A man has offered a warning to Generation Zers who dread the thought of one day becoming like millennials, saying they're in for a "rude awakening."
TikTok user Steven, who doesn't wish to disclose his full name, shared a video in response to a Gen Zer (people born between 1997 and 2012) saying he doesn't want to turn out like "cringy millennials" in the future. Steven, from Southern California, joked that he has "some bad news" as every generation goes through this struggle, and you simply can't avoid the inevitable.
The 36-year-old millennial told Newsweek that he once thought Generation X (people born between 1965 and 1980) were uncool and cringy, and he hated the idea of morphing into them. But now he's come to realize that "you can't change what's coming," and he has a newfound appreciation for the generation before his.
Right now, Gen Zers might hate the idea of being like millennials, but Steven warned them that it's absolutely going to happen one day. He also highlights that every generation has this same dread when they're young, so to any Gen Zers out there, he says: "you're not special."
They just need to make peace with it and accept fate now.
Steven said: "Young people are blissfully unaware of what life has in store for them. I think to some extent, it's because in our youth we see our elders as opposition to what we like and want in life.
"I think a lot of the Gen Z superiority comes from online validation and seeing themselves reflected in pop culture," he added.
There was a silver lining to his message however, as Steven also pointed out that Gen Z will only be considered cringy to the generations younger than them. The older generations simply won't care as they've learned the harsh realities of life by now.
Steven shared his thoughts in a TikTok video @layzboyntherecliner on January 6, and it's gone viral already. At the time of writing, the clip has amassed over 816,600 views and 84,300 likes on TikTok, as many people backed Steven's warning to Gen Z.
He told Newsweek that the reaction has been beyond anything he expected, as he certainly didn't think it would generate this much attention. But it's been interesting to hear from so many other millennials who agree with what he had to say.
"The reaction has been a bit overwhelming honestly, but overall people have shared my sentiments," Steven said. "Like I said in my video, your generation isn't special and you can't change what's going to happen—that's just vanity."
In just a matter of days, Steven's TikTok video has gained more than 6,500 comments. Many people praised his brutal honesty, while others shared their own perspective.
One comment reads: "They act like they're the first generation to experience youth."
Another person wrote: "Gen X here. We're never cringe. And if we are, we don't care."
While one TikTok user joked: "Millennials live rent free in every other generation's heads."
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