You know that moment when you’re staring down something so new, so completely different from what you grew up with, and it feels like you’re supposed to just get it? I’m not a Boomer, but I get it.
Some of this stuff is grueling even for us younger generations—let alone for someone who’s seen the world from a wholly different perspective.
The world didn’t just change—it spun out, rewired itself, then handed you a smartphone and said, “Good luck.” No one gave you a manual for the digital age. And if we’re being honest, some things aren’t just confusing—they’re exhausting. Not everything’s built for every season of life.
So let’s talk about the stuff Baby Boomers are just too old to pretend to care about. No shame, just the real story.
1. Endless Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication
Remember when a key and a handshake were enough? Now it feels like you need a PhD just to log into your email. Every site wants a new password—one uppercase, three numbers, a symbol, and maybe the name of your neighbor’s dog.
Then there’s the two-factor dance: “Enter the code we just texted you.” But your phone’s in another room, or you left your glasses somewhere between here and 1998. It’s not just a hassle. It’s a little bit humiliating—like the world’s decided basic trust is old-fashioned.
You start wondering if technology really makes things easier, or just makes you feel left out. You miss when privacy was just locking your door at night. Now, it’s a never-ending obstacle course. And for what? Access to an account you already created twenty years ago.
2. QR Codes at Restaurants
It used to be simple: sit down, glance at the menu, and order a coffee or eggs any way you like. Now, a server hands you a laminated square with dots and says, “Just scan this.” Cue the awkward scramble for reading glasses and the silent hope your phone isn’t too old for the trick.
If you miss paper menus, you’re not alone. Staring at a tiny screen in public, scrolling and pinching to zoom—suddenly, ordering lunch feels like taking a test you didn’t study for. The pressure is real.
And let’s be honest: there’s nothing fun about asking your adult kid or a stranger for help just to see today’s specials. You start to wonder if eating out is supposed to be this complicated. You just want to order a sandwich without a tech tutorial.
3. Streaming TV Services Overload
Saturday nights used to mean three channels and a clear choice. Now, you press one wrong button on the remote and end up lost on a screen full of logos: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock… Which one has Jeopardy again?
Nothing prepares you for the endless logins, monthly charges, and shows that disappear overnight. Your grandkids rattle off show names like it’s a secret code. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to find the news.
Sometimes, it’s comical—sometimes it’s just plain draining. You wonder if TV was ever supposed to be work. Somewhere, your old rabbit-ears antenna is shaking its head. It’s not about nostalgia. It’s about wanting to relax, not troubleshoot.
4. Group Texts with Emojis and GIFs
Do you ever open your phone, see 37 unread texts, and hope it’s not another family group chat? The messages come in fast, a flood of hearts, laughing faces, and something that’s either a dancing cat or political commentary.
Trying to keep up is like jumping into a moving river. Sometimes you reply, sometimes you just give up. And let’s not even get started on the GIFs—moving pictures that say everything and nothing at once.
You remember when words were enough and a phone call could settle things in five minutes. Now, it feels like you need a translation guide just to say “Happy Birthday.” There’s warmth in all those messages, but at times it’s overwhelming. And if you accidentally reply with a peach emoji? Well, you learn fast.
5. Cashless and App-Only Payment Systems
You pull out a crisp twenty, and the cashier just stares, waiting for you to swipe, tap, or scan. Suddenly, your money feels like museum currency. Everything’s an app—parking, coffee, even the farmer’s market.
You try to keep up, but downloading, setting up, and linking accounts drain your patience. Your bank password? Good luck remembering that when your hands are full of groceries.
You just want to pay and go, no digital dance required. There’s a sense of pride in handling real bills, in knowing what you have. Watching the world inch towards cashless leaves you wondering if your wallet will end up in the attic, next to the rotary phone. It’s not refusal—it’s exhaustion from always having to adapt.
6. Social Media Trends and “Going Viral”
You log on to see your niece’s new puppy, and the next thing you know, you’re lost in a maze of hashtags, viral dances, and memes that make zero sense. “Going viral” used to mean catching a cold. Now, it’s a badge of honor for posting a seven-second video.
It’s not just the speed—it’s the ever-changing rules. By the time you figure out what a trend means, everyone’s already moved on. And you wonder: why does everything feel like a competition for attention?
Some days, you dip a toe into social media, then pull back, tired from trying to keep up. You remember when memories were shared in person, with laughter echoing across the room. Now, nothing sticks around long enough to matter.
7. Home Smart Devices (Alexa, Google, etc.)
“Alexa, turn on the lights.” The lights don’t budge. You repeat it, louder, as if yelling at a lamp will help. Some days, the house seems smarter than you, and not in a good way.
You grew up flipping switches and fiddling with dials, not pleading with invisible assistants. Every update brings new commands to memorize or apps to install—just to set the thermostat.
