Recently, Barna released a landmark study of Gen Z, in partnership with Impact 360 Institute, providing a snapshot of the ways Gen Z sees the world, their faith (or lack thereof) and our culture. The research was unveiled at a live event on January 23rd in Atlanta, Georgia, accompanied by a national webcast. Throughout the event, as a team of experts and youth practitioners unpacked the data, we asked for viewers to submit their own questions about Gen Z via twitter using the hashtag #whoisgenz. We received an overwhelming response and weren’t able to get to all of them at the time. So, whether you missed the livestream altogether (watch the replay here before it expires on Feb 10) or are simply still hoping for a response, we’ve decided to address some of your most common and burning questions about the next, next generation right here. But this is just a sneak peek at the larger research study, which is now available for purchase.

1. Who counts as Gen Z? Are the youngest of Gen Z in the study? Barna has been studying generations for three decades, beginning with Boomers (born 1946 to 1964), then focusing on Gen X (born 1965 to 1983) and Millennials (born 1984 to 1998). We’re now turning our attention to the next generation: Gen Z. Barna defines this new generation as those born between 1999 to 2015, but for the purpose of this study only teenagers (those between the ages of 13 and 18) were included. Because of that, the results are reflective only of the leading edge of Gen Z. As a whole, their views may shift as younger members of the generation come of age, but for now, this study represents the views of Gen Z teenagers in America.

Another common question we’ve received is how to distinguish between generational and life-stage differences when interpreting broader trends. The truth is that the research will reveal both. Priorities change as one advances through life. For instance, education and friendships tend to be more important at a younger age, and career and family become more important as Americans head into adulthood, with retirement and leisure often becoming central at an older age. So, some of the trends we are seeing may simply be a result of Gen Z’s early life stage. However, this is the first picture of this new generation—and we are surprised by how fast things are changing. The world in which Gen Z are coming of age is vastly different from that of, say, Boomers. Technological advancements, demographic changes, an increasingly post-Christian environment and political realities have contributed to radical cultural shifts in the last 50 years, and the findings reflect that.