TikTok Confused by Debate Over Gen Z’s Viral Sock Rule

TikTok users engaged in a heated discussion over the popular “sock rule”following a Millennial’s sock selection being criticized by members of Gen Z.

Socks have recently gained attention on TikTok following Annaliese Todd’s viral video about Gen Z’s “sock rule.”In the video, which has amassed 2.7M views, a Millennial woman inquired about any potential exceptions to the rule to her Gen Z coworkers.

The woman in the video, being a Millennial, has always been accustomed to wearing ankle socks in order to avoid them showing above her boots or shoes. However, her Gen Z coworkers have a different perspective and believe that long socks are the norm for everyday wear, while ankle socks should only be worn during athletic activities.

Despite the Millennial woman’s choice to wear ankle socks with her ankle boots, her Gen Z coworkers were understanding and gave her a pass due to the low cut style of her boots.

@annaliese.todd #genz #eldermillenial #sockdebate #socktok ♬ original sound – Annaliese Todd

The viral TikTok sparked a debate among viewers, who shared their thoughts by commenting. One viewer, a Millennial, expressed that they could not tolerate their socks being visible. They recounted a past experience of attempting to leave the house with visible socks, which resulted in a mental breakdown.

“Another person recalled, “As a member of the Millennial generation, we frequently faced ridicule for wearing our socks too high, leading many of us to switch to ankle socks or roll them down instead.”

One individual also shared their surprise, mentioning that they still fold their socks in half to hide them, while another viewer commented, “To be honest, I consider myself lucky if my socks even match. This is overwhelming for me.”

There have been multiple instances of inter-generational discussions about socks on the internet. In November 2023, a TikToker sparked a debate by suggesting that they could distinguish between Millennials and Gen Z’ers based on their sock preferences. According to the TikToker, Gen Z tends to wear their socks pulled up while Millennials still opt for ankle socks.

The online world saw yet another heated argument between different generations in October 2023, when a man posted a video on TikTok recounting how a member of Gen Z had pointed out that his dance moves made him appear older than the Gen Z’er.

The age gap between Millennials and Gen Z’ers can range from 15 to 31 years, making it highly probable that there will continue to be clashes in fashion choices between the two generations. This is due to the constant evolution and innovation in fashion, providing both men and women with new ways to express themselves.