Ten "Things" 18 Year Olds Are Aware Of That Boomers Have Little Knowledge Of
Trying to understand the differences between someone my age (late year boomer) and our 18 year old son.
1. Discord Communities
More than just a gaming chat app, Discord is a hub for friend groups, interest-based communities, and even school study sessions.
2. Finstas and Private Stories
They often curate multiple social media identities — one public, one for close friends — and know how to game the algorithms and privacy settings.
3. Digital Fashion & Virtual Avatars
They understand spending money on outfits for Bitmoji, Fortnite skins, or Roblox characters as a form of identity expression.
4. Meme Subcultures
They fluently interpret ironic, layered memes from places like Reddit or TikTok that can leave older generations totally confused.
5. AI-Generated Content Tools
They’re exploring AI art, deepfakes, and tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney not for work — but for fun, schoolwork, or social media content.
6. Cancel Culture Dynamics
They’re hyper-aware of what’s socially acceptable to say online, how reputations are built or destroyed, and what topics are considered controversial.
7. TikTok Trends and "Core" Aesthetics
They can rattle off trends like “cottagecore,” “goblincore,” or “clean girl aesthetic” — micro-movements born and bred on TikTok.
8. The Economy of Influencers
They understand parasocial relationships, creator monetization models (Patreon, brand deals, affiliate links), and why YouTubers can be millionaires.
9. Mental Health Vocabulary
They casually discuss trauma, triggers, gaslighting, and self-diagnosis in ways older generations may see as overused or unfamiliar.
10. Climate Anxiety & Doomer Humor
They share jokes and serious concerns about environmental collapse, with a blend of apathy and activism that’s hard for Boomers to decode.
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