Boomers were not brought up in a time of screens, gadgets or instant gratification. They lived more leisurely and slower lives, with less technology and fewer conveniences. But Gen-Z, on the other hand, has been brought up with all this technology available at their fingertips. They can hardly think of a world without instant access to information, entertainment & conveniences.
Here’s a deeper dive into seven things that Baby Boomers lived without that Gen-Z relies on every day.
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Limited Technology
Boomers didn’t have smartphones, laptops, or the internet. The only way they could get information was through books, television or word of mouth. Communicating meant calling a landline or writing letters, and recreations meant radio plays, sports and TV on a handful of channels.
Generation-Z now is literally online, and 79% of them can’t imagine life without their phones. They depend on gadgets not just for entertainment, but also for social networking, news and education.
Air Conditioning
Air conditioners were invented in 1902 but weren’t prevalent in homes until the 1970s. That meant that Baby Boomers regularly spent their summers sweating and dripping with hot, humid air, battling it with fans, windowpanes or just cooling outside.
For Gen-Z, A/C is practically mandatory. They’re used to walking into a chilly room on a hot day. They might be hard pressed to handle heat without AC at home, school, or work.
Video Games
However, gaming is life for Gen-Z, with 95 % of their lives being spent playing video games. Gaming is not just for entertainment; it is also a social experience. 70% of teen gamers say gaming helps them stay connected to others and is an important part of their social life, according to a Deloitte study.
Instant Gratification
For Baby Boomers, waiting was a normal part of life. If they wanted to see a film, they went to the cinema. If they needed a book, they’d have to visit the library or the bookshop. Even news was slower, most were waiting for the newspaper in the morning or evening news.
For Gen-Z everything is just one click away. They’re used to watching movies online, having their questions answered instantly online, shopping with one-day delivery. Waiting for anything is unthinkable to most young people.
Social Media
For Gen-Z, social media is now an everyday experience: 54% spend at least four hours each day on it. Social networks define how they interact, share and view the world, and a society without it is hard to imagine.
GPS
Gen-Z, meanwhile, had GPS since they learned to drive, if not earlier. As per a survey, “Half of Gen Z drivers have never used a paper road map, and nearly a third of Millennials have never used one to travel to their destination. On the flip side, 94 percent of Baby Boomers have.”
Online Shopping
Before the internet, shopping entailed visits to stores or catalogues delivered via post that took weeks to arrive. Baby Boomers would flip through catalogues or make a store run for groceries. Online shopping has become a normal part of life for Gen-Z. Sites such as Amazon are quick access to just about anything, and quick delivery makes trips to stores seem inconvenient for most people.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.