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58 People Share The Gen Z Trends They Think Will Become The Next Cringe Throwback
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.
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#1
I kind of get this vibe from them that says "look at how much I don't care. Do you know I don't care? I reallly want you to know how much I don't care. Notice mmeeee"
Yeah that is going to age like raw miilk in the sun.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 20 hours ago
YEAH. Nonchalant people, IDGAFers and "fluent in sarcasm" people are utterly exhausting to deal with. You need them to care and take something seriously for ONCE in their life and they still respond in lame Rick & Morty quips.
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#2
Needing a label or diagnosis for every quirk.
Sarah Suelzle 19 hours ago
"If we know what's wrong with you, we can name it." -- Lucy Van Pelt
#3
In a very literal sense, the buccal fat removal trend. It ages even 20 somethings a good 20 years, time is not going to be kind.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 20 hours ago
And also ozempic. Like yeah, they ARE skinny, but they also look horribly unwell.
#4
This generation took a massive step back ideologically. I’ve worked with way too many young guys that hate women and voted for Trump. Instead of questioning authority they joined forces with the evil empire that past young generations would have completely rejected.
#5
Gen Z seem really mean about older people trends or hairstyles. They are overly bothered by what other people do.
I don't remember noticing or caring what older people did when I was young.
Also the performative "activism" for Tik Tok.
#6
Vaping, Botox and other cosmetic stuff far too young, and those weird tattoo trends where you look like a detention desk (and I like tattoos).
#7
All the photos and videos we've taken of absolute strangers and posted online without their permission. I hope we one day live in a world where that is an unthinkably WEIRD thing to do.
UnclePanda 16 hours ago
That cat left Pandora's bag before the train left the station while you closing the barn door after the horses got out. The notion is simply unsustainable when there are cameras everywhere.
#8
The trad wife trend. I used to volunteer at a womens shelter and like they're already talking about how there's going to be a massive rise in homeless women among gen z once they hit their late 30s.
#9
Using slang terms excessively, to the point they totally lose meaning. One that I see ALL the time is use of the term "lowkey". It's either a reflexive habit or maybe not wanting to commit to having full feelings about anything for fear of being judged. Example: "I lowkey wanted to take her to the concert and was excited that she texted me."
Self-diagnosing yourself with a disorder and then using it as an excuse for not engaging in everyday functional behavior. "I've been fired from 2 jobs over the last few months. My bosses told me I was spending too much time on my phone but they refuse to understand that I'm neurodivergent and can't help it."
On a similar note, catastrophizing almost everything. "I was traumatized from having to go in the grocery store." "I had an anxiety attack because my mom told me that a 23 year old should be in school or working."
And the BIG one that teachers talk about in the teachers' subreddits: teenagers and young adults who are practically illiterate. They don't read and can barely read, they can't write or spell, and their attention spans are about equal to a hyperactive squirrel.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 20 hours ago
I teach a lot of zoomers and luckily I can say it's not THAT bad. Like I've met my fair share of TikTok zombies but I'd say a lot of them are vibrant people with their own identity and interests. The notion that the ENTIRE generation consists of TikTok zombies is very much false.
#10
All the wasted time on doomscrolling and their inability to Read and Think.
#11
Vaping, once they start developing cancers never before seen by constantly huffing battery acid.
Also those laminated fuzzy caterpillar brows.
#12
Jumping on social media trends and making thousands of the exact same stupid dance and gimmick videos. If everyone is doing the same thing, nobody will be memorable. Having no original ideas is not something to be proud of.
#13
this might be nyc specific but intentionally wearing the most insane mismatched combination of vintage clothing in an effort to look like bella hadid (who also looked ridiculous).
think a peasant skirt with white socks, gorpy athletic sneakers, some ugly millenial fast fashion top from 2001 charlotte russe and oakley wraparound sport sunglasses. this is weirdly specific but a combination i was seeing constantly in brooklyn last summer.
#14
Thinking about some of the Gen Z traits that probably won’t age well to me would be the “I’m always right” mentality, calling people out instantly with zero nuance, acting like every thought needs to be public, getting super attached to micro labels, confusing internet norms with adult world norms (office siren look), the exhausted/ironic nihilism thing.
#15
"you don't owe anyone anything" hyper independence and self-centeredness.
