Gen Z is something else: pushing boundaries, innovative, and just refuses to be boring. But let’s be real… some things just don’t age that well. Some of today’s “this is so me” trends are tomorrow’s version of “Delete that from the internet right now.” Each generation has that one thing they thought was iconic, at least until they see their photos and have to whisper, “My God, what the heck was I thinking?” Here are 7 trends of Gen Z that may make the whole generation cringe in 10 years. Some of these may sting – a little too hard.
Oversharing Your Personal Life on TikTok
Gen Z loves being transparent, and sometimes a bit too much! It’s really everything from our deepest regrets down to the thoughts we have in the shower. It’s all fun and cute until you’re 10 years in the future, applying for a job, and HR finds the video titled “Why I Hate Everyone Before 9 AM.” Future Gen Z might regret making their whole personality into content that the internet won’t let them forget.
The ‘Stan’ Era That Got a Little Too Extreme
Gen Z means well, even when they go wildly overboard. Yes, passion is great – it’s beautiful and also horrifying – but must we defend celebrities like we’ve sworn into some sort of royal service? Give it ten years, and you’ll look back and think, “Why was I putting my mental health at risk over defending someone who didn’t even know I existed?” Passion ages well. But obsessive comment wars? Not so much.
Taking It Too Far With AI Until Everything Felt… the Same
Yes, AI is fun and useful, but Gen Z is really going to regret it when they look back on their essays, captions, dating app bios, and half their personality written via AI. You’re going to be so sad in ten years about how you lost your voice to the filters and templates that made you sound like some sarcastic, aesthetic-loving clone.
The “Phone Eats First” Lifestyle
Gen Z quite literally can’t touch a plate before five angles, two videos, and a “wait, don’t touch it” moment. Their future selves will be looking back and wondering exactly why they let their sandwich get cold for an aesthetic photo. Not every meal had to be some sort of cinematic masterpiece, you know? In ten years, they may actually want to eat their food, rather than style it like some spread in a food magazine.
Social Media Diagnosis Roulette
ADHD? Autism? Anxiety? Burnout? TikTok’s turned it into this fun little quiz! It is good that people are informed, but give it ten years, and Gen Z will be looking back on casually diagnosing themselves with five disorders because of some 15-second video. They probably are going to freeze, thinking, “Um, wait… did I actually say… seven things wrong with me, just because a meme was relatable?”
The Two-Week Micro-Trend Wardrobe
They shop like trends are going to expire tomorrow, and the truth is, they kind of really are! Their wardrobe has now become a museum of clothes they have literally worn once, or just bought for TikTok, basically the same thing. In 10 years, they will open up a dusty storage box to find a pile of mesh tops and weirdly specific “core” outfits. They will realize (and regret) that they spent half of their salary on outfits. And for what exactly?
Filming Every Emotion as if it Were a Documentary
Gen Z took what used to be personal breakdowns and made them public. Crying selfies, post-breakup Tik-Toks, and all those emotional dumps with some filtered soundtrack – the list just goes on. In ten years, it is going to be cringy to see your younger self crying on camera because somebody didn’t text them back – can you imagine? Therapy is great, but not every meltdown needs to be public or in a reel. Future you will want to delete that, but the internet won’t let you forget.
15 Things Gen X Did in the Past That Would Get Gen Z Cancelled Today
Gen X did things that just won’t cut it in today’s “online forever” climate. If Gen Z attempted even half of this, they’d get roasted, ratioed, and hashtag-cancelled before the TikTok even finished loading.
15 Things Gen X Did in the Past That Would Get Gen Z Cancelled Today