There's no easy way to break it to you, millennial dudes. Gen Z currently categorizes you as "older men."
![Elderly man sits by a window, resting his head on his hand, looking thoughtful and contemplative. A pair of glasses and a beverage sit on the table before him](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/17/asset/e2986390430e/sub-buzz-750-1718732619-1.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
But don't worry, old farts, there is a silver lining: Gen Z women still want to date you. However, they are now noticing there seems to be a common theme with your communication style that they are STRUGGLING with. It is how you TEXT:
![A smartphone screen shows a message reading "Cool" with options to Reply, Copy, and Translate](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/18/asset/e2986390430e/sub-buzz-829-1718734106-15.png?crop=918%3A624%3B0%2C794&downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
Which I guess should be rephrased to your "lack of text."
![A text message conversation is shown with a response "Ok" and options above it for reactions, including thumbs up, thumbs down, and more](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/18/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-829-1718734089-7.jpg?crop=1917:2104;0,0)
In fact, some of you millennial men defer to texting one singular emoji as an acceptable form of communication instead of words:
![User's message says: "You lucky got 'Ok' mine only gives'" a thumbs up emoji](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-1088-1718738365-6.jpg)
So Gen Z'ers are coming forward in solidarity to spread awareness (likely in hopes you'll change your texting ways):
![Oh my GOD YES. The 'ok' or 'Lol' GETS ME. He's 33 ?"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-1092-1718738354-1.jpg?crop=3000:372;0,0)
Because the vague — and sometimes very business-like exchanges — are leaving hundreds of thousands of women utterly confused:
!["Had a 35 year old tell me it was 'great to connect' and we should 'stay in touch' after a date"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/7dfaaa6a3f10/sub-buzz-600-1718738344-10.jpg)
But thanks to TikTok, these women are finally finding solace in realizing it's not just them:
!["Me trying to decipher a 37 year old's texts right now.... So it's not just me???" with a laughing emoji](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/e2986390430e/sub-buzz-1085-1718738335-3.jpg)
It's a universal discovery that warrants attention:
![A comment saying, "Okay so we're all experiencing this" with a smiling face with the sweat emoji](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-1088-1718738326-1.jpg)
Especially because some relationships are ending due to this type of communication style:
![Another person says, "We broke up because of this with a crying emoji. I started getting insecure he didn’t like me but it was just the age gap"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a1f45b798a7a/sub-buzz-456-1718739888-1.jpg)
Nearly all of the millennial men dating texts being shared by Gen Z'ers include two-word sentences with little context to full-blown grammatically correct (but still vague) sentences:
![Text message conversation where a man says, "Hi. I had a good time with you last night. Have a good day" and the recipient responds, "Thanks, good day sir?"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/18/asset/e65ab3eb0d1a/sub-buzz-518-1718736765-1.jpg?crop=1385:2874;0,119)
These "older men texts" have truly left the Gen Z ladies exhausted (and likely many millennial ones, too):
![Instagram comment: "Dude it’s painful! Tragic! Confusing! Lonely at the same time"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-1077-1718738313-4.jpg?crop=3000:521;0,0)
The messages leave women overthinking things when they shouldn't have to BECAUSE OF YOU:
![One person commented, "The lack of emojis and exclamation got me overthinking" with a laughing emoji](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/7dfaaa6a3f10/sub-buzz-600-1718738281-8.jpg?crop=3000:619;0,0)
Especially since the type of confusion these texts create is unnecessary:
!["NOOOOO LITERALLYYYYY!!!! I thought I was over thinking?? Like bae do you not love me?"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-1121-1718738698-1.jpg?crop=3000:508;0,162)
These women want you to know that using periods when exclamation points are warranted can make them think you're angry...
!["NO EMOTION BEHIND THEM WHATSOEVER JUST STRAIGHT TO THE POINT and don’t forget the ..... after the message sometimes"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/8b8e16153074/sub-buzz-608-1718738293-2.jpg)
So, some type of emotion to avoid wrong text interpretation is always preferred:
![A person says, "He texts normally exactly how I text when I'm annoyed"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/455171ca05a1/sub-buzz-419-1718739001-2.jpg)
Oh, and the ellipses. They don't like them:
![](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/e575d1facb6e/sub-buzz-598-1718738304-6.jpg)
All that being said — even though some of you may be texting with one finger — Gen Z women are still willing to overlook it and date you:
![YUP!! And he's probably typing it with one finger too ??](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/7dfaaa6a3f10/sub-buzz-592-1718738265-7.jpg)
Despite already knowing how text exchanges with you may go:
!["I have never had an original experience"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/a2708ed91562/sub-buzz-1081-1718738143-1.jpg?crop=3000:464;0,0)
So, if you're a millennial man reading this and these texts look acceptable, you are the problem.
!["I realized I was old when I didn’t see an issue"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/e4c9f0f9a14a/sub-buzz-1081-1718738127-1.jpg?crop=3000:406;0,0)
Please fix it.
!["Seem entirely normal. I'm 40"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/1cddda6a692c/sub-buzz-418-1718739250-1.jpg?crop=2999:636;0,0)
Drop your wild — okay, maybe vague and boring — text exchanges dating "older men" (aka millennial men) in the comments!!!
![A woman with long hair in a plaid shirt gesturing towards herself with a caption that reads, "Oh, so I'm the problem?" from SNL](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-06/18/19/asset/8b8e16153074/sub-buzz-592-1718738078-2.png)
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