Published 14 October 2025
Key takeaways:
- With the world changing rapidly, 38% of Gen Zers believe they will be the last generation to grow up in a normal climate, 37% believe 9-to-5 jobs will disappear, and 30% insist home ownership will become impossible.
- 40% insist they’re living through the worst period in human history, with 35% blaming boomers for the issues in modern society.
- 60% of Gen Zers wish they were born to a different generation, with 46% envying millennials for growing up in a “normal” world.
- Despite their dissatisfaction, 85% of Gen Zers recognize the positive contribution their generation has made, having normalized mental health, fought for work-life balance, and championed inclusivity.
They roast boomers for hoarding all the wealth and mock millennials for their skin-tight jeans, but what does Gen Z really think of the generations before them?
EduBirdie surveyed 2,000 Gen Zers on their views of past generations, the state of the world, and whether they’re growing up at the right time in history. The results reveal that rather than disdain, most young people are secretly envious of those born before them.
Many things normal to millennials, let alone those before them, are alien to Gen Z. Ironing clothes? Obsolete, 30% say. Handwriting? A useless skill, according to 21%. And with AI offering instant translations around the clock, 24% say even learning languages is a waste of time.
But for all of technology’s perks, many Gen Zers insist it hasn’t done young people any favors.
In fact, they blame tech for many of the traits they dislike about themselves: 53% hate that they’re chronically online, 49% cringe at Gen Z’s oversharing on social media, and 42% worry the generation relies too heavily on artificial intelligence.
Gen Z is unconvinced that the world is changing for the better.
Some 38% believe they’ll be the last generation to grow old in a normal climate, while 30% fear home ownership is slipping out of reach, and, with political tensions rising, 25% worry the freedom to travel could soon be a distant memory.
Plagued by climate change, global unrest, and economic uncertainty, Gen Z finds itself longing for the good old days – with 40% convinced they’re living through the worst period in human history.
Despite growing up glued to their screens, many Gen Zers lament being the first generation of true digital natives, with 45% believing life was better before the internet, and another 41% somewhat convinced we would be better off offline.
Whose to blame for ruining the world? Boomers, according to 35% of Gen Zers, and that’s no surprise. While clashes over values, beliefs, and norms of different generations are as old as time, few have produced bad blood quite like Gen Z vs the baby boomers.
Gen z and other generations might not always be on the same page, but for the most part, it’s all love. In fact, 61% say they would date someone from an older generation, with 20% eyeing up Gen X and 10% even willing to give a boomer a shot.
Even though Gen Z and millennials are just a few years apart, 78% of the younger generation can’t help but eye millennials with envy. Some 46% feel jealous of their generational neighbors for growing up in a “normal” world, 39% for enjoying life without AI, and 32% for having a better shot at home ownership.
Millennial envy spills into the dating scene, too. Some 31% of Gen Zers say millennials have the healthiest love lives, commending them for mastering the art of offline flirting and knowing exactly when to call a therapist.
After watching boomers flaunt their wealth, Gen X cope with anything, and millennials embrace their unapologetic cringiness, 60% of Gen Zers admit they wish they were born in a different generation.
If they could pick from a list of generations? Some 26% would prefer to be millennials, 17% Gen Xers, and 12% boomers.
But Gen Alphas? Not so much.
Sure, houses might be overpriced, the planet might be struggling, and World War III might be just around the corner, but life isn’t soooo bad.
Past generations might hold all the wealth, but money can’t buy happiness. Gen Z knows it’s all about good health, strong relationships, and a sense of purpose, with 59% insisting they’re happier than past generations.
And they’ve got a lot of reasons to be happy with themselves. Gen Z has normalized conversations about mental health (46%), fought for better work-life balance (37%), championed inclusivity (36%), and freed us all from skinny jeans… Clearly, they’re making the world a better place.
After years of being told they’re inflexible, needy, and off-putting with their supposed “Gen Z stare”, many young workers have started to believe these harmful stereotypes themselves, with 31% insisting Gen Z is the most annoying generation in the office.
These stereotypes have real consequences, with 80% of Gen Zers feeling mistreated in the workplace. Some 38% insist they’ve been labeled lazy for refusing to work overtime, 29% say they’ve been passed over by hiring managers, and 28% feel their skills and ideas are undervalued and overlooked.
The good news? One day, it will be Gen Z’s time to lead – and you can bet they will challenge injustice and stand up for what’s right, with 48% insisting they will make far better managers than their millennial colleagues.
And they’re probably right. Gen Z might not be growing up in humanity’s greatest years, but they’re not a generation that rolls over and accepts defeat. They’re already reshaping the world for the better – and in 50 years, they’ll look back, feel proud (and probably complain about how lazy, difficult, and unruly young people have become).
