Over the years, I’ve always admired Millennials and aspired to be like them. I scoured through Pinterest posts of “Millennial life” and my backpack in fourth grade has all of the mustaches. All I wanted was to have a bond with others my age as they had.

Now that I’m older, my generation has finally achieved this. We are connected by our ability to accept and to learn to all get along. But now that we have this, I’ve officially lost my respect for some of the Millennial generation. 

And the reason why is definitely not because I think how they dress is ugly, but the way they are treating the newer generation. 

Over the past few months, Gen Z Tik Tokers have experimented with new styles and given advice to each other on how to “glo up” or look better in general.  The trouble with this is when Millennials began to receive the same advice, they took it as a personal offense instead of constructive criticism. 

From Buzzfeed Articles about what Millennials will never find cool about Gen Z to rude Tik Toks trying to “fight back,” Millennials are raging. I, however,  think it’s of vital importance to remember these are adults making fun of children. 

The generational divide may be in 1997, but the cutoff date for Gen Z is 2010. Children still in elementary school are considered part of Gen Z. These grown adults are continually telling kids how much they hate them and everything they do. As said by a popular Tik Tok sound for Millennials, “Gen Z you can suck it… Since you’ve had Kermit on your underwear… My cold dead *ss, you hear…” 

Besides the fact half of Gen Z are young children, the other half doesn’t care what you do. The whole “thing” about Gen Z is that we are pretty accepting. 

Millennials shouldn’t need to feel validated by children, especially since half of what they say isn’t true. 

The adults are claiming Gen Z has canceled skinny jeans and side parts among other things when Gen Z is still wearing these things (although the 90s grunge and soft girl aesthetics are particularly popular at the moment). It’s really just about what you like to wear.  

I see kids wearing these styles (skinny jeans and side parts) every day at school, and it’s still cute. We are just adding to our closet, but Millennials continue to “roast” us when half of what they say about Gen Z still isn’t true. 

My advice? Gen Z, keep doing what you’re doing. Your styles are unique and rockin’, so just keep living your youth out while you can.

Millennials, take a look at your birth certificates and realize you are now an adult, so, yes, teens may look a little different now. But instead of attacking them, try to encourage these kids to explore their style. Gen Z was only offering advice they share with each other, not trying to “cancel” how you express yourselves.