15 Things That Perplex Millennials About Gen Z

Published:

There are always gaps in understanding between and among generations. Sometimes these gaps are just confusing, but other times they can lead to frustration and conflict. Although we often hear about the clashes between Boomers and Millennials, there are also things that Millennials just don’t get about Gen Zers, and it probably goes both ways.

Here are 15 things that perplex Millennials about Gen Z.

 

Hoodies in Hot Weather

Portrait of beautiful young man wearing hoody in nature park with sun flare, serene smiling looking away, leaning on banister, outdoors.
Image Credit: MJTH/Shutterstock.

You’ve probably noticed this is common among teens and young adults. Sure, they’re probably spending most of their time indoors, but how miserable must it be when they’re outside? Why?

 

Knowing How to Dress

Smiling young cool African American guy holding mobile phone tech device standing at colorful city wall.
Image Credit: insta_photos/Shutterstock.

On the other hand, many of them seem to leave school knowing how to coordinate outfits. Maybe this is due to internet culture. Many of us are actually jealous of this since we had to learn the awkward way.

 

Shortage of Film Celebrities

Professional Actor Ready for a Shoot - Portrait of a handsome man a ready to film a new scene.
Image Credit: Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock.

Gen Z doesn’t seem to have any big movie stars. Is this because their actors aren’t as talented? It might be due to older actors playing much younger roles.

 

Email Ineptitude

email marketing concept, person reading e-mail on smartphone, receive new message.
Image Credit: Song_about_summer/Shutterstock.

Many Gen Zers grew up with texting, not email. This might explain why so many of them can’t communicate properly or coherently via email when they get their first job.

 

Guys With Perms

Closeup portrait of smiling smart curly haired school boy wearing braces on teeth looking at camera.
Image Credit: AYO Production/Shutterstock.

Right now, curly hair on boys is big-time. Guys are going out and getting perms, something almost unheard of in older generations. It perplexes those of us who have spent much of our lives trying to make our hair straighter.

 

Mullets

Aussie boy with mullet sitting on sand dune at the beach with big smile.
Image Credit: caseyjadew/Shutterstock.

Just when you thought mullets had gone to their death with the 80s, they’re back. No one seems to have any real idea why.

 

“Based”

Black woman, smile and phone of a student from Jamaica with technology and headphones.
Image Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.

It’s the opposite of cringe. In other words, it’s the equivalent of things like cool and sweet we’ve used for decades. Maybe Gen Z wants to set itself apart from everyone else even in language.

 

“Bruh”

Serious teenage boy.
Image Credit: CCISUL/Shutterstock.

If you have teens or work with them, you’ve probably heard this more times than you’d like. At first, we thought it was a take on Bro, but instead it’s meant to convey indifference, exasperation, or disgust.

 

Thinking Millennials Are Ancient

Portrait, champagne and clubbing with woman friends drinking alcohol in celebration of the new year. Party, diversity and event with a female and friend enjoying a drink together at a luxury social.
Image Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.

Every generation tends to think the previous one is a bit out of touch. However, Gen Z seems to think we’re practically Boomers. We even hear “Okay Boomer” a lot!

 

Gen Z Humor

Multicultural happy friends having fun taking group selfie portrait on city street .
Image Credit: DavideAngelini/Shutterstock.

Emojis, abbreviations, insider language, and more seem to define their humor. As with some of the slang, it’s probably meant to be exclusionary. In fairness, Gen Zers generally aren’t happy with the world they’re inheriting.

 

Device Addiction

A teenage girl with blonde hair on her face with freckles is sitting on the floor in a shopping mall and looking at the phone and smiling, headphones in her ears.
Image Credit: Natasha Paramonova/Shutterstock.

Okay, most of us probably spend too much time on devices, but Gen Z is taking it to extremes. Why do they have to stream Netflix even when they’re putting dishes away?

 

Thinking They Invented Social Media

Photo of a positive cheerful teenage girl in park walking on scooter using mobile phone.
Image Credit: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.

When Gen Zers find out you’re on a site they use, they seem surprised, sometimes annoyed. If you tell them most of those sites are run by Millennials and Gen Xers, you might get “Bruh.”

 

Thinking Only They Play Video Games

laughing multicultural teens playing video game.
Image Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.

They also seem to think only they play video games or that they should be playing them. Lost on them is that home video games got going in the Gen X days when kids came home to play Atari games that were a lot of fun despite bad graphics.

 

Indifference to Tracking Technology

teenage asian skateboarder boy looking at cellphone while resting.
Image Credit: imtmphoto/Shutterstock.

Even if we can’t do much of it, many of us feel alarmed by targeted ads and tracking technology. Gen Z seems not to care that almost everything they do is tracked and recorded; some seem happy to give it away.

 

TikTok

Woman viewing social media content on mobile phone.
Image Credit: Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock.

You could make a case for any social media site being dumb or toxic, but TikTok strikes many of us as the dumbest and the worst. Yet Gen Z is absolutely hooked on it, and we just don’t get the appeal.

12 Things That Were Socially Acceptable 25 Years Ago, but Are Frowned Upon Today

Middle age blonde woman over isolated background skeptic and nervous, disapproving expression on face with crossed arms.
Image Credit: Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock.

 

Over the past 25 years, society has seen significant changes in what it considers acceptable behavior. What was once deemed perfectly fine in the past is now often met with disapproval. As cultural norms and values continue to evolve, it’s essential to reflect on these changes and how they shape our daily lives.

12 Things That Were Socially Acceptable 25 Years Ago, but Are Frowned Upon Today

12 Things You Really, Really Don’t Need In Your Home

Portraits headshoots blonde woman natural no make up just woke up bed head morning.
Image Credit: Just Model Photos/Shutterstock.

 

One of the best ways to save money is to learn to live with less. If you live on less, then you need less and then you spend less. There are some stuff that you may have in your home that you don’t need.

There are several ways that you can adjust your lifestyle and learn to live with less. Here are some things you have in your home that you don’t need.

12 Things You Really, Really Don’t Need In Your Home

11 Widely Accepted Historical Facts That Are 100% False

Rear view of the statue of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Hotel des Invalides in Paris, France, with the french flag flying in the distance.
Image Credit: olrat/Shutterstock.

 

History is like a grand tapestry woven with stories and events passed down through generations. Yet, as time goes by, some of the threads in this tapestry begin to fray and unravel. It turns out that not everything we think we know about the past is as accurate as it seems.

11 Widely Accepted Historical Facts That Are 100% False

20 Things in Decline Because Millennials Refuse to Pay For Them

Half length of beautiful black curly hair african woman using tablet in town by night, face illuminated by screen light - technology, communication, social network concept.
Image Credit: Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock.

 

As generations come and go, so change trends about what’s popular and in demand and what isn’t. With the Millennials well into adulthood now and some approaching middle age, some clear preferences are starting to emerge.

Some of the things out of favor aren’t going to go away, but the desire for them is definitely dropping. In some cases, that’s good; in others, it leaves us a little sad.

20 Things in Decline Because Millennials Refuse to Pay For Them

 

 

Author: Robert Sihler

Bio:

Robert Sihler is an educator, freelance writer, and rock climbing guide and instructor living with his family in Driftwood, Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction, streaming films, completing crossword puzzles, and rock climbing. When he goes on vacation, he likes to visit the mountains of the West and climb remote, obscure peaks that have seen few or no prior ascents.