Born free, growing up wired: Meet Czechia’s digital generation
Between 1990 and 2010, about 2.3 million Czechs were born. Often categorized as younger Millennials or older Gen Z, they came of age in a free country—but not an easy world. From the explosion of social media to pandemics and wars nearby, they’re facing challenges few generations before them could imagine.
One of the most prominent voices of this generation is Karel Kovář, better known as Kovy. With over a million subscribers on YouTube, he's not just a digital influencer but also a sharp observer of the times. Kovy warns against labeling entire age groups too rigidly. “I meet young people who feel that generational labels just don’t fit,” he says. “Even siblings just a few years apart can live in completely different digital worlds—one on TikTok, the other on Twitch or YouTube. They speak different languages online, follow different creators, and often have to explain things to each other.”
Born in 1996, Kovy falls right between generational lines. “Some say I’m Gen Z, others say Millennial. I just call myself a Zillennial—or pick what suits me best,” he admits with a laugh.
But he also gets serious. There’s a growing sense, he says, that older generations underestimate just how tough growing up has become. “People forget how hard this environment is. We lived through lockdowns. There’s a war right next door. And we still don’t fully understand what social media algorithms are doing to us.”
Kovy reflects on how hard it must be to form an identity today. “I can’t imagine being 12, 15, or 17 right now, trying to grow up through all of this. It must be incredibly difficult.”
Another voice from this generation is Martina Šmídová. After leaving a high-paying corporate job in Czechia that left her unfulfilled, she became a digital nomad—and eventually settled on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. Now she splits her time between consulting work for European clients and running a popular lifestyle channel on Instagram.
Despite living thousands of kilometers from Moravia, Martina remains politically engaged and plans to vote. Like many in her generation, she’s not turning away from her roots—just finding her own way of staying connected.
This is a generation shaped by freedom, yes—but also by flux. And in that tension, they’re forging new paths that don’t always follow the labels assigned to them.
You can find full version of interview with Martina Šmídová on Czechast, a Radio Prague International Podcast in English about all things Czech.
