15 Millennial Habits That Make Gen Z Cringe and Why

Millennials are the people born between 1981 and 1996.They have some defining characteristics that everyone can recognise. For example, millennials confidence with technology and awareness about their personal data are iconic behaviours for the generation. Gen Z is the generation born between 1997 and 2012. They’re known for their love for vlogging, prioritising work-life balance, wearing cute chunky sneakers, and having strong online friendships. But there are some millennial habits that Gen Z can’t help but cringe at. From overusing Facebook to their obsession with avocado toast and paying for cable TV, there are just some things that Gen Z just can’t get on board with. Today we’re sharing some of those! Get ready to laugh, roll your eyes, or sigh in agreement because we’re diving into millennial habits that Gen Z thinks are lame, cliché, and all-around cringe!

1. Overusing Facebook

Gen Z can’t stand how millennials use Facebook for everything. They find it less relevant and not as engaging. Millennials grew up with Facebook, whereas Gen Z just doesn’t like using it as much as other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat, etc.

2. Constantly Talking About Avocado Toast

We get it! Millennials love their avocado toast. Gen Z is tired of hearing about it!

3. Paying for Cable TV

Gen Z does not prefer cable TV and will instead find streaming services that are on-demand and inexpensive. 

4. Oversharing on Social Media

Millennials are famous for oversharing on social media with personal updates, life milestones, and daily living. Gen Z is more cautious about what they share and is more aware of privacy concerns and what the potential consequences are of posting too much personal information. They’re more prone to keeping their social media feed curated and matching their intended aesthetic.

5. Embracing “Hustle” Mentality

Millennials embraced the “hustle” culture and worked hard without any work-life balance. The idea was to always be grinding, searching for success. But Gen Z spotted the problem with that. This mentality implies that success only comes from those who sacrifice and work tirelessly without a break. They saw the burnout, stress, and unintended consequences of hustle mentality.

6. Overusing Over-Edited Photos

Gen Z is a generation all about genuineness and authenticity, and they’ve, for the most part, ditched the overly edited photos. It’s one of their many quirks about millennials! Millennials were striving to look perfect and be perfect online.

7. Overusing Emojis

If you’ve texted a millennial, there’s a good chance that they texted back using emojis, and Gen Z finds that super cringe. While millennials think it’s a fun way to add personality to a message, Gen Z doesn’t agree.

8. Sticking to Old Beauty Standards

Gen Z prioritises inclusivity, self-acceptance, self-love, and authenticity. Their idea of beauty is very different than millennials. Millennials were more often influenced by traditional beauty ideas like flawless skin and perfect hair. Gen Z has taught the world to embrace a broader definition of beauty and to celebrate different body types, skin tones, and personal styles. Gen Z finds traditional beauty standards absolutely cringe.

9. Overemphasis on the “Dream Job”

Gen Z values mental health, self-care, and authenticity and doesn’t place a lot of priority on finding one “dream job.”. They instead look for jobs that support their lifestyle and well-being. Millennials, on the other hand, were taught to chase their passions and pursue the perfect career at all costs. This often came at the expense of job stability, financial security, and mental health. Gen Z recognises that job satisfaction shouldn’t sacrifice mental health or happiness and doesn’t understand where millennials are coming from on this.

10. Wearing Clothing with a Lot of Logos

Millennials were famous for wearing clothing with a lot of logos, almost as if it demonstrated their status or signified their wealth. On the flip side, Gen Z values subtlety and authenticity. They prefer thrifting, slow fashion, and indie brands that reflect their own personal style. They can’t stand millennials habit of wearing heavily logoed clothing!

11. Participating in “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” Culture

If there is one thing that Gen Z can’t stand, it’s the “fake it ‘til you make it” culture. Gen Z values realness and being genuine. Millennials embraced the idea of projecting confidence even if they didn’t feel it. Genz recognises that’s harmful and ingenuine. They prefer when people are true to who they are and how they feel.

12. FOMO

FOMO, or the fear of missing out, was a popular phase that most millennials experienced. With social media being a collection of perfectly curated moments, millennials often felt like they were missing out on some extraordinary experience, not realising that most of what they saw wasn’t real. Gen Z values balance, digital well-being, and mindfulness. They’re more prone to reject the idea of comparison and push back on traditional societal pressures. They don’t care about FOMO because they’re more focused on living their own best life instead of what everyone else is doing.

13. Relying on Credit Cards for Lifestyle

Millennials used credit cards to fund their lifestyle. “Living within your means” wasn’t a concept most millennials appreciated. Gen Z, on the other hand, appreciates thrifting, good deals, and discounts. The generation is more focused on sustainability, saving their money, and making smart purchases rather than the “keeping up with the Joneses” trend.

14. Snapchat Selfies

Millennials went through a major Snapchat selfie phase, and it’s something that Gen Z can’t help but cringe about. They believe it’s outdated and too staged. Gen Z prefers creative and spontaneous content. They’re less about self-documenting and more trend-specific.

15. MLMs—Get Rich Quick Schemes

Millennials were quick to fall victim to many get-rich-quick schemes, wanting to achieve financial success and freedom as quickly as possible. In contrast, Gen Z sees these schemes as unrealistic and sometimes even exploitative. They value transparency and long-term stability over the allure of easy money.

Final Thoughts

In the end, there are several millennial habits that Gen Z finds cringe and, arguably, for good reason too! Which of these habits do you relate to, and which do you find cringeworthy? Let us know in the comments below.