13 Reasons Boomers Believe Today’s Generation Has It Too Easy

13 Reasons Boomers Believe Today’s Generation Has It Too Easy

Let’s talk about that never-ending battle between Boomers and, well, everyone else. You know the conversation—the one that starts with “Back in my day…” and usually ends with an eye roll from anyone under 40. I’ve spent some time chatting with Boomers about why they think younger folks have it made, and let me tell you, they’ve got some strong opinions about this stuff. Here’s what keeps coming up in these chats.

1. Technology Does Everything For You

Listen, Boomers can’t get over how we’ve got gadgets doing all the heavy lifting these days. They remember having to hit the library and flip through actual card catalogs when they needed to research something, while we just ask Siri. They had to memorize phone numbers and keep physical maps in their cars (and actually learn how to fold them back—a lost art, apparently). Most of them still can’t wrap their heads around how we can order literally anything to our doorstep with a few taps on our phones. And don’t even get them started on how kids today don’t need to learn cursive because everything’s typed.

2. Everyone Gets a Trophy

According to Boomers, we’ve gone soft with all this “everybody’s a winner” stuff. They’ll tell you about how they had to actually earn their accolades and how losing taught them valuable life lessons. They remember when getting last place meant you just had to try harder next time, not get a participation medal. They swear that all this positive reinforcement is creating a generation that can’t handle real failure. And in their minds, this whole approach is why younger folks supposedly crumble at the first sign of criticism.

3. Remote Work Is a Joke

woman studying at home.

Boy, do Boomers have feelings about working from home! They’ll tell you all about trudging through snowstorms to get to the office (uphill both ways, naturally). In their minds, working in your PJs from your couch isn’t “real work”—they had to wear suits and commute two hours each way. They’re convinced that water cooler conversations and in-person meetings are the only way to build real work relationships. Most of them think younger folks are missing out on crucial office politics and networking opportunities. And they absolutely cannot fathom how anyone can be productive while sitting at home with Netflix just a click away.

4. Dating Apps Make It Too Simple

Remember when finding love meant actually having to talk to someone face-to-face? Boomers sure do, and they think we’ve got it way too easy with our dating apps. They had to work up the courage to ask someone out in person, risking real, face-to-face rejection. They’ll tell you stories about how they had to get a person’s number through mutual friends or actually approach strangers at social events. Most of them think swiping right takes all the romance out of meeting someone special. Plus, they had to find out the hard way if someone was weird.

5. Everything’s Automated Now

Man, Boomers really miss doing things manually—or at least they think they do. They remember having to actually get up to change the TV channel or adjust the antenna for better reception. They had to do math in their heads or use actual calculators because there wasn’t an app for everything. These folks had to wash dishes by hand and hang clothes on a line to dry—none of this push-button convenience. Most of them think all this automation is making us lazy and unable to do basic tasks—they swear that doing things the hard way builds character.

6. Job Hunting Has Gone Soft

Listen, Boomers think we’ve got it made with online job applications and LinkedIn. They remember pounding the pavement, going door to door with physical resumes, and having to wear a suit just to pick up an application. These folks had to look for job listings in actual newspapers and make phone calls to follow up. They think digital networking is cheating and that real connections can only be made in person. And they’re convinced that the ability to apply for multiple jobs with one click makes us less committed to each opportunity.

7. Kids Have Too Much Say

Back in their day, children were seen and not heard (or so they claim). They think kids today have way too much input in family decisions and daily life. These folks remember when parents made all the choices and kids just had to deal with it. They think giving children options about everything from meals to activities is creating entitled little monsters. They’re convinced that all this “democratic parenting” is why younger generations can’t handle authority.

8. Food Is Too Convenient

Oh man, the food rants are endless. They remember when getting food meant cooking it yourself or physically going to a restaurant. There was no DoorDash bringing whatever you wanted right to your door. They had to learn to cook from actual experience or cookbooks, not YouTube videos. Most of them think meal delivery services and pre-prepped ingredients are making us lose basic life skills.

9. Everything’s Just a Click Away

They remember when getting anything done required actual effort and usually meant leaving the house. These folks had to wait for things, plan ahead, and deal with inconvenience as a normal part of life. They think having instant access to everything from entertainment to education is making younger generations soft and entitled. Deep down, they’re probably just a little jealous that we can order pizza without having to talk to anyone on the phone.

10. Communication Is “Too Instant”

smiling man texting on mobile

According to Boomers, we’ve lost the art of patience with our instant messaging and emails. They remember having to wait days or weeks for letters to arrive, and how special it made communication feel. They had to carefully plan their long-distance calls because they were so expensive, while we can video chat with someone across the world for free. Most of them think all this instant gratification is making younger generations impatient and unable to wait for anything. They miss the thoughtfulness that went into written correspondence.

11. Banking Is Too Convenient

When Boomers talk about banking, you’d think they were describing an epic adventure. They had to physically go to the bank during specific hours and wait in line to deposit checks or get cash. They remember having to balance their checkbooks by hand and keep meticulous records of every transaction. The idea of depositing checks through a phone app or paying friends instantly through Venmo seems like science fiction to them. They think we don’t appreciate the value of money because we never have to physically handle it.

12. Kids These Days Don’t Know Real Entertainment

Boomers had to wait a whole week between TV episodes and couldn’t fast-forward through commercials. If they missed their favorite show, tough luck—there was no DVR or streaming service to catch up later. They think having endless entertainment options at our fingertips makes us too picky and unable to appreciate simple pleasures. Most of them believe that binge-watching and constant screen time are ruining our attention spans.

13. Social Media Makes Everything Too Public

A 35-year-old guy is sitting in the dark room and using his smartphone.

Boomers think we’ve got it too easy with building personal brands and getting attention. They remember when becoming known for something meant years of hard work and actual achievements. Social media influence seems like cheating to them—they had to earn recognition the old-fashioned way. They think it’s too easy for people to become “famous” nowadays without any real talent. And they just know that all this instant feedback and validation is creating a generation of narcissists.

Harper Stanley graduated from Eugene Lang College at The New School in NYC in 2006 with a degree in Media Studies and Literature and Critical Analysis. After graduating, she worked as an editorial assistant at The Atlantic before moving to the UK to work for the London Review of Books.

When she's not waxing poetic about literature, she's writing articles about dating, relationships, and other women's lifestyle topics to help make their lives better. While shocking, she really has somehow managed to avoid joining any social media apps — a fact she's slightly smug about.