The generations around the turn of the millennium have witnessed many changes in various areas of life and have been significantly shaped by them. New technology, like smartphones, has greatly influenced people’s daily lives. MyMMO tech author Jan Hartmayer understands this conflict very well. Although he is, on paper, a GenZ, he feels like a millennial nonetheless.
According to my birth year, there should definitely be a box checked for GenZ affiliation on my ID. Nevertheless, it feels wrong for me to identify with this generation. It’s as if I feel much more connected to another group.
Maybe that’s why I find this generational bashing absolutely ridiculous. It always sounds like the ones against the others
and that, despite the fact that there are many people who share views and traits – even though they belong to different generations.
Because when I take a closer look at the characteristics of both, I quickly realize that as a GenZ, I possess a lot more clichés and traits of Millennials. For example, I came into contact with the internet, PC-hardware, and a smartphone relatively late in my teenage years.
That’s why I would probably consider myself more of a millennial now, even though it doesn’t make sense in terms of age. But is that really the case?
A time without the internet and smartphones
The following clichés of millennials apply to me:
- I came into contact with the internet and a smartphone late and can still remember a time without both. Especially gaming was completely different back then.
- In my job, I prefer security and stability and would love to stay with the same employer for my entire life.
- I know and still own various outdated devices such as VHS tapes, Gameboy, and an MP3 player.
Similarly, some stereotypes of Generation Z do not apply to me:
- GenZers place more value on work-life balance than I do myself. While I would like it if my job offers this option, I do not demand it. I prefer a job that I enjoy 100 percent and that I can do every day.
- Unlike many of my peers, I spend little time on social media and place little value on it. It is simply not important enough to me to post a new photo of my food on Instagram or to update a new status on WhatsApp.
- I rarely change jobs and only look for new positions when I have to. Otherwise, I prefer to stay with my current employer.
Important information: Clichés and stereotypes must be approached with caution, as they are often very strong and unfair generalizations and have no significance for the individual.
Millennials and GenZers are similar
But I think there is still a certain overlap, and I am firmly convinced that Generation Z and Millennials have more in common than most would admit.
For example, I believe that the stereotype of the lazy new generations is an absolute myth and that both groups just bring different approaches. A younger GenZ member might know more about the use of social media than an older millennial.
Additionally, the line between generations is arbitrary, but realistically rather flows. When I look at my circle of friends or my colleagues, I see: Especially those born at the end of one generation or the beginning of the other often exhibit traits from both sides
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Which generation do you belong to and which do you feel more connected to? What traits apply to you? Do you think the clichés apply to the respective generations? Let us know in the comments.
In conclusion, I can only say that although I am a GenZ according to my birth certificate, I would identify more as a millennial. Nevertheless, I do not automatically think that other age groups are dumb and rarely consider stereotypes to be meaningful. In contrast, a younger group tends to fear the future regarding upcoming changes: Generation Z is most worried about AI: Unfortunately, they also use artificial intelligence most frequently
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