Millennials are reasserting themselves against online criticism in what has been dubbed a “millennial-sance.”
Online, it became cool to hate millennials: whether it be their long pauses before starting a video or their infatuation with skinny jeans or clubbing in business-casual attire. Now, 29-44 year olds are snapping back and embracing their generational pride.
A now-viral clip from Bustle’s One Nightstand captured host Charlotte Owen chatting with influencer and author Tinx about her book choices and her latest novel Hotter in the Hamptons. At one point, a character in the novel declares: “Gen Z can’t get me here,” sparking a spirited conversation about the relationship between millennials and their younger counterparts. The clip garnered 57,034 likes and 1.1 million views.
In the conversation, Tinx described how she felt millennials had been unfairly written off.
She joked that her generation had “remade everything” from suitcases to toothpaste, claimed that millennials are the only ones who can reliably “edit a PDF,” and argued that if something needs doing: “give it to a millennial.”
She also pushed back on stereotypes about aging, suggesting millennials “didn’t even get hot until we were 30,” and argued that their resilience—forged through economic crashes, global crises, and the rise of social media—has made them creative and resourceful.
She admitted she once pandered to Gen Z but concluded: “I’m over them. Honestly, I’m proud to be a millennial. If you think I’m cringe go for it.”
Newsweek spoke to the podcast’s host, Charlotte Owen, and generational experts about the new trend. We reached out to Tinx for comment via email.
A Generational Pushback
Bustle’s Editor-in-Chief Charlotte Owen said she believes millennials are embracing their cultural legacy rather than apologizing for it.
“I think Gen Z is realizing that millennials aren’t just the generation before them. We’re the generation that built a lot of the cultural foundations they live on. We were the first to demand better design, better branding, and more values-driven businesses. Online, you’re seeing Gen Z revisiting millennial fashion, music, and even our memes with fresh eyes—and instead of mocking them, they’re embracing them. This is a two-way street; millennials love to embrace much of what Gen Z has made better, too,” Owen explained.
According to Owen, there was a period when it felt like Gen Z was constantly mocking millennials, and for a while, millennials “were taking it on the chin.” But attitudes have shifted. Millennials are now less apologetic, she suggested, reclaiming the value of their earnestness.
“I talk a lot with my fellow editors about ‘climbing cringe mountain.’ It’s not cringe to care about something and try! Millennials did that first and we do it best. We have liberated ourselves from the shame of Gen Z calling us embarrassing,” she said.
For Owen, the viral comments highlight a hunger for rewriting the millennial narrative. Many are tired of seeing their generation framed as burnt-out or irrelevant. Nostalgia also plays a role: she noted how people remember the early internet fondly, when uploading unedited Facebook albums after a night out was normal and looking perfect wasn’t a requirement.
“In hindsight we had something very special,” she reflected.
Millennials knowing how to “edit a PDF” resonated because it reflects a broader cultural dynamic.
Owen argued that while Gen Z are digital natives, millennials often surprise themselves by finding blind spots in younger generations’ skills.
“For years, millennials were the butt of the joke from Gen X to those coming up behind us. Think avocado toast, participation trophies, and side parts. But I think we’ve reached a point where we’re proud to own our identity,” she said.
She pointed out that millennials grew up in a less filtered culture: posting blurry nightclub photos, living through Y2K tabloid cruelty, and largely existing offline.
By contrast, Gen Z faces the pressure of a social internet where anyone can be famous, provided they conform to certain beauty standards.
“I can only imagine that for young people that feels like an extraordinary pressure. One of the many gifts of turning 30 is stopping caring about being perfect, so I think beauty or anti-aging treatments feel more fun and low stakes for millennials. We did our time in the trenches, we like ourselves much more than we did at 21, and now we just want to ‘glow up’ into our best selves,” she said.
Cultural Resilience
Emily Austen, a PR professional, weighed in with Newsweek about the “millennial-sance.”
“Millennials occupy a curious position in the generational story. We came of age in a time of optimism—promised opportunity, ownership, and a voice—only to face the financial crisis, precarious housing markets, and the realities of burnout culture,” she said.
According to Austen, Gen Z has often been framed as the bold disruptors and playful reassertion is a way of reminding people that millennials “did shape modern consumer culture.”
She also highlighted nostalgia’s role: the celebration of millennial aesthetics like “indie-sleek luggage” or “millennial pink” reflects a collective need for reassurance and continuity.
David Robbins, a Gen Z behavioral expert media analyst at EduBirdie, told Newsweek that it’s natural for younger generations to define themselves against those who came before.
“Gen Z has been extremely vocal about defining themselves in contrast to millennials. That, in itself, is not surprising—younger generations tend to mark their territory and create distance. But Gen Z turned it into a cultural sport, with endless jabs at Millennial style, slang, humor, and habits. For millennials, this constant critique may start to feel less like harmless teasing. So, their pushback isn’t so much a result of insecurity as it is a defense of their legacy,” he said.
That dynamic also fuels trend cycles: Millennials championed minimalism and athleisure, while Gen Z revived Y2K maximalism.
The Audience Reaction
On Instagram, users eagerly joined the debate.
“Absolute preach, so proud,” wrote Jessica Maison.
Sierra Scott added: “We’ve literally experienced the world at all stages & it gave us more empathy, creativity & common sense. I love us—Where’s the bad in that?”
Another joked: “Gen Z is giving younger sibling who was an accident and thinks they’re the favorite child.”
Dr. Fizza Younis took a more somber view: “We were born during the worst time, no doubt. No wonder we are resilient. Though I don’t feel that’s something to be proud of.”
Meanwhile, Mei Kwok simply declared: “This is SOOOO on point.”
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