Bengaluru-based CEO Ashish Gupta has stirred an intense discussion on LinkedIn after questioning whether Gen Z’s mastery of social media is overshadowing crucial life skills like problem-solving and financial literacy. In his post titled “Gen Z Knows Reels, But Not Real Math”, Gupta recounted a recent campus recruitment drive where his observations raised eyebrows.

During the hiring process, Gupta interacted with over 50 BBA and BCA students and posed a seemingly simple Class 5-level math problem:
“If a car travels the first 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h, what is its average speed?”
Surprisingly, only two students got it right.

While students enthusiastically pitched strategies about Instagram reels and viral marketing, Gupta felt there was a glaring gap. He expressed concern that Gen Z’s strong digital acumen might be coming at the expense of logical reasoning, numeracy, and financial awareness—skills vital for real-world success.

His post went viral, dividing opinions. Some commenters echoed his worry, emphasizing the need for a balanced skillset. Others, however, questioned the relevance of math problems in hiring, especially for non-technical roles. One user pointedly remarked, “Skill relevance should be key—many CEOs may struggle with such questions too.”

The debate continues, highlighting the broader question: Are digital smarts enough, or are we neglecting foundational skills?