We often say things without even realizing how they can come across to others—especially when we are talking about younger generations, such as Gen Z. If you are a Boomer or a Millennial, certain comments or phrases that feel normal to you would not go over well if someone from Gen Z heard them. They are not messing around when it comes to social justice, equality, or mental health – so certain comments might strike them as dismissive, and others as downright offensive.
Here are 7 things you might be saying that offend Gen Z.
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“Back in My Day, We Worked Harder”
It is a comment that belittles the troubles that Gen Z face nowadays. They live in a world where the cost of living is greater, large student loans have to be paid back with more demanding interest rates and jobs are hard to get. They are hustling in their own way — it’s just not the world you and I might have grown up knowing.
“You’re Too Sensitive”
Gen Z takes feelings seriously and values things like mental health, emotional wellness, safe spaces for all. Today they want empathy, compassion & sensitivity — so calling them too sensitive is something they take offense to.
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“That’s Just the Way Things Are”
Gen Z wants to change things that they see as unjust—whether it be climate change, racial inequality or broader social justice causes based on their life experiences. If you say, “That’s just the way things are,” it feels like giving up on the future—or simply ignoring the need for change. They need to feel that they matter, and saying the above phrase would just crush their spirit.
“Why Do You Care So Much About Pronouns?”
For a lot of Gen Z, pronouns are just about respecting people in their identities. To treat this as something not so important can seem like ignoring an issue they care about. This is not about just language — but creating an environment where everyone feels visible and human.
“You are Wasting Time on Social Media”
You may feel like Gen Z are always glued to their devices. For them, social media has become an essential tool to connect with each other, learn about things they should care more or less about — think sustainability movements to racism conversations — as well as a good platform to keep up with the world around them. When you tell them they are “wasting time,” it can feel like you do not realize these platforms help them engage with key issues and communities.
“You’ll Grow Out of It”
On the flip-side, Gen Z is highly opinionated and confident with who they are. Saying things like, “You’ll grow out of it,” feels as though you are not taking their opinion seriously. No matter what their activism, identity or passions are, when they seek to be seen and understood, telling them it’s just a phase is incredibly invalidating.
“Real Jobs Don’t Work Like That”
Gen Z is looking to forge their own path, and that’s not in the traditional 9-to-5 office job genre. In this era of freelancing, remote work and the gig economy, they have a much less rigid concept of what constitutes “actual work.” They cherish the ability to be creative and have freedom — as well as the balance that many look for in their line of work, so hearing something like this feels very out-dated and unsupportive.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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