Why Gen Z Thinks Millennials Are the New Boomers

Why Gen Z Thinks Millennials Are the New Boomers

Millennials may have pioneered avocado toast and skinny jeans, but Gen Z isn’t impressed. For the younger generation, millennials have started to resemble the Boomers they once rebelled against—outdated, nostalgic, and occasionally out of touch with the cultural and societal shifts they once championed. Gen Z finds millennials clinging to traditions and mindsets that feel rigid and disconnected from their own experiences as the digital landscape continues to evolve at breakneck speed. This generation values inclusivity, authenticity, and adaptability, which starkly contrasts with what they perceive as millennials’ efforts to hold onto the past. Here’s a deeper exploration of why Gen Z sees millennials as the new Boomers, navigating a world that seems to move forward faster than they can keep up.

1. They’re Obsessed With Long-Winded Netflix Sessions

Millennials were the pioneers of binge-watching TV shows, often finishing entire seasons in one weekend. According to Nielsen, the average American watches nearly 4 hours of TV daily, but Gen Z is shifting towards shorter, more binge-worthy content like TikTok clips and YouTube videos. Gen Z prefers a fast-forward approach to entertainment. They value quantity over quality, watching multiple shows in short bursts, rather than settling in for marathon sessions.

For Gen Z, watching TV like millennials did feels time-consuming and out of sync with their fast-paced lifestyle. They see long, drawn-out binge-watching as a form of commitment millennials can’t let go of. Instead, they move from one show to another, consuming content quickly before switching gears to something else. The lengthy viewing habits millennials champion are becoming a distant memory for Gen Z.

2. They Won’t Let Their Love Of  Skinny Jeans Go

Millennials have long defended their beloved skinny jeans, insisting they’re timeless and flattering. To Gen Z, though, those tight, restrictive denim cuts feel like a relic of the past. According to BBC however, Gen Z has fully embraced relaxed and oversized silhouettes, moving away from the slim, restrictive cuts of skinny jeans. Loose, baggy fits and low-rise styles have taken over, leaving millennials clinging to their skinnies like a cultural security blanket. Gen Z views the refusal to embrace new trends as a sign that millennials are stuck in their comfort zone. In their eyes, it’s not just about style—it’s about an unwillingness to evolve.

When millennials argue about skinny jeans on social media, Gen Z watches with amusement, dismissing it as unnecessary drama. For them, fashion is fluid and experimental, not something to cling to for over a decade. Millennials’ resistance to change makes them look out of touch with a generation that thrives on reinvention. The more they argue, the more they cement their reputation as fashion’s newest dinosaurs.

3. They Obsess Over Coffee

Millennials turned Starbucks into a cultural phenomenon, with pumpkin spice lattes and venti iced caramel macchiatos dominating their feeds. According to Millennial Marketing, at one point, coffee had become almost synonymous with Starbucks for the Millennial generation. But Gen Z’s relationship with coffee feels fresher and more refined, favoring aesthetic matcha lattes and chic specialty brews. While millennials still line up for their PSLs every autumn, Gen Z sees it as basic and outdated. To them, the obsession with sugary, mass-market coffee drinks feels more nostalgic than relevant.

Gen Z prefers curated café vibes, sustainable practices, and drinks that look good on Instagram. Millennials’ coffee culture now feels like an artifact of their youth—a time when frappuccinos were the height of indulgence. Gen Z’s disdain isn’t just about drinks; it’s about how millennials cling to trends that no longer resonate. Coffee, to them, is less about indulgence and more about effortless cool, leaving millennials to sip on memories.

4. They Take Selfies At Obvious Angles

Millennials perfected the high-angle selfie, with captions like “felt cute, might delete later” dominating their feeds. For Gen Z, that curated, picture-perfect aesthetic feels staged and overly polished. According to Refinery29, Gen Z favors candid, less staged selfies that embrace authenticity. They prefer blurry, candid shots that exude effortless cool and tell a story beyond the frame. Gen Z’s photo philosophy is all about looking like you didn’t try, even if you spent hours curating the vibe.

