Why Everyone Hates Millennials: The Social Media Generation War

“TikTok has become a core way for Gen Z to express its own ethos, aesthetic, and attitudes, sometimes resulting in outright hostility toward millennials and boomers (though rarely Gen Xers, forever the forgotten middle child). Millennials, especially, are frequently criticized on the app for their perceived immaturity and whining, their predilection for Harry Potter and BuzzFeed, and their overall corniness.”

Can you identify a generation through their social media platform of choice? An observant article from The Walrus explored what Gen Zers usage of TikTok might reveal about their attitudes toward other generations, and Millennials in particular. As the article notes, “while the term millennial is typically used with derision, to signify a supposedly spoiled generation more interested in five-dollar lattes than in home ownership, and used only begrudgingly by millennials themselves, Gen Zers seem proud of their label.”

Generational rifts offer a unique perspective into why certain groups of people see the world in very different ways. They point us toward the insight that much of how we each see the world depends on when we grew up. It's hard for anyone to understand a generation that we're not part of. Social media, often blamed for these divisions, might also offer part of the solution. In other words, if you want to understand Gen Zers, TikTok is as good a place to start as any.