As millennials grow older, they find themselves out of sync with the latest internet memes and slang, feeling like strangers in their familiar online spaces. Despite this shift, Max Read argues that the fundamental structure of the internet remains the same.

There’s a consensus that millennial culture, once popular, now feels outdated and cringeworthy. Trends like girl-bossing, quirky tattoos, Harry Potter references, and certain social media aesthetics have given way to newer, more youthful trends. This evolution is natural, much like changes in fashion and hairstyles over time.

However, the question arises: are millennials now too mature for the internet? According to Max Read’s piece in The New York Times, the internet landscape is now dominated by Gen Z. The internet culture of today, with its unfamiliar celebrities, slang, and content formats, can leave millennials feeling disconnected.

Despite these feelings of alienation, Read suggests that the underlying structure of the internet remains constant. While platforms like TikTok may appear novel, they function similarly to earlier social networks in terms of user interaction and advertising. People still engage in debates, create memes, and consume news, albeit with new jargon and fashion trends.

In essence, while the internet may seem unfamiliar to millennials, it’s still a familiar place at its core, albeit with some new quirks and trends to navigate. And that’s perfectly okay.