Every generation has its thing. But Boomers? They’ve got a list of modern trends, habits, and cultural shifts they just can’t get behind—no matter how big, viral, or normalized they get. It’s not about being “out of touch”—it’s about drawing the line in the sand and saying, Nope. Not for me. And honestly, the stubborn refusal is part of the charm—and the frustration.
These aren’t just quirks—they’re full-on culture clashes. From fashion choices to tech habits, here are 13 things Boomers collectively roll their eyes at while the rest of the world just shrugs and moves on.
1. Venmo Requests For Splitting The Bill
Boomers are all about pulling out a crisp $20 at brunch—not firing off a Venmo with an emoji-laden request. The idea of itemizing every coffee, cocktail, and salad feels transactional in a way they’ll never vibe with (according to a Finance Buzz survey, only 56 percent of Boomers thought they could confidently use Venmo). They’ll grumble, just pick up the check next time, while Millennials and Gen Z are busy sending payment links mid-meal.
It’s not just about money—it’s about etiquette. To Boomers, Venmo is a convenience that feels like a petty scorecard, and they’ll resist it at every turn.
2. The Obsession With Avocado Toast
Boomers will never understand paying $14 for a slice of bread with smashed avocado on top (according to Food & Wine, it only costs $4 to make, which makes the upcharge hurt all the more). It feels like a parody of modern culture—health trends gone wild, a symbol of what they see as frivolous spending. They grew up on meatloaf and potatoes, not $8 oat milk lattes and Instagrammable breakfasts.
No matter how many nutritionists sing the praises of healthy fats, Boomers will never fully embrace avocado toast. It’s the principle of it—and they’ll die on that hill.
3. TikTok Dances And Viral Challenges
They’ll watch from a distance, baffled at the choreography, the lip-syncs, the sheer speed of it all. The idea of filming yourself dancing in your kitchen for strangers on the internet feels alien to them. To Boomers, that level of public self-expression is borderline narcissistic—why not just enjoy music without recording it?
It’s a generational vibe shift they just can’t get on board with. TikTok isn’t a platform—it’s a foreign language they have zero interest in learning.
4. Using Pronouns In Email Signatures
To Boomers, adding pronouns feels like a political statement they never had to make—and they often see it as unnecessary or performative. They’ll argue that it’s obvious what my pronouns are, but they miss the larger point about inclusivity. It’s not always malicious, but it is resistant.
This isn’t about ignorance—it’s about an unwillingness to adapt. And it creates tension in workplaces where younger generations expect it as standard.
5. The Rise Of Remote Work
Boomers built their careers on showing up—physically, every day, no excuses. The idea of working from home in sweatpants feels like a recipe for laziness, not productivity. They’ll argue that it’s not the same without face-to-face interaction, while the rest of the world is thriving on Slack and Zoom (which is about 1 in 5 workers, according to Forbes).
This resistance is less about technology and more about values: hard work equals showing up in person, and they’re not ready to let go of that belief.
6. Craft Cocktails With Seven Ingredients
Boomers don’t need an artisanal drink infused with smoked rosemary and hand-foraged botanicals. They’re happy with a cold beer or a straightforward gin and tonic. The trend of overcomplicating drinks feels like pretentious fluff to them.
To a Boomer, a good cocktail doesn’t need a whole performance. They’ll pass on the mixology trend and stick with what works.
7. Paying For Subscriptions They Don’t “Own”
Streaming services? Cloud storage? Paying monthly for access instead of owning something outright feels like a scam to Boomers. They grew up buying albums, DVDs, books—you owned the thing. Renting access to everything feels like a slow erosion of value.
Boomers want permanence, not endless monthly bills. And no, they don’t care if everyone else is doing it.
8. Influencer Culture
The idea of making a living by posting curated photos and selling affiliate links blows Boomers’ minds. To them, it’s not a real job—it’s a hustle built on vanity and smoke. They see influencers as people playing dress-up for attention, not as legitimate professionals.
While younger generations embrace the blurred lines of content and commerce, Boomers are still side-eyeing the whole industry.
9. Gender-Neutral Fashion Trends
Baggy silhouettes, oversized shirts, fluid lines—Boomers just don’t get it. They were raised in a world of clear fashion “rules,” and the idea of blurring gender lines in clothing feels like a statement they didn’t sign up for.
It’s not always judgment—it’s confusion. To them, clothes had categories, and they’re still adjusting to a world where style is fluid and gender is optional.
10. Minimalist Home Decor
All-white everything, empty walls, and furniture that looks like it belongs in a museum—Boomers see it and think: Where’s the personality? They love a cozy, lived-in vibe: floral couches, family photos, and knick-knacks collected over decades.
Minimalism feels cold and impractical to them. It’s not just aesthetics—it’s a lifestyle they have zero interest in adopting.
11. The Idea Of Therapy As A Weekly Norm
Boomers grew up with the mindset that therapy was for people who were “really struggling,” not a weekly tune-up for your mental health. The idea of paying someone to talk about your feelings every week feels indulgent, even unnecessary. They’ll say, Just tough it out, while younger generations openly discuss their therapists like they’re a life coach.
It’s not that Boomers don’t struggle—it’s that they were taught to keep it to themselves. Therapy as maintenance, not crisis, feels foreign to them.
12. Sustainable Swaps That Feel Inconvenient
Reusable straws, compost bins, bulk shopping—Boomers often see sustainability trends as more hassle than they’re worth. They’ll say, I’ve been using plastic bags for decades, and I’m fine, missing the larger environmental conversation.
It’s not a lack of care—it’s resistance to change. And when the new habits require more effort, Boomers are often the first to tap out.
13. The Whole “Soft Life” Aesthetic
The TikTok trend of rejecting hustle culture in favor of slow living, boundaries, and self-care doesn’t resonate with Boomers. To them, life is hard—work hard, push through, don’t expect ease. The idea of romanticizing “softness” feels like an indulgence they didn’t get to have.
For Boomers, ease isn’t the goal—it’s the exception. And watching younger generations embrace it? It’s baffling, to say the least.
