ADVERTISEMENT

Turning 30 is the point at which people are expected to "figure it all out." And indeed, many of those who say goodbye to their 20s begin a new chapter in their lives by getting engaged, pregnant, or tired of everyone around them.

The big 3-0 is often built up to be the biggest celebration after our "coming of age" 18ths. A time to get ambitious. A time to achieve. But while important career changes, 401(k)s, and the inability to party past midnight (not to mention the burning matter of "settling down") might sound anxiety-inducing, in reality, our 30s aren't something to be afraid of. They're when things start to get good.

But to get the full picture of what happens during this decade, let's look at the Instagram account Thirty AF. This millennial heaven shares funny memes, relatable tweets, and all kinds of content that perfectly capture the highs and lows during this period. So continue scrolling and check out some of its most popular posts!

#2

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
ryandeschanel avatar
Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He used "You are a nerd" as an excuse to break up with her? Wow... He clearly had self-worth issues, assuming it meant he was not good enough for her.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The account is run by two pals, Chloe Jankowitz, 35, and Peter West, 34. "We've been good friends since day one of our freshmen year at Emerson College in Boston, MA," the guys told Bored Panda. "Since graduating in 2009, we've always lived far apart, in different states or sometimes in different countries."

"We have a very similar sense of humor and a way we've kept in touch is through sharing memes and videos with each other. In 2018, we decided to start Thirty AF as a fun way to share these jokes with a wider group of friends. We never really thought it would ever grow into anything more than a fun hobby, but eventually, it really started picking up and we decided to put more of our focus into figuring out what our brand was and finding creative new ways to engage our quickly growing following through reposted content and regular features that we created ourselves. We both have backgrounds in marketing and media, and found that our combined skills helped us create something that stood out from other meme accounts and build a fun and engaged community of 30 somethings."

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
v_sjoberg avatar
Veronica Sjöberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never answer if I don't know who's calling. The decent ones send a text after saying who they are and/or what it is about. I wish all people could do that instead of keep calling several times.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

At the moment, Chloe and Peter have a whopping 1.6-million following and this huge fan army also has a few notable names, like singer Demi Lovato and actor Channing Tatum.

"When life changed dramatically for everyone in March 2020 and we all found ourselves spending a lot more time at home and a lot more time with our phones, we put even more energy into building Thirty AF. We grew by over 1 million followers in a single year, and it is now a full-time job for both of us," the duo said.

The project has also expanded to TikTok and recently got its first spinoff — a food account, called Hungry AF. "We run an online shop and release a yearly Nostalgia Box that is a fun mix of products from nostalgic brands like Dunkaroos and the Lisa Frank nail wraps from Orly, and also fun products featuring nostalgic references. Our 2021 box sold out in under 24 hours! We're also working on some very exciting things for 2022 including a touring pop-up event and a TV game show - we can't share a lot of info on that yet, but it is insanely exciting and something we never thought would happen!"

#6

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
sonja-szabrotska avatar
Sonja
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I shouldn' have laughed..but I did.. I feel your pain..

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
modevonport avatar
Widdershins66
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🤣🤣🤣 I'm putting on my footwear before attempting to put on my legings, twice!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Naturally, all of this effort demands a lot of time and energy. "The way we manage Thirty AF has changed a lot over the years. Much of the content that we post is submitted by creators."

"We love meeting creators and comedians who are new to Instagram and helping drive traffic to their pages; we have networked with a ton of incredibly talented creators over the years and share their content a lot. We keep a close eye on meme trends and will often share roundups of the funniest memes and tweets related to trending topics (the latest being the 'According to the CDC' meme trend). We're also part of a lot of online groups, particularly for millennials and different nostalgia groups, and a lot of content comes from there. We also create a lot of original content mostly for our stories and TikTok," Chloe and Peter explained.

ADVERTISEMENT

For the stories, the account has a daily feature. "Followers apply to be featured as our daily single looking for love. We share their photo and info about them and encourage other followers to DM them. This has been going on for almost two years and a few engagements have come from it so far!"

There's also the semi-regular Small Business Saturday feature where Chloe and Peter share the businesses they love, as well as holiday gift guides. "We have a lot of friends who are business owners and have so much respect for millennials who have decided to reject the corporate hustle and create their own businesses, so helping support people like that, especially businesses run by women and BIPOC is super important to us."