To them, millennials’ selfie habits scream desperation for validation in a world that’s moved on from over-curation. Gen Z’s visual language is about raw authenticity, not perfection. When millennials post their staged selfies, it feels like they’re holding onto an Instagram aesthetic that’s no longer relevant. For Gen Z, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s about capturing the moment as it is.

5. They Still Rely on Facebook

facebook webpage

Millennials built Facebook into a social empire, keeping up with old classmates and sharing life milestones on the platform. For Gen Z, Facebook feels like a ghost town—slow, outdated, and cringeworthy. They’ve migrated to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and even BeReal, where interactions feel more instant and engaging.

Gen Z views millennials’ attachment to Facebook as a sign of stuck nostalgia. While millennials fondly reminisce over friend requests and event invites, Gen Z is busy curating stories and short videos that disappear after 24 hours. Their social media experience is fast-paced and immersive, whereas millennials linger in the slower, more controlled space that Facebook has become.

6. They Overuse GIFs

Reaction GIFs were once the pinnacle of online communication, with millennials leading the charge. They mastered the art of sending the perfect “eye roll” or “slow clap” GIF to punctuate their digital conversations. Gen Z, however, has moved on, preferring memes, TikToks, and subtle screenshots to express themselves. To them, GIFs feel clunky and outdated—a relic of BuzzFeed quizzes and early 2010s internet humor.

This shift isn’t just about medium; it’s about tone. Gen Z’s humor thrives on irony and understatement, making millennials’ GIF-heavy chats feel excessive and try-hard. When millennials double down on their GIF obsession, Gen Z interprets it as a refusal to let go of their digital glory days. For them, humor needs to feel current, and nothing screams “yesterday” like a looping reaction clip.

7. They Still Crush on Harry Potter Houses

Harry Potter defined childhood for many millennials, and their loyalty to the franchise runs deep. Ask a millennial their Hogwarts house, and they’ll answer without hesitation, often with a Harry Potter reference in tow. Gen Z, on the other hand, doesn’t understand the obsession with a story that peaked over a decade ago. They’re more focused on new narratives that feel inclusive and aligned with today’s values.

For Gen Z, millennials’ attachment to Hogwarts feels like clinging to an outdated comfort zone. While they respect the nostalgia, they also see it as a sign that millennials struggle to move forward. Gen Z has traded in wands for stories that better reflect their diverse world. To them, the obsession with Hogwarts houses feels more like a millennial quirk that’s overstayed its welcome.

8. They Read Physical Books

man reading book outside on bench

While millennials embraced physical books and cozy coffee shop reads, Gen Z has gravitated towards e-books and audiobooks. Digital accessibility offers convenience and faster access to a variety of content, without the weight of physical pages. Gen Z values portability, making it easy to consume books anytime, anywhere.

Millennials may cherish the tactile experience of turning pages, but Gen Z sees it as outdated and unnecessary. They prefer reading on screens where they can highlight and annotate text instantly. Physical books feel clunky and cumbersome compared to the sleek, tech-forward options Gen Z thrives on.

9. They Over-Explain Politics

Two,Young,Women,Argue,In,Cafe

Millennials are passionate about social and political issues, often engaging in long, detailed discussions about justice and inequality. For Gen Z, these conversations feel exhausting when stretched into overly analytical monologues. They appreciate activism, but they want it concise and impactful—think bite-sized takeaways rather than 20-minute rants.

To Gen Z, millennials’ constant need to elaborate feels performative and exhausting. They prefer a more digestible approach to advocacy, leaning into concise tweets and swift actions rather than prolonged discussions. When millennials dive into long-winded political explanations, Gen Z tends to tune out, believing they’ve taken an outdated, overexposed stance.

