Don't Like — Gen Z Becoming Millennials

Guest Post by Grace Newlin

If there is one trend that stands the ever-so-changing, speedy test of internet time, it’s the conversation surrounding Gen Z and Millennial differences. More specifically, the two generations making fun of each other. I must admit, as the only Gen Z person in my family, I adopted a few Millennial traits. My favorite breakfast meal is avocado toast and I find something charming about a man-bun. Millennials will defend their generation like any strong, cult-like fandom (I’m looking at you Swifties) but that doesn’t stop Gen Z from teasing them. And sure, it’s hilarious, but only when it’s not hypocritical. Take silk screen clothing. For millennials, I think of the quintessential phrase “Don't talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” that flooded Pinterest pages and most likely drove up the sales of Cricut — a cutting machine used for DIYs. But Gen Z is doing the same thing. The only differences are the fonts and tone of voice. Instead of a brush script, Gen Z goes for something bubbly like the rounded serif, Cooper Black. Rather than quirky and relatable text, Gen Z gravitates towards phrases like “Text me when you’re home.” Regardless, both generations love their garments decorated with oversized letters that will most likely start to peel and end up in the thrift store. Give it 10 years and you’ll hear a Gen Alpha laughing from the aisle of a Goodwill over a hoodie reading “I love you say it back.” The similarities don’t end there. The Millennial oversaturated Instagram filters are resurrected by Gen Z’s Dazz Cam obsession. Photos dumps are the new collages. Millennials had rose gold but Gen Z  has blueberry milk and tomato red. Aren’t “I’m just a 22-year-old teenage girl” and “I can’t adult today” basically the same phrases? How can we claim middle parts and wide-legged pants superior to comb-overs and skinny jeans if they are just the opposite of each other? Or the hyper-fixation of the Gen Z squat pose while Millennials were posing like teapots (which are both very silly). Are Gen Z’s the antithesis of Millennials or are they just not like other girls? The generation divide might be smaller than you think, especially when you get a Millennial and a Gen Z talking about Boomers.