Let me start by saying this: I’m a boomer myself.
I’ve paid bills by mail, used a rotary phone, and yes—I’ve told someone to “just call instead of texting all that nonsense.”
But times change. Fast. And while some old habits still have value, others… well, let’s just say they don’t always translate so well to the younger crowd.
If you’ve ever gotten a blank stare from a teenager after telling them to “print out directions,” or had your grandkid gently take the remote and say, “Let me handle it,” you’re not alone.
None of these things make us bad or broken. But they do reveal how quickly culture shifts—and how easy it is to miss the memo when you’re used to doing things a certain way.
Here are a few everyday things many boomers still do that come across as out-of-touch to younger folks. You don’t have to stop doing them—but you might chuckle once you see how they land.
1. Leaving voicemails instead of texting
To a lot of boomers, voicemails are respectful. Personal. A sign that you took the time to speak.
To younger people, they’re… an inconvenience.
Most Gen Z or millennial folks won’t even listen to a voicemail unless it’s from their doctor or job. A text gets the point across quicker, without the awkward dance of listening, pausing, and deleting.
That long voicemail you left with all the details? Yeah, they probably read the transcript and replied “ok.”
2. Paying bills by check—or in person
I still know folks who drive to the utility office to pay their bill in person. Or mail a check, complete with a return envelope and stamp.
Meanwhile, the younger generation automates their payments and gets a push notification before the bill even arrives.
One of my grandkids once asked, “Why would you go somewhere to pay a bill?”
And I’ll admit—it was hard to explain.
3. Carrying cash everywhere
Boomers love having a bit of “just-in-case” cash in their wallet. We grew up in a time when card readers weren’t reliable and ATMs didn’t exist on every corner.
But for many younger people, cash is confusing. They split tabs with apps, buy coffee with their phones, and rarely carry more than a few coins—if that.
Try handing a twenty to a barista under 25 and watch the mild panic set in as they scramble for change.
4. Writing everything down by hand
To-do lists. Grocery lists. Addresses. Appointments. Boomers often prefer pen and paper.
But younger folks are glued to their Notes app or Google Calendar.
I once gave a handwritten recipe to my niece. She stared at it like it was written in Latin, then pulled out her phone and said, “Can I just take a picture of this?”
5. Using ellipses… for everything…
Boomers love their dot-dot-dots in texts and emails.
But to younger people, that trailing punctuation can come off as vague… awkward… or even passive-aggressive.
When I texted my daughter, “Call me when you can…” she called in a panic, thinking something was wrong.
Turns out, three dots mean very different things to different people.
6. Talking about “kids these days” like they’re aliens
We’ve all done it—grumbling about how “no one wants to work anymore,” or how “everyone’s on their phones.”
But here’s the thing: every generation thinks the one after them is doing it wrong. And those kinds of sweeping generalizations? They don’t land well with younger folks.
What we see as grit, they might see as burnout. What we call disrespect, they might call healthy boundaries.
The world has changed. They’re just navigating it differently.
7. Refusing to use self-checkout
I was once behind a gentleman at the grocery store who refused to use the self-checkout lanes. “I’m not doing their job,” he said, loud enough for the cashier to hear.
Younger folks don’t see it that way. For them, self-checkout is faster, simpler, and lets them skip unnecessary interaction.
It’s not rebellion—it’s efficiency.
8. Watching cable news for hours a day
Many boomers keep CNN or Fox News running in the background like a kitchen radio.
But younger people? They get their news in short bursts—headlines, push alerts, podcasts. They’re not sitting down for a full hour of commentary.
To them, watching cable news all day feels like swimming in stress soup. They’d rather get the summary and move on.
9. Expecting phone calls for casual updates
Back in the day, a call was how you stayed connected. But now? A random phone call can feel like someone banging on your front door without warning.
Younger folks often prefer texts or voice notes. It gives them space to respond when they’re ready.
Call out of the blue and they might think someone died—or assume you’re trying to sell them insurance.
10. Making jokes that haven’t aged well
I had a friend tell a joke at a family barbecue that got a few polite chuckles… and one long, awkward silence from the younger folks.
“What?” he said. “It’s just a joke!”
But here’s the thing—humor changes. What was acceptable in the ’80s might land flat—or even offensive—today.
It’s not about censorship. It’s about awareness.
Boomers who haven’t updated their material can come off as out-of-touch, even if their intent is harmless.
A final thought
Being out-of-touch doesn’t mean you’re outdated. It just means you haven’t checked the temperature in a while.
And that’s okay—so long as you stay curious. Ask questions. Laugh at yourself. And remember that just because something’s always worked for you doesn’t mean it still works for everyone else.
Bridging the generational gap isn’t about giving up who you are.
It’s about meeting people where they are—even if that means texting instead of calling, or learning to use the dang self-checkout.
Because the moment you stop learning? That’s when you really get old.
And I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready for that just yet.