Alex Meurissen 1 day ago
i HATE this. yes, you DO owe basic respect, kindness and consideration for the people around you, especially the ones you care about and love. And always, not only when its convenient for you or when it benefits you.
#16
I think Gen Z will look back and say that their era was stifling expressiveness and individuality.
I suspect the Gen Z trend when they hit their 30s and 40s will be a kind of anti-nonchalant revival. They'll talk about how society dimmed their shine, and how they've rediscovered themselves at 38.
This, along with getting over their prudish attitudes because they'll start having midlife crises and suddenly their hangups about age gap relationships will disappear.
#17
I'm not sure if this counts as generational per se, but as a teacher of younger folk the trend I'm most concerned about is how having any interest outside of social media is seen as cringe or embarrassing.
I remember certain pursuits being cool or uncool growing up, but in the classes I have been teaching lately, literally anything that isn't a social media trend gets derided, be it playing an instrument, dance, reading, painting... There seems to be less room for subculture and it seems that those most deeply affected by this are the ones actively policing it.
I know bullying isn't new, but we didn't use to have such a ubiquitous archetype such as has been thrust onto people by social media in its current iteration, and I wonder how these things will age.
Again, just my experience in one school, but something I've wondered about.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 20 hours ago
As I've mentioned above, I have the opposite experience. I teach a lot of kids with various interests, and a LOT of sporty kids. I've also met goths/punks/metalheads, so subcultures are also still alive.
#18
The top Gen Z “trends” that will age poorly:
- Status anxiety
- Taste conformity
- Performative identity
This isn’t generational. It’s what social life looks like when everyone is visible all the time.
#19
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.
#20
Anything social in the literal, social sense. They are too afraid of being "cringe" but at the same time always willing to stand there and record things instead of using their eyes and brain, so theyre missing out on life and incriminating each other at the same time.
They should be called the surveillance generation.
#21
Looks-maxing: Steroids, GLP-1 won’t be offset by the moisturizer and weightlifting routines they have going.
nottheactualphoto 1 day ago
Looks-maxing: spending large amounts of time and money to make yourself look repugnant. Why?
#22
Their obsession with looking youthful and commenting on how old or young everyone looks all the time. an incredibly exhausting personality trait.
Lee Gilliland 9 hours ago
That dues with ever generation. The Boomers were considered EXTREMELY vapid in the '60#. Really.
#23
Mental illness glorification is one for sure.
Therapy speak as if they really have had any life experinces.
Hate for age gap relationships
Heightism for men.....really not as common in past generations.
Lack of social skills.
NonBinaryBard 1 day ago
Even if you don't have any life experiences that were (for lack of a better word) traumatizing, therapy is a very healthy way to express your feelings in a non violent way
#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.
WhyamIhere? 7 hours ago
Yes, but in certain countries, like Australia, kids as young as 10 can be held accountable and therefore teens can for bullying online if the victim takes action. That happened at my school when a grade niner was bullying a teacher on Facebook, and he got charged for it
#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.
#26
Red Pill manosphere trad stuff. I think most young men( some women too) will grow outta it and look back and cringe at their younger selves.
#27
Attaching maxing to every word.
#28
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.
#29
"i'm just a girl" "girl math" "girl dinner" "feminine intuition" and all that trad adjacent sthuff at makes me want to vomit..
#30
The prudishness and becoming more conservative than the previous generations.
I really really hope Gen Alpha doesn’t follow this trend.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 17 hours ago
No, zoomers, the relationship of two consenting adults who have 3 years age difference isn't "grooming" or "PDF file". It's BARELY a "red flag".
#31
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.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 16 hours ago
How tf does that even work? "Sorry, teacher, MrMonsta said on TikTok that men and women should never talk to each other, so I can't answer your question."
#32
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.
#33
Uptalk (i.e., using a rising tone for everything like it is a question or for emphasis mid-sentence.) It sounds juvenile.
WhyamIhere? 7 hours ago
Are you talking about a diphthong? That's found in accents like the Australian, New Zealander, Valley Girl, some Southern US accents, etc. not unique to Gen Z
#34
Re-inventing human nature
Deciding words don’t have meanings
Discarding concepts like “context” and “intent”.
#35
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.
#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.
#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.
#39
Calling people unc and old because ageism always ages poorly if you’re blessed enough to age.
#40
I think the over-sensitivity to social issues, specifically in the absence of much critical thinking.
