In a viral TikTok video, a millennial woman has made a bold prediction: “Gen Z is going to be the last generation that has lots of tattoos.”
Ashley Bez, 41, from Brooklyn, New York City, made the claim in a recent clip where she reflected on the evolution of tattoos across generations. “Gen Alpha and everyone younger than them, they’re going to look up and be like, ‘Oh, old people have tattoos,’” she said in the clip. “Tattoos are very in the zeitgeist right now … You can show up in an interview with a neck tattoo.”
But Bez said that tattoos are about to drop in popularity. Her prediction stems partly from observing her 5-year-old niece. “She showed up to kindergarten picture day looking like a sailor,” Bez said in the video. “She has had so many fake tattoos all over her body … I feel like by the time she gets older … she’s already going to have outgrown it.”
Bez told Newsweek: “First and foremost: I have no idea what the hell I’m talking about. I made a prediction on TikTok and I’m glad it started a conversation and resonated with people, but nobody is paying me for my predictions.”
Bez said: “I believe the biggest reason younger generations won’t get tattoos is because they can be expensive, and late-stage capitalism is trying to push as many people as possible into poverty.”
Still, Bez isn’t anti-tattoo. Far from it. “I love body art as a form of self-expression,” she said, adding that she hopes the tradition continues “in some way.”
Bez also touched on the generational contrast that sparked her musings. “As a kid, I learned from adults (baby boomers) that tattoos were a one-way ticket to a life of strife and joblessness,” she said. “But, in my lifetime, they’ve become more and more accepted, which I love.”
The Pew Research Center found that, as of 2023, 32 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo, with 22 percent having more than one. Tattoo prevalence is especially high among millennials, with 46 percent of those aged 30 to 49 saying they have at least one tattoo.
But, in recent years, there have been reports of a downturn in tattoo popularity, particularly as more people turn to tattoo removal and artists report a so-called “tattoo recession” in some places after an initial post-pandemic boom.
In the comments, people shared their reactions to the theory on TikTok.
“Tattoos have become a fad. People 30+ with no tattoos are more impressive now,” wrote one user.
Another posted: “Gen Z and younger are getting more conservative, that’d probably be the main reason.”
Others criticized the cost and conformity of modern ink. One comment read: “I think tattoos will fade in popularity because they are so expensive now.”
As the video gained more attention, Bez said she hopes that the buzz will help her fund her next piece of ink. “Most importantly: I hope my video gets enough views to help me pay for my next tattoo,” she added. “It’ll be my 8th one, and it’s gonna be epic.”
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