Julia Cassidy“Barely any of these Gen Z kids know how to make eye contact, let alone hold a conversation.” That’s what one editor said about my age group, while I, an eager 21-year-old Zoomer, met him for coffee, where we’d do precisely those two things.
His observation is nothing new or unique: I’ve had teachers, coaches, and coworkers say the same. I’ve watched as my peers (and myself, at times) flat-out avoid social interactions as small as a wave hello in the hallway. Despite hearing the same diagnosis for years, his remark reminded me why. During my freshman year of high school, COVID-19 obliterated social communion as we knew it. My generation faced a tall task: persevere in a world that came to a stop during our most formative years. Once Zoom classes ended, though, it was hard to face a world that was forever changed. Gen Z lost more than half a decade of authentic social interaction, but the time has come to recover it. What better place to start than at the bar?
.png)
.png)
