prepared for their jobs. According to HP’s report, Hybrid Work: Are We There Yet?, which includes data from 10,000 office workers worldwide, 20% of young people felt judged for not knowing how to use electronic devices in the office, compared to 4% of their counterparts from other generations.

“We were surprised to find out that young workers are feeling more ‘tech shame’ than their older colleagues, and this could be due to a number of issues,” Debbie Irish, HP’s UK and Ireland human resources director, told WorkLife.

Unfair expectations. While not knowing how a particular device works has affected all generations in the workforce to a greater or lesser degree, it seems to be an unforgivable sin for Gen Z. Members of other generations have set expectations for what younger workers should master technologically.

However, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the Gen Z’s experience is limited to the technologies they grew up with. Printers, copiers, and scanners are already outdated technology for this generation. It would be like asking boomers or millennials to use Morse code.

Printers are becoming less common in the home. Once, having a printer at home was as common as having a computer. However, data shows that the trend has slowed in recent years, and fewer people print at home in response to the nightmare of dealing with a printer.

One good sign is that, according to HP sales data published by The Register, HP’s revenue from consumer (non-professional) printing hardware grew 21% to $77 million during the pandemic. That means all those people who had to start working remotely didn’t have a printer at home before.

It’s normal not to know how to use these peripherals. Not having used printers or scanners during their formative years has meant that Gen Z, no matter how immersed in technology they are, doesn’t have that prior technological experience.

On the other hand, as The Guardian points out, this generation has grown up using very user-friendly apps like Instagram and TikTok. As a result, they expect the rest of the technology around them to be just as easy to use. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why young people are more susceptible to financial scams than their grandparents.

Raise your hand if you know how to send a fax without Googling what a fax is.

Image | Prasopchok (Unsplash)

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