Ian Bronson
For Boomers, childhood meant handwritten letters and TVs with rabbit ears. Millennials, meanwhile, can summon a ride or a meal with one finger. These everyday comforts feel effortless now, but they’re actually marvels of progress. Here’s a look at what’s changed and what Boomers had to do without.
Unlimited Streaming Services
Boomers waited days for their favorite shows to air and used VHS tapes to catch reruns. Netflix didn’t stream until 2007. Millennials can switch between platforms in seconds and watch entire seasons without moving an inch. Missing a show just doesn’t happen anymore.
GPS Navigation
Before GPS, if you made a wrong turn, you were unfolding a map the size of a small blanket. Today, your phone reroutes in real time and talks you through every turn. The idea of pulling over to ask for directions feels almost mythical now.
High-Speed Internet
You haven’t truly suffered until you’ve watched a page load pixel by pixel. Boomers grew up without the internet and later dealt with screechy dial-up that crawled. Millennials expect instant Wi-Fi in cafes and even bathrooms. A lagging Zoom call feels like a crisis.
Online Shopping
Shopping used to mean driving out and waiting in lines. For boomers, every item meant a store visit. Millennials click, pay, and wait for the knock at the door. Even impulse buys don’t require getting up from your space.
Ride-Sharing Apps
Boomers hailed cabs with hand waves and crossed fingers. Now, it takes one tap to get a ride and another to pay. Real-time tracking means no guessing when it’ll show up. Waiting on a curb is more of a vintage concept than an actual option.
Smartphones
The boomer phone experience involved cords and memorized numbers. Then came the iPhone in 2007, and everything changed. Millennials grew up with phones that act like tiny computers. Calling is almost the least-used feature.
Food Delivery Apps
Pizza was basically the only thing that showed up at your door and only after providing a detailed order over a call. Boomers couldn’t scroll through sushi and oat milk lattes on a Tuesday night. Millennials order from bed and get everything short of a three-course meal in under 30 minutes.
Social Media Platforms
Phone calls and handwritten letters kept boomers in touch. Today, a meme is how millennials say, “I’m thinking of you.” Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok turned socializing into a full-time background app. Most millennials’ day starts with a scroll before getting out of bed.
Work-From-Anywhere Flexibility
For boomers, work usually meant a long commute and a designated desk. Millennials can knock out reports from a coffee shop or coworking pod. The 9-to-5 grind has a lot more Wi-Fi and a lot less water cooler.
Subscription Boxes
Boomers browsed catalogs and bought what they needed. Millennials let the products come to them. Skincare, snacks, dog treats—everything shows up in curated boxes, sometimes with surprise items they didn’t know they wanted. It’s the thrill of shopping, minus the shopping.
