Author shares how the 'signifiers of adulthood' have changed over the last five decades

Traditionally, adulthood was marked by financial independence, homeownership, and lasting relationships. But today’s youth face a different reality, and with that, the idea of "signifiers of adulthood" has shifted. The current generation views these milestones differently from boomers. Canadian author Leah Bobet—known as @leahbobet on X—shared a viral post on this topic, offering a fresh perspective on how adulthood is now defined.

In her 2019 post, Bobet highlighted the stark difference in what defines adulthood for younger versus older generations. In the past, adulthood meant having a stable job, owning a home, and getting married. But for today’s youth, those goals have become so out of reach that they’ve redefined adulthood entirely. "It's weird being part of a generation where the signifiers of adulthood - home ownership, stable job, etc. - got so unattainable we had to make our own signifiers," she wrote. And by this generation's signifiers, she meant internal accomplishments like "acting emotionally mature."

So, by this definition of adulthood, it's safe to say that today's youth are nailing adulthood. "And now very few of our elders actually qualify as adults to us," Bobet added. This perspective seemed refreshing and relevant to many on the platform. "Thank you for finally putting this creeping feeling I had into words," said @EmCBarnes. "And this is partially why I have gained the confidence I have and I'm less willing to accept judgments on my life, career and parenting from older people," remarked @J8Jemison. "People ask why I call people who are older than me a kid sometimes. It's because of things like that," added @Y2JaYT. 

Bobet's hot take from over five years ago captured the internet's attention once again when it was recently shared on Reddit by u/urine-monkey in a forum dedicated to ramblings about our older generations. "Boomers destroyed the illusion and exposed capitalism for the prison it is and, in the process, exposed themselves for being complicit with the exploitation," commented u/100BaphometerDash. "Yes. And now that I've grown through all my internal hard work, I have no adults to look up to. I've had so many teachers, adults, older ex-friends and my parents obviously, who all turned out to be immature," pointed out u/tehereoeweaewaey. "This literally made something click in my brain. As a college student in a liberal city going to art school, this is very much my everyday reality," chimed in u/Head-Sherbet-9675. 

Speaking of adulthood, a self-proclaimed anthropologist saying adulthood starts only at 30 hit the nail on its head for many. Self-proclaimed researcher, scientist and anthropologist Kayla (@kaaayysss) shared on TikTok that people in their 20s are not even adults yet - they're just "extended teenagers." Taking a jibe at how the maturity one needs for tackling adulthood arrives at only 30, Kayla suggested that people in their 20s must "enjoy their childhood" while they can. In fact, as per Kayla, even people in their 30s can be deemed as "young adults," and this struck a chord with many internet users.