It's gotten to a lot points where the fundamental goals of a lot of minority causes is kind of buried under a lot of more superficial, performative virtue signaling (as much as I hate the use of that term) in lieu of more grounded advocacy.
I think people have internalized the most extreme reactions that they see, and replicate them without any insight or nuance - they just understand "this thing is absolutely this level bad, period."
A general example is how I've seen so many rude, awkward, or simply uncomfortable situations being labeled as actual crime.
The pendulum swinging that far ostracizes way more people from the cause who could otherwise contribute, and the social mindset panders to extreme minorities rather than benefitting the movement as a whole.
They're getting to be essentially the same as blind party voters on the other side who don't know why they vote that way except that its "normal" and "correct" in their camp.
#41
I think adding “-core” and “-coded” to the end of things is going to age like doggo.
#42
Making close friends with people that you only know online while alienating people close to you in real life.
#43
"It's not that deep" attitude.
Luke || Kira (he/she) 16 hours ago
I'd say that zoomers say "not that deep" about things that are deep and what they consider deep is not that deep.
#44
bringing back anorexia.
#45
Not valuing a social life, or dating. Its important in order to live a balanced life.
#46
Right wing "alpha male" BS. I see it as largely a phase for young Gen Z men triggered by covid and social isolation rather than a perminant trend towards conservatism and toxic nasculinity for the next generation. I mean, I was misled by the alt-right pipeline when I was a teen. (2018-2020, ages 16-18) A lot of young gen Z men who voted for Trump in 2024 will look back at their "chud phase" and utterly cringe.
WhyamIhere? 7 hours ago
You yourself are a Gen Z, OP. Gen Z is anyone between 1995-2010 roughly. You were born 2002, you are currently 24 years old, and you grew out of it. Trust the rest from 2002-2010 will too
#47
Not sure what to call it, but the premature adulting. I have noticed younger people focusing on career and money really early and while, at first glance, that seems like a good thing I think it causes a lot of unhealthy anxiety. It's like they're not allowed to be stupid and have fun anymore. Everything has to be done with purpose and a plan for the future. If it's not profitable it's not valuable.
I wonder if we're going to see worse effects of this later down the line, like an increase in burnout.
#48
Fuzzy pajama pants and hoodies in 95 degree heat.
nottheactualphoto 1 day ago
I've seen people walking around in calf-length puffer coats when it's T-shirt weather.
#50
Gen Z stare or having it be socially acceptable to just not interact with people.
WhyamIhere? 7 hours ago
I don't think this is just a Gen Z thing; I've had Millennials and Gen X do this to me. Not really any Gen Z-ers.
#51
Poorly?
Honestly the dating, people are starting to seeing and feeling the downsides to having such insane standards and thinking they are the center of the universe.
#52
This is a much more superficial one, but the excessive flash tattoos. Nothing against tattoos to be clear, it’s just that when you’ve got 20 plus flas tattoos and no big pieces it just makes you look like you were always too broke to afford a real piece.
#53
broccoli hair.
#54
Irony. I think Gen Alpha will genuinely love things whole heartedly and not feel socially forced to layer on irony. "I wore a suit to the minions movies cuz it was a funny ironic thing to do." is out and "I cheered after chicken jockey at the minecraft movie and it was so fun." is in.
#55
Pimple patches, silent screaming in palm, that gesture of clapping with their index finger and thumb.
OneWithRatsAndKefir 19 hours ago
Pimple patches can be a lifesaver if you’re a chronic picker of scabs, spots, and every little bump, to be fair. That little patch can remind picking fingers to stay away.
#57
The 2016 obsession. Most of them were NOT there to experience it and are just copying what millennials are saying.
#58
I really hope the romantasy trend goes away. It's impossible to find good fantasy with actual worldbuilding since there's so much slop.
What do you think ?
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 22 hours ago (edited)
Personally I love the irony of Gen Z. "Look how individual and unique I am; along with the millions of other people doing the same Thicktok challenges I do! You know, the ones who look, dress and think exactly like me. I'm so fire." Ugh. 🤢
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 22 hours ago (edited)
Personally I love the irony of Gen Z. "Look how individual and unique I am; along with the millions of other people doing the same Thicktok challenges I do! You know, the ones who look, dress and think exactly like me. I'm so fire." Ugh. 🤢
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