As baby boomers enter retirement age, life as they once knew it is drastically changing. As a millennial, I’ve grown up with unprecedented global changes throughout my life. With the birth of the internet, a devastating economic recession in 2008, crushing inflation, and the first worldwide pandemic in over 100 years, I’m kind of used to crazy things happening by now.
With 76 million Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964, most of this generation is now facing fundamental cultural and economic shifts as they enter their twilight years.
Will boomers be the last generation able to buy homes on a blue-collar salary? Are they the final ones to learn cursive? Find out what other things will die out with the boomer generation, according to message board users.
95% of Politicians
Back in 1981, the average age for a representative was around 49, and for a senator, it was about 52. Fast forward to 2023, and those ages jumped to 58 and 65! As younger generations become disenchanted with politics in general, fewer young people are starting political careers.
While 95% might sound like a stretch, it’s hard to ignore how many boomers dominate Congress. Will Millennials or Gen Z eventually step in to influence the laws in our country, or will there be an alarming lack of representation in our government?
Odd Text Messaging Etiquette
If there’s one thing you can count on from a boomer, it’s the classic text message sign-off– “Hi honey, I want to make sure you got the soup I left you. Love, Mom.” It’s equal parts hilarious and utterly precious. My sisters and I even joked to my Dad about how his use of periods and lack of emojis made his text tone seem harsh. He shortly swapped his typical “Yes. I will drive you to the airport.” Messages with texts littered with nonsensical emojis like a swimming man, a hat, and a castle to make sure we knew he wasn’t mad.
Let’s not forget that some boomers even thought that LOL meant “Lots of Love.” Imagine receiving a text from your Mother that says, “I’m so proud of you. LOL.” Yikes.
Formal Living Rooms
Can you really capture a whole generation with just one aesthetic? Not exactly, but we can definitely spot some trends.
A study found that baby boomers aim for calm, relaxed vibes at home. Interestingly, when it comes to living rooms, they say you’ll know it’s a Grandma’s house when you see floral couches. But I’m sure boomers wouldn’t like blush pink velvet couches and neon signs popular with Gen Z today. They generally like to keep their living rooms formal, in addition to a dining room with a chandelier.
Fancy Unused China Sets
I wonder if china sets were smart investments back in the day. Baby boomers sure loved their quintessential wedding gift: fine china. But many of those dishes now sit unused–there never seems to be an occasion special enough to warrant pulling out the fine china. Commenters suggest boomers used to treat them like trophies rather than for hosting and sharing meals.
As time goes on, these china sets are often inherited and then discarded. It seems no one under 70 wants to clutter their space with them. But then again, I think it’s easier to turn them into fancy USED china sets.
Timeshares
Ah, vacation timeshares—the trap that many baby boomers walked right into. Have both my boomer parents had timeshares at one time? You betcha! It’s a lifetime commitment to paying for the same resort (or group of resorts) every year, with a hefty upfront payment plus annual maintenance fees. Sounds like a money pit, right? No wonder millennials aren’t exactly eager to follow in the footsteps of their parents into these financial burdens.
But will timeshares ever die out? They’ll likely get rebranded and repackaged, and people will keep falling for the promise of a “cheap” slice of paradise.
Their Wealth
Many commenters agree that whatever wealth their boomer parents have likely won’t make its way to them. Instead, those savings are heading straight to hospitals, care homes, and assisted living centers as healthcare expenses slowly drain their funds.
The New York Times series Dying Broke highlights the harsh reality of long-term care costs in the U.S. Oftentimes, to qualify for government assistance, you have to spend every last penny, leaving nothing for the next generation.
A Big Chunk of American Industrial Knowledge
The fast-approaching retirement of the boomers is a huge headache for HR professionals. The U.S. Census Bureau reveals that about 12,000 people will turn 65 every day next year—adding up to 4.4 million in 2024 alone. As one user put it, it’s terrifying for those in the know—countless vital processes rely on some 67-year-old engineer who just can’t retire.
Boomers have spent decades mastering their industries, but younger generations are flocking to tech, drawn by fewer regulations and quicker, bigger paydays. This could result in a potential skills gap that could leave some industries scrambling.
Cable News
Does anyone under 50 even watch cable news anymore? I can’t think of many younger folks tuning into Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC—unless they’re doing it for analysis or media watchdog purposes.
But here’s something even scarier than cable news fading away: one commenter pointed out that their 18-year-old niece talks about TikTok like boomers used to talk about the six o’clock news or CNN 30 years ago.
Endlessly Forwarded Emails
Baby boomers were born in the ’50s and ’60s when snail mail was the norm. When email became more common in the ‘90s, it wasn’t too far of a leap from paper letters and was easy to learn. Have you ever gotten an email from a boomer with the subject line “Fwd: Fwd: Fwd:”?
Forwarding entertaining emails from friend to friend among boomers is still common, while many younger generations barely pay attention to their email. Who knows, maybe email itself will die out, too! Many boomers aren’t as savvy with features like social media, creating groups, or using BCC to keep email addresses private.
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson is an American motorcycle icon, so much so that they tried to trademark that signature rumble of their exhaust in the mid-1990s. And who’s been their biggest market? You guessed it: Baby Boomers! But as they approach retirement, you have to wonder—why would they want a Harley?
Harley’s sales lean heavily—almost entirely—on middle-aged Caucasian men. Younger riders generally don’t have the time, interest, or cash to invest in one. Many motorcycle enthusiasts turn their noses up at Harleys with the biting joke limerick that goes, “Harley, Harley, made of tin, ride it out and walk it in.”
Source: Reddit
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