Decoding Gen Z: Riri G Trivedi and Vijender Singh Chauhan on parenting, pressure and purpose

The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2026 hosted a thought-provoking conversation titled ‘Growing Pains: Gen Z and Preparing for Tomorrow’, featuring parenting coach, psychotherapist, and author Riri G Trivedi and University of Delhi professor and academic influencer Vijender Singh Chauhan, in conversation with educator and social worker Sujata Sen.

The dialogue delved deep into the emotional landscape shaping today’s youth — from mental health and academic pressure to identity, digital burnout, and the craving for emotionally secure environments.

Riri G Trivedi reflected on the generational shift in parenting, contrasting the harsh, authoritarian style of the past with the overly permissive approach of today. “My generation grew up with belt treatment, punishment, threats, one-way communication,” she said. “Now, parents are swinging to the opposite extreme — no rules, do what you want. Both are damaging.” She cautioned that authoritarian parenting can breed addiction and depression, while permissive styles may create entitlement and indiscipline. “The hardest yet healthiest approach is authoritative or balanced parenting,” she stressed, adding that “shortcuts are easy, but meaningful parenting requires hard work.”




Vijender Singh Chauhan turned the spotlight on how Gen Z’s aspirations are being shaped — and distorted — by invisible forces. “The agency to shape dreams no longer lies with parents, teachers, or even students,” he noted. “It’s something else curating their aspirations — algorithmic. The content on social media is only a product; what drives it are algorithms none of us truly understand.” Chauhan observed that this external shaping of goals leads to stress whether one succeeds or fails, urging parents to cultivate critical awareness of these digital influences. “In our generation, authority was clear. Today, we no longer have that agency over the next generation,” he remarked.

Despite these challenges, both speakers expressed optimism about Gen Z’s growing self-awareness — their attempts to set screen limits, rethink social media habits, and embrace authenticity. Their joint takeaway: resilience for this generation lies in embracing failure, encouraging honest dialogue, and nurturing critical thinking — both at home and in classrooms.

Moderator Sujata Sen anchored the discussion with sharp questions on whether parental influence still holds sway in an era of shifting power dynamics. The session closed on a note of cautious hope — that as traditional authority recedes, what young people need most is not control, but clarity, conversation, and compassionate guidance.