Move over, Karen — Gen Z says "Jessica" is the new entitled name

Gen Z is giving the old “Karen” stereotype a makeover, with the new entitled name being “Jessica.” As viral content featuring entitled behavior shifted towards younger millennials and Gen Xers, Gen Z decided it was time for a new name to target a younger demographic, selecting Jessica due to its popularity among millennials in the 1980s and 1990s. The internet has embraced Jessica as the successor to Karen, with catchphrases like “Thanks, Jessica” already circulating online.

While the Karen phenomenon faced criticisms for potentially being misapplied, concerns have arisen about the potential for Jessica to face similar issues. The challenge will be maintaining the distinction between calling out genuinely entitled behavior and simply dismissing any woman who expresses dissatisfaction. However, while the fate of the name Jessica in internet culture remains uncertain, the trend of naming and calling out entitled behaviors is likely to continue as part of broader intergenerational tensions.