Every generation has its defining trends and cultural quirks. Boomers were known for tie-dye shirts and terms like “groovy” and “far out.” Gen X embraced grunge fashion and slang like “rad” and “psych!” Millennials wore trucker hats and Livestrong bracelets and used terms like “YOLO” and “bae.”
Gen Z is no exception. Today’s younger generation has its own set of beauty standards, slang, and social media habits. But while many of these trends might stand the test of time, others could become tomorrow’s equivalent of disco fashion, tribal tattoos, and emo hairstyles.
This discussion came up in a Reddit thread months ago when someone asked, “What Gen Z social trends do you think will age poorly?” Responses flooded in, which we’ve compiled into this list.
#21
"you don't owe anyone anything" hyper independence and self-centeredness.
6points
#22
"i'm just a girl" "girl math" "girl dinner" "feminine intuition" and all that trad adjacent sthuff at makes me want to vomit..
6points
#23
Looks-maxing: Steroids, GLP-1 won’t be offset by the moisturizer and weightlifting routines they have going.
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6points
#24
I know some very sweet, thoughtful, and kind gen Z kids. But I also have seen more anger, bile, and hate from gen Z than I've seen from older generations in a long while. We all used to be pretty awful to one another, but it felt like we started moving in the right direction. Now it's perfectly fine to be an ignorant little brat again, especially online where no one can break your nose for saying something racist, sexist, or something mean to a fat person.
I'd like to believe that won't age well because I'm pretty tired of it.
I'd like to believe that won't age well because I'm pretty tired of it.
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6points
#25
Overlabeling. I feel a chunk of Gen Z is going to grow up and regret being so judgemental and in their heads about everything.
That disaffected "its not that deep" vibe will also age poorly as people grow up and start having things happen to them which are, in fact, that deep.
That disaffected "its not that deep" vibe will also age poorly as people grow up and start having things happen to them which are, in fact, that deep.
6points
#26
The need to use their cameras on everything.
r/blunderyears will be huuuuuuge by then.
r/blunderyears will be huuuuuuge by then.
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6points
#27
The way they think a minor inconvenience is an attack on them. I don’t want to generalize but I have experienced this in the workplace more than once with different people. Like yeah they pay us to do things we don’t like. Do the work or wonder why you’re going to be stuck in 10 years. Money doesn’t grow on trees.
6points
#28
Their obsession with looking youthful and commenting on how old or young everyone looks all the time. an incredibly exhausting personality trait.
6points
#29
Hating or lacking respect for the opposite gender. People will look back on modern gender politics and realize how pointless and destructive it was for everyone.
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6points
#32
I hoping the concept of selfie and influencer content will age poorly.
Too many people holding phones walking around giving their unsolicited opinions. As well as just revealing way too much personal information about themselves on the internet to literal strangers.
Too many people holding phones walking around giving their unsolicited opinions. As well as just revealing way too much personal information about themselves on the internet to literal strangers.
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5points
#33
Not valuing a social life, or dating. Its important in order to live a balanced life.
4points
#34
one thing I think is sad that I see about GenZ is the crippling self-consciousness. they get a lot of flak for being haters and always having something nasty to say about other generations, but people aren't like that if they're happy with their own lives. It looks like they have a lot less fun because they're so self-conscious about everything.
also they're so prudish. I always think they're older than they are because it's a trend to dress like an eldery librarian spinster.
also they're so prudish. I always think they're older than they are because it's a trend to dress like an eldery librarian spinster.
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4points
#35
Saying that men and women should never talk to each other. Forever alone culture. I think these will get old and have massive regret. We alrrady are seeing a ton.of 40 year old firdt babies i think it will just get worse.
4points
#36
The prudishness and becoming more conservative than the previous generations.
I really really hope Gen Alpha doesn’t follow this trend.
I really really hope Gen Alpha doesn’t follow this trend.
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4points
#37
Being absolute d-bags out in public just to post on social media for a few more “likes”. I bet employers won’t hire kids in the future as A.I. recruiting tools scour the web & all social media history w/ facial recognition software to identify candidates. Mooning a fellow passenger going down the interstate back in 2026? Unemployed.
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4points
#38
All the anti-intellectualism rhetoric.
Once people realize hating vaccines, not trusting scientists and not seeing the importance of education isn’t going to get them far they’ll wake up to nothing.
Once people realize hating vaccines, not trusting scientists and not seeing the importance of education isn’t going to get them far they’ll wake up to nothing.
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4points
#39
Uptalk (i.e., using a rising tone for everything like it is a question or for emphasis mid-sentence.) It sounds juvenile.
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4points
#40
Making close friends with people that you only know online while alienating people close to you in real life.
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4points