Every generation thinks the one before them was better and the one after them is ruining everything.
Right now, Gen Z gets the spotlight, with older generations claiming they’re entitled, addicted to their phones, and too sensitive. But in reality, they’re not that different from any other generation at their age. The same complaints have been made about every group of young people throughout history, and when you look closely, Gen Z are just repeating the same patterns that came before them. Here are just some of the ways they’re no different from anyone else. Maybe we should stop giving them such a hard time, don’t you think?
1. They think their generation is the most progressive.
Every generation believes they’re the ones pushing society forward, and that the ones before them were out of touch. Boomers thought they were breaking barriers in the ’60s and ’70s, Gen X saw themselves as the rebellious, independent thinkers, and millennials believed they were leading social change. Gen Z are no different. They see themselves as the most open-minded and progressive, but in 30 years, they’ll probably be rolling their eyes at whatever the next generation considers groundbreaking.
2. They’re criticised for how they communicate.
Gen Z’s reliance on texting, memes, and social media makes older generations think they’ve lost the ability to communicate properly. But every generation has had this argument — millennials were accused of being obsessed with texting, Gen X were glued to landline phones, and boomers were criticised for constantly watching TV. New technology always changes how people interact, and the older generation always disapproves. Give it 20 years, and Gen Z will be complaining about how the next group only communicates through virtual reality.
3. They want to redefine work-life balance.
Gen Z are often called lazy for not wanting to live for work, but this is nothing new. Millennials pushed for more work flexibility, Gen X challenged the idea of corporate loyalty, and boomers were the original “live to work” generation before many of them changed their minds later in life. At every stage, young people question outdated work models, only for older generations to tell them they need to toughen up. Then, when they get older, they realise they were onto something all along.
4. They think older people just don’t get it.
Every generation thinks they’re misunderstood by their elders. Boomers thought their parents were old-fashioned, Gen X thought boomers were out of touch, and millennials felt the same about Gen X. Now, Gen Z believe they’re the only ones who truly get it, and older people just don’t understand. But one day, they’ll be hearing the same complaints from the next generation, and the cycle will continue.
5. They love nostalgic trends.
Despite being labelled as forward-thinking, Gen Z are just as obsessed with nostalgia as every generation before them. They’ve brought back ’90s and early 2000s fashion, vinyl records, disposable cameras, and flip phones. It’s the same pattern every generation follows. Millennials revived ’80s fashion, Gen X brought back ’60s and ’70s styles, and Boomers romanticised the pre-war years. Nostalgia is a timeless part of growing up and always will be.
6. They think they invented activism.
Gen Z are known for their activism, but so were millennials with their environmental and political movements, Gen X with their anti-establishment mindset, and boomers with civil rights and protests in the ’60s. Every generation has believed they were the ones driving change, while the older generation rolled their eyes and claimed they were being “too radical.” History just keeps repeating itself.
7. They complain about how expensive everything is.
Gen Z often talk about how impossible it is to afford a house, how rent is ridiculous, and how wages don’t keep up with inflation. While it’s true that economic conditions change, every young generation has had the same complaint. Millennials struggled with student debt and the 2008 crash, Gen X had sky-high interest rates, and boomers, despite definitely having more opportunities, still struggled financially when they were young. The feeling that “everything is too expensive” is just part of being in your 20s.
8. They get criticised for their fashion choices.
Baggy jeans, crop tops, and bizarre accessories? Apparently, Gen Z have no taste. But boomers said the same about Gen X’s grunge phase, Gen X mocked millennials for their skinny jeans, and every generation before that has cringed at the trends of their youth. Fashion is always changing, and the cycle repeats. The people making fun of Gen Z’s fashion today were once mocked for their own style choices — and in a decade, Gen Z will be cringing at their own photos too.
9. They think they’ll never become their parents.
Gen Z love to say they’re different, that they’ll never turn into their parents, and that they’ll always stay cool and open-minded. But so did every single generation that came before them, probably since the dawn of time! Give it a few decades, and many Gen Zs will be scolding their kids for spending too much time on whatever the next big technology is. That’s just how it goes.
10. They use slang older generations don’t understand.
Gen Z’s slang — things like “vibe check,” “no cap,” and “rizz” (which are probably already out of date by the time I’m finished writing this) — confuse older people. But Boomers confused their parents with their 60s phrases, Gen X had “dude” and “bogus,” and millennials made “lit” and “YOLO” mainstream. Every generation comes up with their own language, thinking it makes them unique, and then the next generation does the same while laughing at how outdated the old terms sound.
11. They want to work on their own terms.
Gen Z don’t dream of staying in one job for 40 years, and older generations see that as a lack of dedication. But Gen X were the original job-hoppers, and millennials popularised freelancing and remote work. The idea that young people don’t want to be “stuck” in traditional jobs is nothing new. Every generation has tried to break free from the rigid work structures of the past.
12. They believe they’ve cracked relationships.
Gen Z see themselves as the most emotionally intelligent and progressive when it comes to relationships, rejecting outdated traditions and embracing new ways of dating. But so did millennials when they popularised online dating, and Gen X when they pioneered non-traditional family structures. Every generation thinks they’re the first to challenge old relationship norms, only to be replaced by the next group who claim they’re doing it better.
13. They swear they’ll never criticise younger generations.
Right now, Gen Z roll their eyes at boomers and millennials for complaining about them. They claim they’ll never be like that and will always support the younger generation. But one day, when the next group starts making fun of their outdated slang, old-fashioned ways of thinking, and embarrassing social media habits, they’ll realise they’ve become exactly what they swore they never would. That’s just the way it goes — they just don’t realise it yet.
