Ahh, generational stereotypes—the internet’s favourite debate. You’re either a millennial clinging to your 2014 side part and skinny jeans or a matcha sipping Gen Z who spends 5 hours a day on TikTok.
Despite being only a few years apart (depending on which blurry timeline you subscribe to) millennials and Gen Z are frequently pitted against each other. But are they really that different? Well, here’s a breakdown of the delightful chaos that is Gen Z vs millennials, and the key stereotypes that separate (and occasionally unite) them.
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Millennials vs. Gen Z: Which are you?
So, you’re curious about whether you’re millennial or Gen Z? Well, generally, a millennial is anyone born between the years 1981 to 1996, with Gen Z-ers being born between 1997 and 2012. Bear in mind though, birth years usually vary depending on who you ask, and there’s a whole debate surrounding where one generation ends and another begins.
To make matters even more confusing, you might also hear the term Zillennial being thrown around too—this is a hybrid generation roughly born between the years 1993-1998. They’re somewhat caught in the middle, displaying a mix of Gen Z and Millennial traits.
Millennial vs. Gen Z stereotypes
With that out of the way, it’s time to uncover some of the most common traits of millennials as well as Gen Z stereotypes. With fashion, memes, and phrasing to chat about, let’s dive in!
Social media
With their perfectly curated Instagram feeds, millennials gave us brunch shots, filter-heavy sunset pics, and the golden age of #TBTs. They created 100-photo Facebook albums for one night out (don’t remind them), and now use the platform for three things only: birthday posts, baby announcements, and undeniably entertaining Marketplace drama.
Gen Z, on the other hand, thrives on spontaneity. Practically born with an iPad in hand, they’re into photo dumps, private stories, and chaotic authenticity. Their social media is less of a highlight reel and more a diary of their subconscious. Gen Z are also TikTok obsessed (using it as a search engine, therapist, and news outlet all in one).
Fashion
Skinny jeans and side parts are hallmarks of the millennial style, but let’s be real, their fashion goes beyond these iconic trends. They’re pros when it comes to creating the ultimate capsule wardrobe, pulling Pinterest worthy outfits together for all occasions.
Gen Z’s aesthetic meanwhile sits somewhere between Y2K nostalgia and thrift-core (not forgetting the emotional support water bottle to finish off any look). This generation embraces bold choices, chunky trainers, and vintage logos. Oh, and low-rise jeans are back now, we think?
Work life and hustle culture
The poster child for rise and grind, millennials entered the workforce with hustling for success as their number one priority (think late nights, endless meetings, and a whole lot of burnout).
Gen Z watched this unfold and thought no thanks. For them, boundaries are non-negotiable. They prioritise flexibility, remote working, and a job that respects their lunch breaks. You know what they say: Millennials walked so Gen Z could log off at 5pm.
Phrasing and humour
Millennials got much of their humour from Tumblr and early YouTube, which means it’s all about being dry and self-deprecating. They also love a good pun and unapologetically still use the laughing emoji without a hint of irony.
Gen Z’s phrasing is fast, cryptic, and so fast moving, even Gen Z can’t keep up. You either get it or you’re, well, old, apparently? Texting is out and voice notes are in. Plus, jokes often come in meme format (requiring three layers of context you’ll need to decode).
Pop culture
Millennials were raised on Harry Potter, Friends, and Disney Channel Original movies. They also regularly quote Mean Girls like it came out last month.
Gen Z consume content at the speed of light. The concept of waiting a week for a new TV episode is alien, and if they can’t devour an entire season in one night (while doom scrolling) they’re just not interested.
With every generation comes new trends, ideas, and plenty of stereotypes. Millennials are often seen as the burnt-out older siblings, with Gen Z appearing as the chaotic yet effortlessly cool younger ones. But are these two really all that different?
While they might bicker over emojis and jeans, at the end of the day, they’re both just navigating the same chaos in slightly different ways. Skinny jeans or baggy cargos, colour-coordinated Insta grids or chaotic dumps—there’s room for all of it. Both iconic in their own ways? We think so.
Loved our guide on Gen Z characteristic vs millennial traits and looking for more fun insights? Just head over to the thortful blog! There you can read our tongue-in-cheek guides on all the different types of friends and the different types of travellers out there!
