What Age 30 Looked Like For Gen X And Boomers Compared To Millennials

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Are millennials aging more slowly than Gen X and the baby boomers (or even Gen Z)? Some people seem to think so. A popular meme shows what 30 looked like in the 1980s compared to today. The meme features Jason Alexander, who was about 30 years old when Seinfeld started, and Timothée Chalamet, who is 28 years old in 2024. TikTok creator Chris Bautista provided even more pop culture references to support his claim that "millennials look fantastic for our age and you cannot tell us otherwise."

Chris is 37 and showed images of Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy at age 39, Jason Alexander as Seinfeld's George Costanza at age 31, and the cast of Cheers to make his point. He also showed a picture of the parents from 1991's Father of the Bride, who were supposed to be 45 years old.

@bautistud This needs to be said for millenials #millennialsoftiktok #genzvsmillenial #aging ♬ original sound - Chris Bautista

"These two are supposed to be 45 in Father of the Bride," Chris said on TikTok. "Like there's a world in which all of us, all three of us, went to the same elementary school."

@retro_vintageful #timotheechalamet #seinfeld #30s #memes #meme #funny #fyp #80skid #millennials ♬ Loving Me - Janine

Are millennials truly aging better than other generations? Some think the theory is true, and say it might be because of increased SPF use, water drinking habits, cosmetic procedures, a decline in smoking cigarettes, and even immaturity, depending on who you ask.

I think millennials are mostly aging well, besides trying our best to take care of ourselves, we’re a generation that likes to hold on to what made us happy as kids. We collectively decided the best way to be hopeful is to never let our inner child die.
— Vanessa Lux ➰ (@VanessaLux_) February 1, 2023

"Flintstone vitamins still in us slowly dissolving and making us age gradually haha," one person joked when commenting on Chris' TikTok.

Another said "it’s cause all millennials used the St Ives peach scrub exfoliating wash and we achieved eternal youth."

But some also noted that there are other factors involved. One person who works as a teacher said that despite being a millennial, they actually look older than they really are, probably because of stress.

Is the Jason Alexander and Timothée Chalamet meme really accurate? Below are some photos of celebrities in their 30s over the years to compare.