Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What Oversharing Looks Like
BearFotos | Shutterstock What counts as oversharing often depends on who you’re talking to. Sometimes, we share too much or overstep unspoken boundaries. Other times, being more open can help people trust us.
Where we draw the line has a lot to do with our priorities and the stigmas we grew up with. That helps explain why Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and boomers can have such different ideas about what oversharing looks like. From conversations about mental health to sharing personal details online, what feels normal to one generation can feel a little too personal to another.
What counts as oversharing, according to the different generations:
Gen X and boomers may see certain personal topics as oversharing.
Some Gen Xers and baby boomers grew up hearing that personal struggles should stay private. Those expectations can make conversations about mental health feel uncomfortable or too personal.
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Many still carry around those stigmas today, struggling to empathize with and understand young peers who bring mental health into a lot of conversations, whether that’s at work, in public, or at home. The same is true for all kinds of once-taboo topics, whether it’s political beliefs, money, or family issues.
Gen Zers challenge the stigma, talking about going no-contact with parents and asking for mental health accommodations at work. Older adults who prefer to keep those matters private may see these conversations as too personal.
Millennials are more open about personal topics but still draw some lines.
As most generational trends show, each younger generation brings a change in values. That can mean challenging old stigmas and deciding for themselves which personal topics they’re comfortable discussing.
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Millennials often have different ideas about what oversharing looks like, because they occupy an interesting middle ground between older generations and their Gen Z peers. They’ve largely found their place online and become more comfortable sharing their lives on social media. However, they do sometimes still struggle with stigma around money and mental health like their parents.
Gen Z is often comfortable sharing details other generations consider too personal
Raised entirely online with the buffers of anonymity and a screen, it’s not surprising that Gen Z rarely believes they’re oversharing. They’re used to sharing everything online and actively destigmatizing topics like mental health that their parents still struggle with today.
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In fact, their excessive self-disclosure online may now be a problem, especially for Gen Zers who struggle with small talk in person yet actively share personal details across the internet.
From speaking about politics and religion on a first date to opening up about their mental health with a boss at work, they’re not afraid to be open about once-taboo topics. In fact, many of these conversations shape how they feel about people and the relationships they’re interested in pursuing.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies, focusing on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human-interest stories.
