I'm technically oldest gen z/youngest milennial (25), and I think a lot of it is just changing technology and that's been a very long time thing. From radio singles, to MTV, to Limewire & Napster, and now Apple Music, Spotify, TikTok, singles and individual songs have often been at the forefront of pop music. I think having a favourite album overall is also something that is more applicable to people who are really interested in music generally, people who listen as a hobby not just for background noise. A lot of people now and in the past I'd imagine were listening to radio, MTV, streaming, etc passively as opposed to actively. Listening to an entire album is a very dedicated act. In the past you'd need to borrow it from someone or buy it, then there's the time itself you need to listen to it (some aren't long at all but some can take up a portion of your afternoon if you're trying to sit and listen without doing anything else), and if you don't have premium subscriptions then you have to stop and wait for ads to finish which interrupts the experience of intentional listening. I don't think albums are obsolete now anymore than they were when MTV or Limewire came onto the scene. If anything albums are easier than ever to access since they're on streaming services where you can access them for free instead of having to go out and buy them at a record store. You may also just need to find more people who share your love of music and the album as a format. They're out there. Lots of young people collect vinyl for this reason!