Tue Dec 23 21:50:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
In an essay, Anna Silman reflects on the growing sense of obsolescence felt by millennials. She uses anecdotes about struggling to dress appropriately for Gen Z-dominated downtown bars, the aging of millennial icons, and the rise of “millennial cringe” online to illustrate how the generation is losing its cultural relevance. Silman argues that the internet, once a millennial haven, has become a hostile space where their habits and preferences are mocked by younger generations. The pandemic accelerated this shift, leaving millennials feeling like they exited a cultural cocoon to find a world redesigned by Gen Z.
News Article:
Millennials Grapple with Aging Out of Cool: “Millennial Cringe” Signals Generational Shift
New York, NY – Millennials are facing a stark reality: they’re no longer the trendsetters. Writer Anna Silman argues that 2025 marks the year millennials officially became “old,” citing the rise of “millennial cringe” and a cultural landscape increasingly dominated by Gen Z.
In a recent essay, Silman describes an experience where she and her friends, all stylish women in their 30s and 40s, realized their wardrobes were entirely unsuitable for a night out at trendy downtown bars. “Every young, hot girl dresses like Adam Sandler now,” Silman writes, lamenting the shift in style toward cargo shorts, oversized graphic tees, and wraparound sunglasses.
This sartorial realization is just one aspect of a broader trend. Millennial icons are entering middle age, their actions and interests no longer generating the same level of cultural buzz. Meanwhile, the internet, once a millennial stronghold, has become a battleground, with Gen Z mocking their habits and preferences under the umbrella term “millennial cringe.” This includes everything from ankle socks and overuse of the laugh-cry emoji to knowledge of Harry Potter houses.
Silman argues that the pandemic accelerated this generational shift. Millennials emerged from lockdown to find a world remade in Gen Z’s image, leaving them feeling culturally outdated. While millennials may still be physically youthful thanks to advancements in cosmetic procedures and fitness trends, their cultural capital is waning. As Gen Z continues to shape the online landscape and dictate what’s “cool,” millennials are left grappling with their newfound obsolescence.
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