#13

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
anvime avatar
Burs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While also teaching them that it is fine to not having children. Which is amazing. Modern childfree people suffer a lot of hate but we at least have more options. But Previous generations were brainwashed to think that they needed to have kids.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"We also do regular story poll features like our Bop or Flop feature where followers decide if a song is a bop or a flop. When songs score over 65% bop, they are added to our Bop or Flop playlist on Spotify that has almost 40k followers," the two of them added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their latest story feature is Now That's What I Call Music brackets where followers rank albums from one of the Now That's What I Call Music. This gig takes Chloe and Peter an entire week and at the end of it, they announce what is the biggest bop. "People (including the two of us!) get so into it. We are starting our NOW 7 bracket next week, we're both rooting for Survivor by Destiny's Child to be the winner... But we'll see. Britney and NSYNC do seem to win a lot! We're going to bracket Now 1-10 and then do an all-stars round where the winning tracks face off against each other. It's really fun!"

Thirty AF's content touches on a lot of different themes but some of the most recurring ones are "self-deprecating humor that millennials relate to, commentary on issues facing millennials such as salaries ... not having the ability to own a home, some tongue in cheek 'okay boomer' humor (love you mom and dad!), finding relatable humor in issues like anxiety and depression, etc."

ADVERTISEMENT

But the biggest hits are nostalgic posts for the 90s and early 2000s. "The past few years have been really weird and stressful for everyone, and looking back on the comfort of these things that we all bonded over as kids has provided a lot of comfort and connection during these turbulent times," Chloe and Peter said.

#19

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
micheleviney49 avatar
Michele Viney
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was trying to remember the name of a song recently. All I knew for definite was that "Mountain" and "Sea" were in the lyrics. It took a bit of searching (yes on Google) to find it. FYI it was "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"We really do try to read every message we get and reply when we can, and one of my favorite types of messages is a 'PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who remembers [insert obscure TV/music/product/game reference from the 90s]' type of message and this always gives us ideas for posts and features. So much of the 90s feels like a bizarre fever dream, and being able to connect with other people in an 'OMG I remember that too!' moment is such a fun and, not to sound cheesy, wholesome way to connect," the team behind Thirty AF added.

"There is so much that is driving everyone apart right now and put effort into focusing on our differences, nostalgia is something that can, for a minute at least, make us focus on the things that brought us together as kids. And that has been a main and growing theme of Thirty AF and something we're excited to keep sharing!"

#21

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
brendan-roberts82 avatar
Brendan Roberts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait what? Women can be happy and feel fulfilled by having a successful career?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
jodiflatt avatar
Walking On Sunshine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah why don't we have good hackers that go in and erase peoples mortgages and student loans like undercover brother?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
nadia_monteira avatar
Nadia Monteira
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You mean we American want healthcare. Europe has healthcare (of course dental could be improved). We would like people to not live on the street. Family with kids to be able to feed them and pay school meals and also less violence

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ryandeschanel avatar
Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boomers took everything, ruined everything, then blamed everyone else.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
v_sjoberg avatar
Veronica Sjöberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom always said "be quiet until they go away" if someone showed up without notice. I do the same with my kids, lol. Even if it's someone I know I want to be prepared to socialize. And if it's someone I don't know its creepy. It makes sense to not just open your door to anyone when it's so easy to call/text/email beforehand.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
olape avatar
Ola Pe
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’d love to have such meeting. The jobs don’t need to be shitty

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
brendan-roberts82 avatar
Brendan Roberts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The older I get, the more I rely on professionals to do anything and everything for me. No more hanging my own photo frames.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
sabrinambowen avatar
Sabrina Bowen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, this is sorta genius. I could have saved myself and my realtor a lot of time had I known one house we wanted to see had 6ft ceilings, another had shelf paper glued to the "newly finished floors," and a third had a basement floor on an angle making most of it unusable despite being listed as "finished" and "spacious."

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
brendan-roberts82 avatar
Brendan Roberts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd trust my kid to do the booby traps, but there's no way he'd buy groceries or do the laundry.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
v_sjoberg avatar
Veronica Sjöberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But that's the only perks you have. Eating what you want. Or drink soda or eat candy on weekdays (but in secret if you have kids).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
liddlecatpaws avatar
Jo Johannsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you imagine the decompression alarm just went off, you're putting on your spacesuit, get to the helmet and are trying to stuff your three-foot-long tress up under your helmet before your oxygen runs out....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#53

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
raven_sheridan14 avatar
Raven Sheridan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The photo is dated December 7th 2019. I think this dog knows what 2020 will bring and is getting his existential crisis in early.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#56