10. They Overuse Filters

smiling couple taking selfie at brewery

Filters were once a millennial staple, from Valencia to Lomo-Fisheye. But Gen Z has grown weary of the overly edited, airbrushed look. They prefer natural imperfections, using minimal or no filters at all to showcase authenticity. Filters feel outdated, replaced by more nuanced edits—natural tones, simple adjustments, and real expressions.

When millennials rely on layers of filters to enhance their images, Gen Z sees it as overcompensation for an unattainable beauty standard. They’ve embraced a raw, unfiltered aesthetic that rejects the polished perfection millennials clung to. For Gen Z, filters are passé, making millennial photos feel disconnected from today’s approach to self-expression.

11. They Stick to Traditional Career Paths

Young formalwear businesswoman carrying digital tablet outdoors

Millennials were known for climbing the corporate ladder and embracing conventional career paths—office jobs, nine-to-five routines, and predictable promotions. Gen Z, however, is redefining success through flexibility, remote work, and side hustles. They value freedom over stability, prioritizing passion projects and creative ventures over traditional career paths.

To Gen Z, millennials’ career choices feel rigid and outdated. They view older work models as limiting, with little room for personal growth or innovation. Millennials may still believe in climbing the corporate ladder, but Gen Z sees them as tethered to a system that no longer serves them. For the younger generation, success means rewriting the rules of work entirely.

12. They Enjoy DIY Home Decor

Millennials embraced DIY home decor as a form of self-expression, spending weekends painting walls and crafting furniture. Gen Z has taken a different approach—one that values minimalism and curated aesthetics over labor-intensive projects. They prefer streamlined spaces with sleek designs, focusing on professional and polished interiors rather than homes filled with DIY elements.

For Gen Z, DIY decor feels overwhelming, whereas millennials revel in the personal touch and nostalgia of handmade pieces. They associate DIY projects with time-consuming pastimes, something Gen Z wants to avoid. Instead, they seek balance between functionality and style, making room for pieces that reflect simplicity and taste without the effort.

13. They Over-explore Career Hustles

Millennials thrived on side hustles—creating brands, blogs, and personal ventures in their free time. Gen Z, however, views hustle culture as exhausting and unsustainable. While millennials poured time into multiple projects to prove their versatility, Gen Z values mental health and balance, steering clear of burnout.

To Gen Z, millennials’ constant need to multitask feels like a chaotic pursuit of external validation. They prefer authenticity over grind culture, focusing on well-being rather than overextending themselves for recognition. Gen Z is redefining productivity, aligning it with long-term happiness and personal fulfillment rather than short-term wins.

14. They Over-Plan Weekend Activities

Millennials often schedule their weekends to the minute, balancing brunches, workouts, and errands into a meticulously organized itinerary. Gen Z prefers a more spontaneous approach, favoring flexibility over rigid plans. They enjoy the freedom to change activities last minute, embracing serendipity and experiences that feel organic rather than overly structured.

For Gen Z, millennials’ packed weekend schedules feel stressful and impractical. They value downtime and moments where they can simply go with the flow. Weekend planning, to Gen Z, is less about checking off to-do lists and more about immersing in moments that feel natural and unforced.

15. They Wear Predictable Work Attire

Millennials were often seen sporting office-appropriate attire—structured blouses, blazers, and polished accessories. Gen Z challenges this by pushing for more flexible, gender-neutral workwear. They favor pieces that are comfortable, functional, and reflective of their personality, rejecting the traditional corporate dress code in favor of individuality and expression.

To Gen Z, millennials’ focus on uniform professionalism feels rigid and uninspiring. They believe work outfits should adapt to personal style while still being suitable for a professional environment. Millennial workwear can feel disconnected from the fluid, inclusive workplace Gen Z is championing, where comfort and self-expression reign supreme.

Danielle is a lifestyle writer with over 10 years of experience crafting relatable content for both major media companies and startups.