Gen Z and Millennials are kindred spirits. While the world at large would like to pit the two generations against each other, there are now two generations that are more similar. And sure, Gen Z loves to rib their Millennial elders for our inability to film TikToks, our love of skinny jeans and our cringe view of the world; the tables have finally turned, as Gen Z is starting to romanticise being a simple hipster living in the year 2012.

And why shouldn’t they?

The early 2010s were pretty awesome. The world seemed like it was going in the right direction. Politics had yet to consume pop culture, and most people were, for the most part, still sane.

None of that is the case today. Politics has invaded every facet of life. Our phones have consumed us. The price of life is rapidly slipping away, and for once, Gen Z would like to imagine themselves going to a coffee shop to read without being made into a meme.

It was a better time, even if everyone was obsessed with Reddit and bacon. 

Apparently there is now a Gen Z TikTok trend where they are romanticizing being a millennial in 2012 pic.twitter.com/opmlVykPuA

— Circe (@vocalcry) December 7, 2025