What 7th graders think 40-year-olds do for fun—and why the truth is funny, painful, and revealing
In a viral classroom moment, a seventh-grade teacher asked his students, “What do you think people in their 40s do for fun?” The responses, captured in a video shared by @7thgradechronicles on TikTok, are funny, blunt, and reveal how Gen Alpha sees aging. The clip has sparked conversation about aging, culture, and how quickly perceptions shift across generations. Frakes uses these polls to keep lessons engaging and grounded in real‑world chatter.
In This Article:
Meet the teacher turning class polls into daily lessons
Shane Frakes regularly polls his students, turning their unfiltered insights into teachable moments. His TikTok presence has made him a viral educator, but his aim goes beyond laughs. By leveraging social media, he keeps his class energized and connected to current culture, turning everyday curiosity into active learning.
The 40-something hobbies list—and the comments that hit
The list the kids imagined for people in their 40s is both revealing and funny. Viewers have weighed in with reactions like: “Home goods is accurate,” “I needed this laugh right before bed and I see no wrong answers,” “40 and I scored fairly high on this,” “The accuracy. I feel attacked,” and “These are more accurate than I would've guessed.” The video teases Easter eggs and illustrations that amplify the aging theme.
Millennials as the Peter Pan generation: aging redefined
The article notes that Millennials have been called the Peter Pan generation due to delays in major life milestones. Cultural and societal factors have shifted how we age, with many people in their 30s and 40s pursuing experiences once reserved for younger adults. “A millennial parent can post a TikTok dance with their kids, binge Stranger Things, or geek out over a Marvel premiere without feeling like they’re stepping out of their lane,” says Stacy Jones, a pop culture expert and founder of Hollywood Branded. “Earlier generations were pigeonholed into what their generation was supposed to be. Millennials are defining that instead. That cross-generational cultural participation blurs what 'age' looks and feels like. And it doesn’t stop there - today’s 50-year-old doesn’t look or act like the 50-year-old of yesterday. Wellness, skincare, acceptance of Botox, fitness, and social media have redefined what 'middle age' even means, pushing the whole curve of youthfulness upward.”
What this moment teaches about aging, culture, and connection
Ultimately, the humor in the seventh-graders’ list hides a larger truth: we are aging, and the lines between generations are blurring. Older adults still enjoy the music and trends of their youth while embracing newer hobbies like home decor shopping and pickleball. The story closes with a reminder that aging is less about numbers and more about presence in culture, daily life, and learning—an insight worth carrying into tomorrow.
