These generational disputes and divides are nothing new.
Each generation is brought up with different cultural norms and will have conflicting world views based on alternate contexts. Younger people are statistically more likely to be left-leaning, accepting of diversity, and progressive in general. Your grandad is probably more likely to jump on the ‘Make America Great Again’ bandwagon than you are, for example.
But what makes this roasting particularly funny is that millennials usually pride themselves on being apathetic and cynical, and often believe they are uniquely ‘woke’ as a generation. To see even younger people making fun of stereotypical behaviours that were very common place during social media’s infancy is downright hilarious. Every single person on Facebook in 2012 was sharing ‘what kind of potato are you?’ quizzes and posting 90s baby memes. It happened. We have to accept it.
The self-deprecating responses from many have been equally as on point. Some have pointed out that millennials have been mocking themselves for years and don’t really take themselves all too seriously anyway, even offering up words of encouragement.
Boomer style outrage is less of a thing this time round, though that doesn’t mean that everyone is happy with the jokes. A few have expressed resentment toward millennials somehow winding up with both boomers and Gen Z hating on them. And, yes, both age groups have used avocados as a punchline.
We should expect more of these kind of jokes in the next few months and even years. Gen Z are continuing to grow in size as a key demographic on social media apps such as TikTok and YouTube, which means it’s safe to assume that millennial memes will continue to increase exponentially. Gen X – those older than millennials but not quite at the boomer age – have gotten off lightly so far. Perhaps they’ll be next in the firing line?
Each generation has its own distinct identity, humour, and approach to life, and while all of us are different, there’s also a ton of things we can all agree on. Like how lockdown sucks and that house prices are too damn high. These type of jokes are all made in good fun, and shouldn’t be taken as seriously as the ‘OK boomer’ phenomena that’s been present in pop culture and politics for a while. Millennials haven’t dominated politics and mainstream debates for decades in the same way as boomers – this one’s more about Harry Potter fandoms and drinking a bevy or two on a Friday. Which is fair game, really.
Plus, it’s only a matter of time before a younger generation comes along to show Gen Z that they’re just as embarrassing and ridiculous as the rest of us. For now I’ll take the memes, and enjoy the fun side of it all. Anybody for some avocado toast?
2
energy
0 comments
