A viral TikTok video from a Brooklyn-based millennial has ignited an online debate over the future of body art, with the creator suggesting that Gen Z may be the last heavily tattooed generation.
Ashley Bez, 41, shared the theory in a recent video where she reflected on changing attitudes toward tattoos across generations. “Gen Alpha and everyone younger than them, they’re going to look up and be like, ‘Oh, old people have tattoos,’” Bez said in the clip, which quickly gained traction. “Tattoos are very in the zeitgeist right now… You can show up in an interview with a neck tattoo.”
Despite tattoos’ current mainstream popularity, Bez believes the trend is about to wane. Her prediction was partly inspired by her 5-year-old niece, who wore numerous temporary tattoos to kindergarten picture day. “She looked like a sailor,” Bez joked, suggesting that children exposed to tattoos early may lose interest in them as they grow older.
Speaking to Newsweek, Bez was quick to acknowledge the informal nature of her prediction. “First and foremost: I have no idea what the hell I’m talking about,” she said. “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.”
Still, Bez pointed to economic realities as a potential driver behind a shift in tattoo culture. “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,” she said.
Despite her forecast, Bez emphasized that she remains a passionate supporter of tattoos. “I love body art as a form of self-expression,” she said, expressing hope that tattoo culture continues “in some way.”
She also noted how perceptions of tattoos have evolved during her lifetime. “As a kid, I learned from adults—baby boomers—that tattoos were a one-way ticket to a life of strife and joblessness,” she recalled. “But, in my lifetime, they’ve become more and more accepted, which I love.”
According to Pew Research Center data from 2023, 32% of Americans have at least one tattoo, with 22% having more than one. Tattoo prevalence is especially high among millennials, with 46% of those aged 30 to 49 reporting at least one tattoo.
However, recent industry reports point to a possible decline in popularity. Tattoo artists in some regions have cited a “tattoo recession” following a post-pandemic boom, and demand for tattoo removal services has also risen.
Bez’s theory prompted a wide range of reactions on TikTok. One commenter wrote, “Gen Z and younger are getting more conservative—that’d probably be the main reason.” Others cited the rising cost and mainstream conformity of tattoos as reasons for the trend’s potential decline.
As for Bez, she’s embracing the attention with good humor — and ambition. “Most importantly: I hope my video gets enough views to help me pay for my next tattoo,” she said. “It’ll be my eighth one, and it’s gonna be epic.”
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