There’s a strange loneliness in a home full of talking machines. You crave the simplicity of knobs, buttons, and a good old-fashioned wall calendar. Smart tech promises convenience but at times delivers a headache and a reminder that comfort used to be simple.
8. Online Doctor Visits and Digital Health Portals
No waiting room magazines, no small talk with the nurse. Just you, your computer, and a long list of passwords you forgot—welcome to modern medicine. Navigating digital health portals can feel like an obstacle course before you even see the doctor.
You fumble with the camera angle. Is the microphone on? Can the doctor hear you, or are you talking to yourself? You just want a real handshake, not a pixelated smile.
Digital appointments promise convenience, but for many, they’re just one more thing to learn. You miss the comfort of walking into a familiar office and leaving with a paper prescription. Now, it feels like you need tech support more than medical help.
9. Cryptocurrency and Digital Investing
You hear about Bitcoin and wonder if it’s a video game. Friends talk about wallets, but they’re not leather or stitched. Investing used to mean a handshake at the bank—not a password and a digital wallet you can lose in a click.
The numbers move too fast. The risks feel invisible. Everyone says you’re missing out, but you can’t shake the feeling that it’s all built on smoke—and you’re too seasoned to fall for magic beans.
You stick to what you understand, even as the world insists “digital is the future.” There’s comfort in tangible money, in seeing your savings on paper. Maybe you’re old-fashioned. Or maybe you just know when something’s not worth the headache.
10. Cancel Culture and Online Outrage
You say something you thought was harmless, and suddenly, the internet wants an apology. The rules change daily, and it’s hard to know what sets off a storm. Everyone’s angry, and forgiveness feels rare.
You grew up believing a mistake meant a lesson learned, not a public trial. The speed and ferocity of online outrage is dizzying. In certain moments, you want to say, “Can we just talk it out?” but you see how quickly things escalate.
It’s exhausting to walk on eggshells, never sure what’s next. You long for understanding, for conversations that end in a handshake—even if you disagree. Today, it feels like one wrong word means erasing everything else you ever did right.
11. Dating Apps and Digital Romance
You remember meeting someone at a dance, sharing a milkshake, or talking for hours in person. Now, romance starts with swipes and bios. It’s less butterflies, more algorithms.
Dating apps feel like job applications for love. You fill out forms, upload photos, and hope to catch someone’s eye in a sea of strangers. The pace can be brutal—matches appear and vanish in a blink.
There’s bravery in stepping back into the dating world at any age. But sometimes, you wish for a little less tech and a little more magic. It’s not about giving up. It’s wanting love to feel real, not just digital.
12. Influencer Culture and Sponsored Content
You scroll and see smiling faces selling everything from vitamins to vacuums. Suddenly, everyone’s an expert, and every post has a hidden sales pitch. Influencers are the new celebrities, but you can’t help but wonder, who are these people?
It’s hard to trust what you see when everything’s for sale. The boundaries between real life and advertising blur until you can’t tell the difference. You remember when recommendations came from neighbors, not strangers with followers.
It gets tiring—always questioning, never just taking things at face value. You crave authenticity in a world obsessed with image. Occasionally, you just want to tune out all the noise and find your own truth.
13. Constant Software Updates and Device Upgrades
You finally figure out how to use your phone, and then—update required. Suddenly, icons move, settings change, and nothing works the way you remember. Just when you get comfortable, the device asks for more.
It’s not just the software. Every year, a new gadget replaces the old. The pressure to keep up is relentless, the feeling of falling behind, familiar.
You long for the days when things just worked—and kept working. Now, everything feels disposable. You wonder if technology’s chasing constant change just because it can, not because anyone asked for it.
14. Workplace Slack Channels and Digital Collaboration
Remember when office chatter happened by the water cooler? Now, every message is a ping, and every project has five new channels. Slack, Zoom, Trello—they blur together, another language to learn.
You try to keep up, but there’s always a new tool. The rules keep shifting, and sometimes it feels like everyone else got the memo but you. It’s humbling and frustrating to feel like you’re learning to work all over again.
You miss face-to-face conversations and the clarity of a well-timed handshake. Digital collaboration has its place, but on occasion it just feels like too much noise, not enough connection.
15. Virtual Reality Experiences
The allure of virtual reality (VR) is undeniable, yet for many Baby Boomers, the concept of immersing oneself in a digital world feels foreign. While younger generations dive into virtual realms with ease, Boomers may struggle to grasp the necessity of such experiences.
Unlike traditional screen-based entertainment, VR demands a new level of interaction that can be uncomfortable for those unfamiliar with immersive technology. The challenge lies not in the technology itself but in the mental shift required to appreciate its value.
Amidst a rapidly changing tech landscape, VR can appear as a distant and unnecessary leap. This generational gap highlights the contrasting ways in which different ages perceive technological advancements.