Gen Z Replaces Personality With Entire Slideshows About Their Boundaries
Chaz Blamington
Chief Mockitor of Social Reactions
Social Commentary Editor
Your grandfather had a firm handshake. Your mom had a signature salad.
Gen Z? They have custom Google Slides explaining their triggers, attachment style, and what kind of text tone makes them spiral.
“This is who I am,” said Juno, 24, flipping through a pastel-accented PDF titled “How to Be in Proximity to Me.” “If someone can’t read this, they don’t deserve access to me.”
According to new data from the Center for Digital Behavior, over 38% of Gen Zers now pre-send “emotional onboarding materials” to potential friends or dates — often as Notion docs, Canva decks, or linked story highlights.
The documents typically include:
- Pronouns (with seasonal notes)
- A detailed list of “Not Today” topics
- An Enneagram breakdown
- Vibe disclaimers (“I’m chill but not passive”)
- A section called “Soft Launch Warnings”
The goal, they say, is transparency. But critics call it preemptive overexposure, designed to shift the burden of understanding before any real connection forms.
“They’re skipping vulnerability and going straight to performance,” said Dr. Kara Conforman, an HR expert turned cultural commentator. “It’s less ‘get to know me’ and more ‘please review this emotional pitch deck before we get coffee.’”
Still, it’s working — at least online. One TikTok post titled “My boundaries are not a vibe check” has 2.1M likes.
“I’m not dramatic,” Juno said. “I’m just documented.
