12 Things Boomers Used to Love That Gen Z Doesn’t Care About
Passions change across generations. What once thrilled Baby Boomers now barely gets Gen Z’s attention. The gap is shaped by new values, technologies, and cultural shifts. Here’s a look at why certain trends no longer connect and what’s behind the change.
Cable TV
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Remember waiting for your favorite show to air at 8 p.m., commercials and all? Boomers do. Cable TV once ruled the living room, but Gen Z prefers streaming that skips the fluff. With YouTube, TikTok, and Netflix in their pockets, sitting through channel surfing sounds prehistoric. Appointment viewing is long gone.
Landline Phones
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If the house didn’t shake from a ringing wall phone, you were absent in the ’80s. Landlines were lifelines with their tangled cords and all. Gen Z, raised on texts and FaceTime, sees no charm in waiting for a dial tone. One device in your pocket now does everything.
Department Stores
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Once the ultimate weekend destination, department stores offered everything from suits to perfume in one giant, fluorescent-lit maze. Boomers physically browsed for hours. Gen Z scrolls and searches, with online shopping and curated boutique vibes preferred.
Print Newspapers
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The smell of newsprint, ink-stained fingers, and the satisfying crack of unfolding a broadsheet—Boomers grew up with that rhythm. Digital Natives wake up to headlines on phones before leaving bed and at any time. Waiting for tomorrow’s news today is an idea past its expiration date.
Formal Dining Rooms
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Back in the day, entire rooms sat untouched except for holidays and stiff dinners. The “Me Generation” cherished formal dining spaces, complete with china cabinets and matching chairs. Gen Z prefers open layouts, bar stools, and multifunctional kitchens. If a room’s not used daily, why keep it? Walls are coming down—literally.
Golf
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Golf thrived as a status sport and social event. Four-hour games, collared shirts, and gentle claps once defined leisure for Boomers. The post-Millennials lean toward faster, more inclusive fun like pickleball or group fitness. Many courses now struggle to attract young players. Even Tiger Woods couldn’t keep the momentum swinging forever.
Collectible Figurines
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Curio cabinets filled with ceramic angels or porcelain animals were like tiny treasures worth displaying forever. Boomers proudly collected them. Gen Z, raised in the age of minimalism and Marie Kondo, sees them as dust magnets. Sentimental clutter lost its charm when space, storage, and aesthetics became the real prize.
Chain Restaurants
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Boomers made family nights out at places like Applebee’s for their familiar food, vinyl booths, and birthday songs. Gen Z hunts for indie spots, food trucks, and unique flavors instead. Loyalty points won’t compete with an Instagram-worthy bao bun or a vegan pop-up. The vibe now matters more than the menu.
Bar Soap
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Grabbing the same bar of soap everyone used was normal for Baby Boomers. Gen Z grew up with body washes and pump dispensers and had a slight fear of germs. Slippery, mushy soap bars have been replaced by sleek packaging and skin-specific formulas. Shelf appeal and hygiene both tipped the scales.
Fine China Sets
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Special plates that only came out for Thanksgiving—and never saw a dishwasher—were once a sign of grown-up life. While Boomers registered for them, stored them, and rarely used them, Gen Z wants dishes that can survive both pasta night and the microwave. Fragile, high-maintenance elegance no longer earns cabinet space.
Cursive Writing
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Learning loops and swirls was a rite of passage in Boomer classrooms. Today, many Gen Zers never learned cursive at all. Typing is the norm, and handwriting—when it happens—leans toward print. It’s claimed to enhance thinking skills, yet most young people opt for texting instead of reading ornate handwriting.
Door-to-Door Sales
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The sound of a knock followed by someone selling vacuums or encyclopedias used to be common. Boomers might have answered, but Gen Z barely opens the door. With digital shopping and app-based everything, a stranger pitching wares at the doorstep feels like a horror movie setup, not a sales opportunity.
Hush Puppies (the shoes)
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Soft suede shoes with chunky soles had their moment, especially among Boomers who valued comfort with a hint of prep. The modern generation, however, favors Crocs, sneakers, and slides. Hush Puppies still exist, but the name alone sounds like something better deep-fried than worn.
Fabric Softener
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Tossing in fabric softener was like doing laundry “the right way.” Boomers liked their towels soft and scented. Gen Z reads ingredient lists and asks why a chemical bath is needed for clean clothes. With dryer balls and fragrance-free everything on the rise, the softener’s grip has loosened.
Encyclopedias
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Owning a full encyclopedia set at one time meant your home had wisdom on its shelves. Boomers grew up flipping through those hefty volumes for homework help. Digital Natives have Google in their pockets and AI at their fingertips.