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
nataliekelsey avatar
Natalie Kelsey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why compare yourself to anyone else? There's always someone above and someone below. I am just glad I'm better than past me and hoping future me is learning something from current me's mistakes

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#58

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

#59

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
nataliekelsey avatar
Natalie Kelsey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amen, sister. I am with you, in my bed, in my PJs, reading Bored Panda and enjoying my life.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathrynhatfield avatar
KatHat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Y'know, apropos nothing in particular, it's common for tiresome know-it-alls to pretend they're "playing devil's advocate" when really they're just assholes who like the sound of their own voice and never listen to anyone else. For some reason that comment seems to belong here.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
olape avatar
Ola Pe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s really is a sign of responsibility and sanity. My kids are teenagers and I Am deeply worried about their future on our planet

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#63

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ryandeschanel avatar
Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? You mean they don't do it by choice? Oh, what a surprising nonsense! /s

View more commentsArrow down menu
#64

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
nicolaroberts avatar
Nicola Roberts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My New Year's resolution was to become a paperless household. ie to stop hoarding paper (documents) and to get online billing where possible. Today I noted my income remains pretty much the same as 2013. Of course I knew this but theres nothing like a piece of black and white paper to bring home the truth.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#65

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
chi-weishen avatar
chi-wei shen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The male equivalent of a thornback is a bachelor, and if they got a bit of grey hair they are called a silver fox.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#66

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
nataliekelsey avatar
Natalie Kelsey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was the weirdo and they're still like, so.... sorry I wasn't very nice to you in school but this is my chance for redemption! I can totally help you be rich AND a stay at home mom, like me! Like, sorry, Rachelle, I don't need you to ruin my life twice but thanks anyway

View more commentsArrow down menu
#68

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
naesil avatar
Naesil
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know there is filth on the internet now, but "back in the day" it was more uncensored, be a kid and in one moment you are reading and looking up something wholesome and cool, next post is decapitation video or someone nailing their testicles to a board.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#69

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
mstohr-z avatar
Mtownmick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and a bunch of you will have great health insurance when you are healthy and sucky health insurance when you actually go to use it, but hey we have more billionaires than anyone else.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this only works on those "bootstrap boomers" who mistook having a working government and safety net for "starting with nothing."

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#74

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathmorgan avatar
kath morgan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I enjoyed the wide leg jeans moment. My friend once accidentally trapped a pigeon under hers.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#77

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
emily271 avatar
Em
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Prawn cocktail, with avocado - reserved for dinner parties ONLY!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#80

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
sonja-szabrotska avatar
Sonja
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. And remember how annoying it was to hear "you grew up so much!" from older family friends and relatives? Now you are doing the exact same thing to your younger relatives and kids of your friends. Exact.Same.Thing.You.Hated.As.A.Child.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#81

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
naesil avatar
Naesil
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then you could get this magical phone that showed what number was calling and because you remembered every god damn number you could tell who it was before picking up

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#89

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
nataliekelsey avatar
Natalie Kelsey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well one is in college and one works at the local grocery store and one works at Chipotle during the day and at a pierogi shop at night. They all live in my house and none of them drive. 😆

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#93

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
ps421 avatar
Guy MacGregor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bored panda made a full article on this.. Apogee of recycling... https://www.boredpanda.com/recruiter-schedules-job-interview-fired-programmer-same-employer-live-tweeting/

View more commentsArrow down menu
#94

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
vanburensupernova44 avatar
Buren
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mental impact yes. Improve intelligence no. Faith to humanity no.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#95

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
nataliekelsey avatar
Natalie Kelsey
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clubbing in your 40's: punching your pillow with a closed fist until it's in a position that *might* not break your neck before morning

View more commentsArrow down menu
#97

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
revieweruk01 avatar
Reviewer UK01
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to print out the documents I was emailed and mail them to a mail processing centre where they'll be scanned in and sent to the people who will work on them as digital copies, but you must print and mail them. Yup, the government.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#98

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf , twitter.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
km_trew avatar
ChimeraBubbles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's because hitting the same milestones as earlier generations hasn't been something we've all been able to achieve. I'm in my late 30s. I own my own business, have a car, a house, and a partner but still feel like a teenager because I've only hit those milestones in the past 4 years. Things still don't feel stable though. And I've been lucky in part because I'm an older millennial.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#99

Funny-I-Am-Thirty-Jokes

iamthirtyaf Report

Add photo comments
POST
See Also on Bored Panda