A millennial man has been hailed online after sharing why he thinks Generation Z has “no identity” that’s individual to them.
Alexander Duncan IV posted a video to TikTok (@adivunsolicited) last week explaining why he believes that Gen Z’s “entire identity is stolen from millennials.” Whether it’s the ’90s fashion that’s made a surprise comeback or the slang terms Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) using nowadays, Duncan, 39, says none of it is original.
Duncan, from Los Angeles, told Newsweek that Gen Z “lack individuality” because they copy so much from millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996), and they’re heavily influenced by the internet.
“I think growing up being influenced and inundated by the Internet means that every trend on TikTok becomes their identity, from language, to fashion, even to make up,” he said.
Among his examples, Duncan highlights the return of baggy jeans, brands including Juicy Couture, Von Dutch, and even some of the language that is now referred to as “TikTok lingo,” which he recalls using back in his teenage years.
While it’s not uncommon for generations to replicate those who came before them (after all, millennials seem to love 70s fashion), Duncan believes that Gen Z doesn’t appreciate the millennials who set the trends they’re now following.
In his view, Gen Z “hate on millennials” and think they’re cringey or out of touch.
“I don’t think they actually know they’re completely inspired and influenced by the first digital generation, which is us. When we were growing up, we didn’t care what Gen X (people born between 1965 and 1980) or the boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) were doing,” Duncan said. “Decades always repeat themselves, but we understood where the fashion and aesthetic came from. We knew the references, but we didn’t want to mimic them and talk negatively about them. Whereas I believe Gen Z think they’re original.”
Not everyone agrees with Duncan’s perspective however, as Damian Rollison, director of market insights at marketing company SOCi, believes that Gen Z does in fact have its own identity. He suggests that, while they borrow some elements from millennials, they “reinterpret these influences” through their own lens.
“Gen Z has carved out a distinct identity, particularly through its relationship with technology, social platforms, and values, which is unique to their generation. Their distinct behaviors, particularly in leveraging social platforms for discovery and decision-making, signify a generation with its own identity,” Rollison told Newsweek.
There are no doubt parallels between those born in the ’90s and those who were born in the ’00s, but Rollison suggests that the typical hallmarks of Gen Z include visual content, authenticity, and social proof.
@adivunsolicited / TikTok
TikTok Users React
After sharing his thoughts on TikTok, the video has amassed over 75,600 views and more than 13,000 likes at the time of writing. Duncan has been amazed by the online response, telling Newsweek that plenty of millennials with the same frustrations reached out to say how thankful they were that he “spoke up” on this matter.
In just a matter of days, the TikTok video has sparked a debate about the Gen Z identity, leading to more than 1,200 comments at the time of writing.
One TikTok user wrote: “The truth is also in the music, all the Gen Z artist are sampling songs we as millennials grew up on.”
Another user commented: “No, because why is Ge Z fashion just late 90s-early 00s millennial fashion?”
A third wrote: “This is so SPOT ON. Why has it taken so long for someone to clock it.”
Another user posted: “I don’t understand the battle between the two generations at all. I don’t ever remember caring about any generation except mine.”
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