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When it comes to Gen Z, theres no shortage of studies, analysis and -most importantly- memes to signify where this cohort of the population is in terms of progress. While the verdict is still out on what will come to define this forward-thinking generation born between 1995 and 2015, their social impact is hard to ignore. At a glance, it clear to see the numbers are worth noting: 61 million individuals in the U.S. alone are Gen Z-ers and they are expected to make up 30% of the labor force by 2030 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Theyre also the most diverse generation in history with just over half being comprised of non-Hispanic whites.

They are digital natives, savvy self-starters and ready to do away with conventions for social equity. Theyve even popularized the now viral ok, boomer meme as a catchphrase to dismiss the criticism from older generations, sharing videos with the hashtag over 44.6 million times on TikTok. Its clear what they think about the world around them and how the status quo is growing obsolete but what are they doing with this sense of autonomy?

Putting a human lens on Gen Z-ers to help answer the big questions, the strategic and social marketing agency, PRZM, got up close and personal with a dynamic group of Gen Z-ers across industries, interests, and backgrounds for a glimpse at their worldviews. In a video produced in collaboration with agency co-founder Larry Milstein and brand marketing consultant Liz Toney, a diverse group of creators spoke on some key questions for their generation.

With general questions centered around developing community, choosing optimism and defining influence, the group of participants waxed poetic on a range of subjects. And their outlook matters: Gen Z makes up about a quarter of the population in the United States and the United Kingdom and has an annual purchasing power of $44 billion. Plus, they are quickly entering the workforce, challenging social norms and leading the charge as digital natives in an ever-evolving media landscape.

While these Gen Z-ers represent a little slice of a broader social context, their collective impact as digital creators, activists, and entrepreneurs comes to play in the video interviews. Featured among the group were Olivia Seltzer , the 15 year year-old founder of a text-based news outlet called The Cramm and Dani Perkins, whose role as Nickelodeon's first multi-racial princess is changing the face of influence. The others are curating tastes for audiences in the hundreds of thousands on social media, writing for Netflix series and lending their voices to the most urgent social causes like climate change and human rights.

Theyre also monetizing their online outputs at faster rates than ever before while taking a holistic approach to righting the wrongs of the world. Ive seen us referred to a lot as the activism generation or the founding generation as in our founding fathers and I think that definitely a big aspect of my generation is our interest in the world and in actually creating change, Seltzer says. Influencer, Lily Chee, speaks to the pace of the generation saying, I think what defines Gen Z is just moving fast. Were not used to waiting around for stuff, everything I want to come quickly.

When it comes to speed, however, theres more to Gen Zs sense of urgency than instant gratification. Whats really different about my generation from others is that we really do have such a connection with people from countries all around the world. I talk on a daily basis with people thousands of miles away from me who I would have never been able to reach without social media, Seltzer says. After the 2016 election shifted everyones attention to the growing political unrest in the country, Seltzer created an outlet that caters to a generation that looks to less traditional sources like social media for their news. Since launching in 2017, the teenager collects headlines every morning to break down world news with the help of a small editorial team to create a newsletter sent to email and text inboxes every weekday. Reflecting the self-starting Gen Z ethos with her platform for curated news thats approachable for teens.

PRZMs interviews also feature Gen Z change-makers like 24 year-old Netflix writer and comedian, Buck Andrews, 23 year-old LGBTQ activist, Spencer Bistricer and 19 year-old DJ Lil Lexi.

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Beyond The Meme: How These Gen Z-ers Are Making Their Mark - Forbes