23:33 / 27.07.2025

Generation clash: why do Zoomers choose series about depression, while Millennials favor cartoons?

Zoomers (those born after the 2000s) and millennials (those born in the late 1980s to mid-1990s), who have been in indirect rivalry, differ not only in fashion style or gadget choices, but also in the media content they consume, writes Peopletalk.

Zoomers and series about depression
According to psychologist Anna Glushneva, Zoomers are a generation that grew up with open conversations about mental health. Topics like depression, anxiety, and identity searching are natural and relevant for them. That’s why they are interested in series like “Euphoria,” “Sex Education,” “The Leftovers” — these projects realistically depict the complex emotional states, inner struggles, and the search for one’s place in society that young people experience.

For zoomers, a series is:
– A tool for understanding and self-awareness;
– A feeling of mass representation and empathy;
– A way of psychological normalization.

“Due to lack of life experience, Zoomers often try to understand their emotions through media. For them, real drama is life itself, and series close to that feel engaging and important,” says the psychologist.

Millennials and love for cartoons
Millennials, on the other hand, often gravitate toward cartoons filled with childhood memories. Among their favorite projects are classic and modern animations like “Nu, pogodi!”, “Prostokvashino”, “Little Kuzya the House Elf”, “Shrek”, “The Lion King”. For Millennials, cartoons are a way to temporarily escape real-life complexities and find comfort in childhood memories.

Cartoons for millennials are:
– A source of nostalgia and memories;
– Escapism — a temporary retreat from life’s problems;
– A chance to return to the carefree feelings of childhood.

“They grew up in an environment where psychological issues weren’t widely discussed. That’s why their ways of relieving emotional pressure are different — they seek more joy, humor, and peace,” says Anna Glushneva.