Millennials Are Calling Out The "Common" Things Gen Z'ers Do That Are Doing More Harm Than Good, And It's Eye-Opening
We recently wrote a post where Gen Z'ers shared what they want millennials to know, and their brutally honest opinions started quite a debate — but they also shared eye-opening thoughts about generational differences.
So, to get another perspective, we asked millennials to tell us what they wish more Gen Z'ers knew or would stop doing, and they didn't hold back. Here's what they had to say:
1."For the Gen Z men: Stop listening to conservative podcasters like Andrew Tate or Logan and Jake Paul; using their techniques for dating will not make women like or love you. It will end up with many of you being angry and lonely because you don’t hold yourselves accountable for your actions or behavior, and at the end of the day, no one wants to be with someone who doesn’t want to change."
2."Stop thinking therapy is a whole aesthetic. Posting crying selfies with captions like 'healing era' isn't emotional growth — it's just attention-seeking with filters."
—Anonymous, 32, Canada
3."I think we're going to come to discover that social media and being on your phone so much when you're young is just as dangerous as smoking or consuming alcohol. I hope that Gen Z'ers who have kids keep their kids away from phones and tablets. Rediscover the outdoors and time spent together. Your parents didn't know any better, but you should."
—Anonymous, 38, Canada
"The phones. It is so sad that their phones are attached to their hands, and they can't make eye contact or have a general conversation without being distracted by their phones."
—Anonymous, 37, New Jersey
4."Stop overall romanticizing the 2000s. As a millennial who spent her adolescent years in that time, the thing that Gen Z forgets is that it wasn't that great of a decade. I can vividly remember the diet culture, teen pregnancy fear-mongering, internalized misogyny, and mental health stigma, to name a few, and I don't miss any of that."
"(I don’t remember the fashions and beauty standards too fondly either.)"
5."Stop the 'gentle parenting.' I'm absolutely fed up with what the term has come to represent! It's okay for your kid to be told 'no' and have consequences. It's actually highly recommended for your kid to have boundaries and consequences. This is part of how they learn. It's part of good socializing; it helps them learn empathy and right from wrong, and I can't believe I have to say it — it can help keep them safe!!! How can you claim that your child's well-being is a top priority for you if you refuse to teach them and give them boundaries or consequences for absolutely abysmal behavior?!"
"Seriously. Gentle parenting is an atrocity. Stop being a passive observer and be an actual parent! To do otherwise is a great disservice to your child. You’re not even raising a child, you’re just creating a small tyrant that will be in for one hell of a shock come introduction to the real world. You’re setting your child up for failure in life in many aspects, personal and otherwise, and should truly be ashamed. "
—Anonymous, 30+, Texas
6."Your idea of skincare is slathering on 12 serums while surviving on Takis and Celsius. That's not skin/self-care; that's chemical warfare on your face…"
—Anonymous, 32, Canada
7."They need to stop filming everything on their phones. (Some of us older folks do this, too.) Especially concerts!!! Just take a couple of pictures and enjoy the experience. Your video is awful quality anyway, and no one wants to watch it."
—Anonymous, 37, Idaho
8."I wish more Gen Z'ers took seriously that the internet and conservative depictions of millennials (two different perspectives) are both bad. Neither is real; neither is realistic. One is biased because of anonymity and lack of consequences; the other is biased because political and social entities are large in the world and actively work to diminish and harm our generation. Avocado toast is not one of millennials' primary concerns — that's a lie. So is most of everything you've heard about millennials."
"I also wish Gen Z'ers knew what they're about to go through politically. As a generation, we've lived through a lot of wild stuff, and Gen Z is on track to live through just as much or more. But we've learned lessons the hard way — about money, the state of our society, our political leadership, and what works to effect change and what doesn't. I would rather that Gez Z didn't have to learn the hard way but that they take it seriously when we tell them the truth."
—36, Washington
9."Oversharing is NOT the same as vulnerability or true honesty. Gen Z seems to use oversharing as a 'hack' to prove how genuine they are without realizing that this contrived version of sharing lacks intimacy and authenticity. It may work now as young adults, but not building that emotional muscle memory will hurt in the future."
—Anonymous, 37, California
10."Stop expecting professional services and finance jobs (salaried) to be strictly 9-to-5, with little tolerance for going beyond that — even when the role clearly demands more. This mindset often ignores the reality that these positions are about delivering results, not clocking hours. What's more, many expect rapid promotions just for showing up rather than proving long-term value or going the extra mile."
—Anonymous, 39, Illinois
11."They need to stop the entitlement that everything is owed to them. None of them work to get what they want — they just expect it. For example, bussing tables at a restaurant to then becoming a server or starting as an admin in corporate to then climbing the ladder."
—Anonymous, 37, New Jersey
12."Spending $400 on shoes that look like orthopedic nurse clogs? 'It's ironic,' you say. Babe, so is your bank account after buying them."
—Anonymous, 32, Canada
13."The Republican party is an even worse political party than you think. The Republicans of the '70/'80/'90/'00s are drastically different than today. Modern Republicans are attempting to rebrand as 'blue-collar,' 'college isn't necessary,' and 'have as many babies as possible' compared to the past of 'get a college education,' 'manual labor is for minorities,' and 'only have kids if you can afford them.' What they say in public versus who they are in private areas is drastically different. Don't be fooled by them."
"We've worked too hard as a country to get as many groups fair opportunities to go backward where minority groups need to live in fear in a supposedly free country."
—Anonymous, 41, Arizona
14."What do I wish you knew? How fun it was to be bored — at home, in the car, on a camping trip, or out in the field at school. Outdoor Lab Camp used to be a thing. Instead of trolling online, building up, or breaking down, we used to walk everywhere and create actual artistic content. Or we devoured it in book form. This was before a bunch of labels ruined everything from musical genres to personalities."
"Yes, things were much more binary back then, but in those shades of gray, the ripples that became rainbows were so beautiful."
15."Stop demanding to be the main character. Not everyone wants to hear your music, be in your videos, or let you cut them off just because you don't have any regard for the people around you."
—Anonymous, 31, USA
16."Stop thinking that being offended makes you morally in the right. Sometimes, you're just whining."
—Anonymous, 35, Tennessee
And finally...
17."Many Gen Z'ers lack the ability to use context clues or critical thinking when reading or doing anything, whether leisurely or not. I'm all for accessibility accommodations (I need them myself). Still, I'm seeing Gen Z and younger not even wanting to think and instead use anything (*coughChatGPTcough*) to get out of using their brain for more than TikTok or Instagram. It's painful, sad, and, honestly, extremely aggravating.
"Is it fun to write a three-page essay on required reading? Not always. Does reading certain books, acquiring knowledge, brainstorming, and writing come in handy later? Yes. Unfortunate as it may be for some, yes."
—Anonymous, 30s, USA
Welp. Gen Z'ers, what are your thoughts? And fellow millennials, what other things should Gen Z'ers know or stop doing? Feel free to tell us below. Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use this form below.
