Gen Z Thinks You’re “Old” at 35

If you’re over 35, brace yourself: Gen Z might already consider you a dinosaur.

A new survey tackled the age-old question… literally… of when someone officially becomes “old.” The answer? It depends entirely on who you ask. For Gen Z, the cutoff comes alarmingly early: 22% of them say “old” starts at 35. That even includes a bold 3% who think you’re washed up at 27. Yes, 27.

Gen Z, born between the mid-to-late ’90s and early 2010s, is just now rounding the bend into adulthood. The oldest are only around 28, so it’s possible this opinion is less about wisdom and more about the shock of finding their first gray hair. Millennials, on the other hand… many of whom are in their 30s and 40s… are far more forgiving: just 15% believe 35 counts as “old.”

The survey didn’t ask Gen X or Boomers, but it’s safe to assume none of them would be caught calling 35 “elderly”… at least not with a straight face.

The survey also uncovered some deeper anxieties about aging among young adults:

• Fear of decline: 51% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennials say their top age-related worry is declining health.
• Second-biggest fear? Gen Z is haunted by the idea of not achieving enough. Millennials, meanwhile, are stressed about financial insecurity.
• Judgy vibes: Nearly half of Gen Z disapprove of people who still party in their 30s, while 49% of Millennials look sideways at 30-somethings who live with their parents.
• Peaked too soon? Around 30% of both groups feel like their best years are already behind them… though 73% say they’re still hopeful that the future holds better days.

The fame game also looms large: 63% of Gen Z and half of Millennials admit to comparing their lives to celebrities. And while nearly 4 in 10 Gen Z’ers have already let go of the dream of becoming famous, a third of Millennials say they think it’s too late to change careers.

Also: 9% of Gen Z think people stop having sex at 40. (Spoiler alert: they don’t.)

So, what age is “old”? Apparently, it’s not a number… it’s a vibe. And depending on your generation, that vibe kicks in anywhere from 27 to never.