The Millennial generation has come into its own. Most people feel that this generation consists of individuals born between 1975 and 1995. That means they’re currently anywhere from 29 to 49.

This also means that many of them have entered middle age. Even the younger ones who haven’t quite reached that point yet can see it on the horizon.

You could argue that middle age looks different for Millennials than previous generations. We’ll examine that concept and talk about some of the notable differences.

They Have More Technology Than Previous Generations

You could say the Millennial generation in their middle age has more technology available to them than ever before. Innovation always drives tech forward. That’s true in every generation, but it seems as though new advancements in several areas have put Millennials in new territory when you look at the tech that surrounds them.

Look at the cars they drive. Previous generations did not have vehicles with touchscreens mounted on the dashboard beside the steering wheel. Should Millennials count that as a net positive? It’s hard to say.

Distracted driving injures about 424,000 people in the US yearly, and you can probably point to some Millennial drivers letting those touchscreens distract them. That’s ironic when you consider that vehicle manufacturers ostensibly added those screens to give drivers directions and to make their lives safer and more convenient.

Millennials have smartphones in their middle age. They have smart devices in their homes like Ring doorbells and Amazon Alexa. They have smart locks on their doors that no longer require keys and automated robots that vacuum their apartments.

It’s not to say that all Millennials embrace technology, but many do. It seems as though most individuals from this generation like the various tech advancements that continue to change all of our lives, though some look back fondly on a simpler time before things like personal computers were so prevalent.

They’re Living in the Age of AI

You might have some Millennials who embrace virtually all forms of technology and can’t wait for the next iPhone to come out. However, they’re also living with AI. Artificial intelligence becomes more advanced with each passing day, and not all Millennials view that favorably.

There’s a reality that some Millennials face in their middle age, even while other generations do as well. Some individuals from this generation have lost their jobs to AI. Others find themselves on shaky ground because of it.

If a company can have AI replace human workers for a fraction of the cost, they will probably do it. Many Millennials feel anxiety about this, even if they think they have a relatively stable job at the moment. The more advanced AI becomes, the more likely it will cost jobs across many different sectors. It is a worry that Millennials often discuss with each other.

Many Can’t Afford Homes

It’s also true that many Millennial adults can’t afford to buy their own homes anymore. By the time they reached middle age, many previous generations, including the Baby Boomer and Gen X adults who still have many living members, could afford to buy a house if they had a steady job.

They could usually find a relatively inexpensive home somewhere even if they worked at a job like a postal carrier, teacher, nurse, or at some other position where they were not making piles of money.

In short, the American dream of home ownership seemed more realistic for previous generations by the time many of them hit middle age. That’s not the case anymore. The prices of homes around the country have not risen at a rate equivalent to most current salaries.

Home prices have far outpaced many incomes, putting ownership entirely out of reach for most Millennials, except those who have found an exceedingly high-paying position.

That means many Millennials still live at home, even if they’re well into their 30s or 40s. Some countries, particularly in Asia, do that already. However, it’s only recently that in the United States, several generations living under one roof have achieved relative normalcy.

Many Aren’t Having Children

As many Millennials enter middle age, fewer have children than previous generations. Many studies have demonstrated this.

When you ask a Millennial generation about having kids, many of them will simply say they can’t afford it. Even if they marry or settle down with a partner, having kids, which previous generations saw as inevitable and logical, no longer feels that way.

Only Millennials who have extremely high-paying jobs might have kids these days unless they have them from an unplanned pregnancy. You also have many individuals who have reached the age where kids would seem normal, but they’re not interested, even if they have adequate income.

These Millennials don’t feel there’s any biological mandate to have kids, like previous generations. Instead, these adults would prefer to have a little disposable income rather than spending every penny to raise their progeny.

There’s no longer the societal stigma about not having children. The Millennials generation has helped to implement this new mindset.

They’re More Open with Their Feelings Than Previous Generations

Many Millennials think they’re more open with their feelings than previous generations as they enter middle age. If they have kids, the fathers do not mind telling their children they love them. They don’t mind crying in front of them.

The public talks about toxic masculinity now, and some Millennial adults actively shun it. They would prefer to break the cycle. They do not mind discussing their feelings or admitting they have them.

Millennial Generation Is Redefining Gender Roles and Paving the Way for Gen Z

Meanwhile, Millennials don’t embrace established gender roles as easily. Women work outside the home much more than in previous generations. Millennials will readily acknowledge the glass ceiling and discuss how women in the workforce can break through it.

With the Millennials looking so different from their predecessors during their middle age, you can’t help but wonder what Gen Z will look like a few years down the line.