However, as we move through 2026, Gen Z is officially moving on. From “Karen” to “Jessica”The most significant shift in the post-Karen landscape is the rise of the “Jessica.” While the original “Karen” stereotype targeted Baby Boomers and older Gen Xers with asymmetric bobs, “Jessica” is aimed squarely at Millennials. In the eyes of Gen Z, a “Jessica” represents a younger, more “modern” form of entitlement. It’s the ultimate Gen Z dismissive—reducing a heated confrontation to a glitch in a social simulation. By shifting to names like “Jessica” or terms like “NPC,” Gen Z is seeking to restore precision to social critique.

Source: The Guardian January 12, 2026 06:12 UTC