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Change is a constant in this life. We've seen numerous traditions and trends take the world by storm, only to fade into the abyss as younger generations engage with the world in their own way.
When it comes to the boomer generation specifically, there are some products and practices that are very clearly on their way out. We took a look at seven of the most notable things the boomer generation loved, yet clearly won't be around for much longer.
If you're part of the boomer generation, it wouldn't be shocking to still have a newspaper land on your doorstep every morning. An online subscription, or even a free digital news media source? No, that's preposterous.
And yet, there's been an unmistakable shift from print to digital media within the first two decades of this century. According to Census.gov, the total estimated weekday circulation of U.S. daily newspapers was a whopping 55.8 million in 2000, which then plummeted to 24.2 million by 2020. The tide certainly doesn't appear to be shifting at this point, either.
If someone asks you to break out your checkbook, you’re probably going to be caught off guard if you’re not a boomer. We are undeniably and firmly entrenched in the digital era. With apps like Zelle and Venmo, the idea of writing a paper check seems almost comically outdated. According to a Go Banking Rates survey, 46% of Americans didn't even bother writing a check in 2023. What's more: 15% of Americans wrote a few checks a month, 17% wrote less than six checks, 17% wrote a check once a month, and 4% wrote more than 12 checks.
This one’s really a no-brainer. The phone book is wildly nostalgic. With smartphones and the internet, the need for breaking out the hefty phone book simply isn’t there. Social Media Today reported that 70% of Americans don't even bother opening their phone books, while only 11% use the white pages. If you still use one though, or know someone who does, all the power to you.
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You can think of workplace loyalty as the idea that employees should remain with one company for the entirety of their careers. Clearly, this tradition has been dying out. A large catalyst for this has been the shift toward a gig economy, where workers patch together multiple part-time or freelance roles. Stagnating wages play a part, too: If employees are unable to secure a higher wage at their current company, it’s only a matter of time before they pivot into a new job. In fact, a recent Gallup report on the millennial generation revealed that 21% of millennials said that they've changed jobs in the last year. That works out to being three times the number of non-millennials who report the same.
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It's become nothing short of the norm to live with roommates if you're within a certain age range, simply to cut down on costs. This really comes as no surprise when you look at the current state of housing in the United States. According to Redfin, 16% of homes for sale in 2023 were affordable for a typical U.S. household. That's the lowest share in 10 years. Clearly the idea held by so many boomers that owning a home is part of the "American Dream" has grown exceedingly out of reach.
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Oh, to remember the days of corded landlines. Now, though, it's nothing short of uncommon to have a landline in your home. The Washington Post reported that only 2% of U.S. adults use only landlines. Another 3% mostly relied on landlines, and 1% didn't have a phone at all. The group that used landlines the most was aged 65 and older. Would it be cool to see a shift back toward having a landline and avoid the constant scrolling and texting? Sure. But it doesn't look likely at this point.
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Okay, don't get me wrong. Letters are great. There is something undeniably intimate and heartfelt about receiving a physical letter from a dear friend or loved one in the mail.
However, not only do folks from the younger generations just break out their smartphone to craft a message, but they also probably don't even know how to properly mail a letter in the first place. It's reported that as many as 40% of millennials have never sent a handwritten letter, 46% haven't sent a surprise parcel, and 42% haven't sent a thank you card. Those stats alone would suggest that letters aren't going to catch on anytime soon. So enjoy the special letters from the boomers that you know while you can.