Lisa O
The world has changed a lot since Baby Boomers were young. Some changes are good, but others have left this generation puzzled and frustrated. From the rise of social media to the decline of traditional values—Boomers have had to adjust to a different world. Here are 15 ways society has changed that boomers can’t stand and why these changes have been so hard for them to accept.
Old-school Values Fading Away
When Boomers were growing up, people really valued things like working hard, being loyal, and showing respect for authority. They were taught to stick to the rules, put in the effort, and slowly climb up the success ladder. Today, younger people care more about getting what they want right away and doing what makes them happy at the moment instead of putting in the hard work for future success.
Social Media Taking Over
For Boomers, sharing every detail of their lives online is a very strange idea. They value privacy and prefer talking face-to-face. The thought of sharing their thoughts and feelings with the world on social media feels odd and even risky to them. Boomers often can’t see why platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are so popular—and they worry about how these technologies are affecting society.
Hashtags and Memes Everywhere
For Boomers, hashtags and memes might seem puzzling or even super irritating. They might not understand why people use pound signs before words or phrases and think that all the funny pictures and jokes are a waste of time. Boomers might feel like younger people care more about making and sharing things online than having real conversations or connections.
Personal Branding Hype
In today’s digital world, showing off your personal brand is important—especially for younger people who want to get noticed in a competitive job market. But for Boomers, always promoting yourself online might seem fake or self-centered. They might think it’s better to be humble and just let your work show what you can do instead of always trying to get attention and praise.
Avocado Toast Mania
Boomers scratch their heads at the avocado toast trend. To them, paying $15 for bread with squished-up fruit seems like throwing money away. They wonder why younger folks are okay with splurging on what they see as a fancy and very pricey snack. Boomers are happy with just plain toast and butter or jam. Simple living is what they prefer.
Working from Home Becoming the Norm
The COVID-19 pandemic made remote work more common—but many Boomers still struggle to get used to working from home. They like the structure and social interaction of a regular office, and sitting alone at a computer all day feels lonely and unproductive. Boomers might have a tough time adjusting to virtual meetings and online teamwork.
Traditional Media Losing Ground
Boomers grew up getting their news and entertainment from newspapers, magazines, and network TV. But nowadays—these traditional media sources are having a hard time staying in business because of the internet. Boomers might think that journalism isn’t as good as it used to be and that there’s just too much stuff online to keep track of. They might miss the old days when news was more carefully picked and reliable.
Walking on Eggshells with Political Correctness
Boomers grew up in a time when people said what they thought without worrying so much about being politically correct. They might think that today’s society gets offended fast and is too quick to call others names like racist or sexist. Boomers might find it hard to keep track of what words and actions are okay now—and they might feel like they have to be very careful in social situations.
Feeling Pressured to Get Politically Involved
In today’s world, where politics can split people apart, there’s a big push for everyone to get involved and have strong opinions. But for many Boomers, this push can be too much—making them feel torn and separated from others. They prefer a calmer way of looking at politics and think all the constant talk about it just makes things worse.
Instant Gratification Culture
Today, we’re all about getting things right away—like having stuff delivered the same day or being able to watch whatever we want instantly. But for baby boomers, focusing so much on getting things fast might seem like it’s not thinking ahead or even risky. They might think it’s better to wait for good stuff and believe that good things come to people who are patient.
Diverse Lifestyles on the Rise
Boomers grew up when traditional ideas about gender roles and families were common. But now, society is more accepting of different ways of living—like same-sex couples, polyamory, and people who don’t identify strictly as female or male. While some Boomers are okay with these changes, others might find them very hard to understand or accept. They might worry that traditional values are being lost.
Wellness Craze Taking Off
The wellness industry has gotten really big lately, with things like yoga, meditation, juice cleanses, and essential oils becoming super popular. But for lots of Boomers—spending time and money on taking care of themselves might seem like they’re spoiling themselves too much or only thinking about themselves. They might see all this wellness stuff as a sign that younger folks are too wrapped up in themselves.
Face-to-Face Talks Losing Ground to Screens
In today’s digital world, we do a lot of talking through screens, like sending texts, using social media, or making video calls. But for Boomers—nothing beats talking to someone face-to-face. They might worry that younger people aren’t as good at really connecting with others and that they’re missing out on learning important social skills because of all the screen time.
The Controversy of Cancel Culture
Cancel culture is when people stop supporting someone or a group because of something they said or did that others find offensive. It’s become more common lately. But for lots of Boomers, this trend seems like it’s stopping folks from speaking freely and having open talks. They might worry that people are too fast to decide what someone’s like based on one thing they did wrong or didn’t understand.
Rethinking Aging: “60 is the New 40”
Lots of Boomers don’t like when people say things like “60 is the new 40,” or that age doesn’t matter much. They get where it’s coming from, but they believe age brings wisdom and know-how that’s important. They might feel like these sayings ignore the tough parts of aging. They want acknowledgment for the rich lives they’ve had, not just being told they’re still young and cool.