Why It’s Time to Stop Labeling Generations and Start Seeing People as Individuals

The whole world’s talking about Gen Z and Alpha Gen Z. Gen Alpha. Every other day, there’s another article or webinar telling us how different they are. “Gen Z craves purpose!” “They demand flexibility!” “They’re reshaping the world!” Meanwhile, Millennials (like me) are sitting here wondering when we stopped being the center of attention—and why we’re still getting blamed for avocado toast.

The truth is, while the fascination with new generations makes for great headlines, it’s worth asking: is this helping anyone? Or are we just creating new stereotypes to add to the pile?

This Isn’t a New Phenomenon When I started working as a Millennial, I heard it all the time: “You’re so different! Your generation is entitled, impatient, and addicted to screens.” Sound familiar? Every generation seems to get its moment in the spotlight—and not always in a flattering way.

Boomers were the “rebels.” Gen X? The “slackers.” Millennials? Apparently, we ruined industries, killed traditions, and did it all while taking selfies.

And now we have Gen Z, the “trailblazing digital natives”—or depending on who you ask, the “too demanding,” “impatient,” “lazy,” and “quiet quitters.” Gen Alpha? Well, they’re already being dubbed as “screen addicts” and “entitled future influencers,” even though most of them are still learning how to spell their own names.

But here’s the thing: none of these labels have aged well. They oversimplify millions of people and create stereotypes that don’t really fit.

What Do We Gain by Labeling Generations? A Millennial friend of mine recently shared how her organization is obsessively trying to become “Gen Z-friendly.” They rolled out workshops, videos, and initiatives specifically designed to attract Gen Z talent. But here’s the kicker: it made her feel invisible.

“Apparently, if I’m not hosting podcasts or using 37 emojis, I don’t matter anymore,” she said. And this isn’t an isolated case. When we focus too much on one group, we risk excluding others.

Labels don’t just box people in—they can shape how we treat them and how they see themselves. Instead of helping, they can unintentionally alienate entire groups. And that’s not progress—it’s just creating new divides.

Let’s Focus on People, Not Labels Here’s a thought: what if we stopped obsessing over generational playbooks? Instead of asking, “What does Gen Z want?” let’s ask, “What does this person need?”

Some things never go out of style—being kind, recognizing contributions, offering growth, and giving people autonomy. These aren’t generational trends. They’re human truths.

People don’t leave jobs because their manager didn’t know how to “connect with Millennials” or “understand Gen Z.” They leave because they didn’t feel valued. Let’s stop overthinking it and start seeing people for who they are, not the labels we put on them.

Have you ever felt boxed in by a generational label—or ignored because of one? Let’s break some stereotypes in the comments