10 Things Millennials Do That No One Else Understands

The millennial generation is unlike any other. Born between roughly 1981 and 1996, they're sometimes known as Generation Y or Echo Boomers, and numerous unique qualities define this generation. While it may not be true of every millennial, there are some things many millennials do that no one else understands.

With the youngest millennials being nearly 30 and the oldest being in their early 40s, not all millennials are currently in the same phase of life. However, people in the millennial generation stand out from those in other generations, especially when it comes to how they spend their time and money.

Millennials are certainly not like their parents, who are mainly from the baby boomer generation. Millennials have stayed home longer after turning 18, waited longer to get married and have kids, and even returned home more frequently after leaving the nest.

While some have criticized millennials for their spending habits, like how much they're willing to spend on avocado toast, millennials spend their money on what's important to them. They might be known for how much time they spend on social media or their phones, but they also spend a lot of time socializing and living life to the fullest.

To determine what millennials do that no one else understands, we reviewed several publications including BuzzFeed, Business Insider, and the Huffington Post. We also reviewed comments on Reddit threads about millennials. Here are 11 things that millennials do that make them unique. (After this article, check out the most popular celebrities among millennials.)

Remember when social media was mainly pictures of what people were eating? Millennials were the first to start posting their meals on social media. Even though some of their first Instagram pictures may have been low-quality, people still love seeing pictures and videos of food online. Some millennials have even turned this practice into successful social media businesses and food blogs.

GIFs are a fun way to express how you're feeling on social media or in a text message. Emoji are commonly used by different generations, but millennials are known for their GIF game. No one can find the perfect GIF faster than a millennial and they can even have entire conversations in a group chat using only GIFs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone had to stay home whether they enjoyed it or not. However, staying home isn't a new concept for millennials. Of course, millennials do like to have their social time, but they can also appreciate the beauty of spending the night in with family or friends. There are few things more relaxing to a millennial than curling up on the couch with a favorite show or movie.

It's a common trend among millennials to get excited about canceled plans. They won't necessarily cancel plans for no reason but when someone else cancels the plans, it's something to celebrate. Even if they did want to go to that event or see that friend when they initially made the plans, they usually feel a bit different when the day arrives.

Some of the older generations may frown upon what millennials choose to spend their money on. However, it's common for millennials to spend money on experiences rather than material items. Only 52% of millennials own a home compared to 70% of Gen X and 78% of baby boomers. Not only is it challenging for millennials to buy a house, but they also put more value in traveling or going out with friends than owning material items.

Growing up during the rise of social media left a lasting impact on millennials. During the early days of social media, millennials learned they have a voice they can use. While some of the former generations were quieter about controversial issues, many millennials have loud opinions, especially online, and aren't afraid to share what's on their minds.

Gen Z does spend more time on social media on average than millennials, but millennials are close behind. On average, millennials spend 2.25 hours per day on social media while Gen Zers spend an average of 3 hours a day on social media. Both these numbers are significant compared to baby boomers who spend an average of an hour a day.

Mainly due to the rise of the internet and social media, there are way more opportunities for millennials to make money on the side or start their own businesses. They're not just using social media to connect with their friends, they're also using social media to add to their cash flow and grow online empires.

Millennials are less likely to get a full-time job and only focus on building skills there. Many millennials work less traditional jobs and for the ones who do have full-time, 9 to 5 jobs, they often have side hustles as well. Millennials enjoy learning new things and constantly adding to their skill set.

It may not seem practical to some, but millennials are more keen on spending time and money traveling than on material things. Research shows that compared to other generations, millennials travel the most. On average, millennials travel 35 days per year while baby boomers on average travel 27 days per year. (Don't miss the most popular all-time TV shows among millennials.)