Gen Zers and millennials may technically be neighbors on the generational timeline, but culturally, they sometimes feel a universe apart.

From communication styles to news consumption to how they show up on social media, the two generations often approach the world in very different ways. And those differences can sometimes cause friction.

We asked millennials to share the Gen Z behaviors that stress them out. Of course, habits vary from person to person, but certain patterns and tendencies still emerge.

“I am a big fan of normalizing mental health conversations and people having access to the help they need. In fact, I love that about Gen Z. But with access comes misusing and misinterpreting words, like ‘triggered’ or ‘narcissism,’ as well as a rise in self-diagnosis. As a psychiatrist, I regularly see people who think they have a condition because TikTok told them they do. I appreciate that they show up in my office and ask about it to learn more, because not everyone does that step, and that TikTok even informed them about a diagnosis that resonated to begin with ― but it can sometimes lead to hard conversations when I say, for example, that not all trouble concentrating is ADHD.” ― Dr. Jessi Gold, psychiatrist and chief wellness officer at the University of Tennessee System

“I have noticed that Gen Z struggles with basic in-person social skills and communication. They are digital natives and can struggle to translate those skills to in-person interactions. The term ‘Gen Z stare’ exists for a reason; it’s real.” ― political and news commentator Millennial Mia

“Three words: choreography in public. Doing a full routine on the top of the Empire State Building? Airport acrobats? All of it makes me feel so uncomfortable! Also, has anyone else noticed an uptick in people crossing the street whenever they feel like it? I see people fully look up at a green light, then look me in the eyes sitting in my car and wave and then walk. Is there no fear?” ― Balsham

“I think that Gen Z can turn even a stressful or traumatic moment into a funny post on TikTok and IG. Us Millennials do that sometimes as well, but Gen Z has a very specific way about it. Their house could be burning down and they’d post on social media ‘first house fire kinda nervous.’ They are so unserious and I find that very entertaining, impressive and stressful all at once haha. (I’m obligated as a millennial to end every sentence with a haha or lol).” ― lifestyle content creator Shaunie Begley

“Social media makes so many of my patients feel like they have to tell their entire life story to be considered ‘authentic’ and to get likes and follows. Sometimes that means they trauma dump publicly, instead of trying it out with a therapist and psychiatrist to process it privately first. Telling your story isn’t as easy as just saying it out loud, especially when public confessions often lead others to tell you their stories, too, or you open yourself up to criticism and trolls. I love that they want to talk about all of these hard topics and break down the stigma of the silence of them, but I just wish they just shared when they were emotionally ready, and not because they thought they were supposed to!” ― Gold

“They love to speak about subjects that they have zero experience in and their information comes from entertainment. They quote TikToks and Reels not understanding that most of the information is clickbait and not backed in facts or actual research.” ― Greivy, lifestyle influencer

“Growing up, my generation got called ‘lazy’ a lot by the generations before us. Now, even the generation after us seems to enjoy actively critiquing millennials, especially online! All through TikTok I’ve learned that, according to Gen Z, we aren’t parting our hair ‘correctly,’ we rely too heavily on the French tuck and most recently I saw a video calling out the ‘millennial smile.’ I’ll be completely honest, I did start parting my hair down the middle a few years ago in response! But as I get older, I care less and simply find it amusing. The amount of time Gen Z seems to spend deconstructing millennial characteristics feels... unique.” ― Nausheen Farishta, travel expert and author

“My biggest pet peeve is when Gen Zers criticize or make fun of our ‘dated’ clothing. I don’t remember our generation doing that to Gen Xers when we were in our 20s. And I’m not talking about looking back and laughing at the styles in old photos ― I’m talking about real-time comments in 2026, like pointing out when someone wears ankle socks or still rocks skinny jeans. Honestly, maybe we just don’t want to spend $100 on new jeans every year to keep up with the latest trends. For a generation that claims to care about sustainability, secondhand shopping and reducing clothing waste, it feels a bit hypocritical to judge others for not constantly updating their wardrobes.” ― Nadine Sykora, travel vlogger

“One thing I genuinely admire about Gen Z is how intentional they are about work-life balance. Millennials definitely started pushing that conversation, but Gen Z is actually enforcing it. They’re clear about their boundaries, what they want, and what they’re not willing to compromise on ― and I respect that. On the flip side, if I’m being honest, that same confidence can sometimes come across as entitlement. There can be an expectation of flexibility, growth or reward without always putting in the same level of time or grind that previous generations were used to. It’s a shift ― and not always a bad one ― but definitely noticeable. Overall, though, I think Gen Z is challenging norms in a way that’s forcing everyone to rethink how we work, date, and show up in the world ― which is pretty powerful.” ― Erin C., content creator

“They can be easily be discouraged and distracted when working on anything that’s not their personal interest! Blaming others for their lack of skill and experience instead of seeing it as a learning curve. And they also tend to take everything personal ‘why bother if it doesn’t serve me’ mentality it drives me crazy!” ― Greivy

“You’d think what stresses me out most is the recycling of 2000s fashion ― low-rise jeans, capris, platform sandals ― but it’s actually the casual posting with minimal curation. As millennials, perfectionism, overthinking and curation are basically in our DNA. The 2010 era was all about aesthetically cohesive feeds and matching Ludwig filters. I’ve gotten better at posting on the fly, but I genuinely admire Gen Z’s ability to post whatever they want, whenever they want.” ― Kate Steinberg, social media personality

“As Gen Z establishes itself in the workplace, there’s a learning curve on all sides. As the first generation of ‘digital natives’, the way Gen Z communicates (or doesn’t) at work could prove not only annoying but also confusing to their colleagues. I’ve been brought in to lead workshops for Gen Z in corporate settings on what effective communication and executive presence look like on the road to success, while we also explore ways to stay true to themselves along the way.” ― Farishta

“Their communication style can be a bit confusing for millennials. They use completely different emojis, memes and online shorthand, which sometimes makes it hard to understand what they mean right away.” ― Valerie Melnikova, comedian

“I’d say their relationship with social media is… a lot. And that’s coming from someone in the influencer space. There’s a level of constant immersion that can feel overwhelming at times ― like, log off and go touch grass for a second.” ― Erin C.

“I feel a deep sadness for them that they have no idea what life was like before social media when you just lived life for yourself and the moment and didn’t need to have a discourse with friends about what to post or who is watching your stories. I don’t think a single Gen Zer has ever been to a beach without posting a picture of their knees. Never has a glass of rosé been drank that wasn’t photographed. An Aperol spritz in Italy has never gone unstoried. There’s something about this need for attention that is deeply stressful” ― Balsham

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.