Let’s take a peek into the search history of our favorite generation—the folks who remember when phones were strictly for talking and computers filled entire rooms. Baby Boomers might not have grown up with technology, but they’ve certainly embraced it in their own unique way. Here are the most common things they’re asking Google about, usually in all caps with occasional creative spelling.
1. How to Video Chat with Grandkids
They’re determined to master FaceTime, Zoom, or whatever new platform their kids insist on using this week. The search usually starts with “HOW TO SEE MY GRANDCHILDREN ON THE COMPUTER” and evolves into increasingly specific queries about frozen screens and echo problems. They’ll spend hours watching tutorial videos and taking detailed notes, only to have everything change when the next update rolls out. The best part is their dedication to figuring it out, even if it means accidentally starting fifteen different meetings in the process.
2. Facebook Privacy Settings
The constant stream of searches about Facebook would make you think it’s a complicated nuclear launch system rather than a social media platform. They’re desperately trying to figure out who can see their posts, why their ex-coworker from 1982 keeps showing up in their feed, and how to stop getting notifications about games they never played. The searches often include variations of “WHY IS FACEBOOK SHOWING EVERYONE MY PRIVATE THINGS” and “HOW TO MAKE FACEBOOK PRIVATE BUT STILL SEE GRANDKIDS.” They’re particularly concerned about whether liking a post means everyone can see their profile.
3. TV Show Explanations
After binge-watching shows their kids recommended, they need answers about plot twists and character relationships. Their searches include detailed questions about complex shows like “Game of Thrones” or “Breaking Bad,” often typed as full sentences with polite pleasantries included. They’ll look up family trees of fictional characters and spend hours reading episode summaries to make sure they didn’t miss anything important. Sometimes they’ll even print out character guides to keep next to their TV-watching chair.
4. Recipes from Their Youth
They’re on a mission to recreate dishes their mothers made, but never wrote down the recipes for. The searches often start with “ORIGINAL RECIPE FOR…” followed by detailed descriptions of dishes from the 1950s and ’60s. They’ll spend hours comparing different versions of ambrosia salad recipes or trying to find the exact brand of gelatin their mom used in that one dessert. These searches often lead them down rabbit holes of vintage cooking videos and old commercial jingles they remember.
5. Medical Symptoms and Medications
Every ache, pain, and strange sensation warrants a thorough Google investigation, usually at 3 AM. They’ll type in extremely detailed descriptions of their symptoms, including what they ate three days ago and the weather conditions at the time. The searches often include questions about medication interactions, side effects, and whether their new prescription can be taken with coffee. They’ll read through dozens of medical websites and still call their doctor just to be sure.
6. How to Delete Things
The digital equivalent of spring cleaning leads to searches about removing everything from browser history to old AOL accounts. They’ll search “HOW TO DELETE EMAILS” while having 15,874 unread messages in their inbox. These deletion quests often spiral into hours of trying to figure out what “cache” means and whether clearing it will delete all their passwords. Their dedication to digital decluttering is admirable, even if they sometimes accidentally delete things they meant to keep.
7. Discount Codes and Coupons
Their Depression-era parents taught them the value of a dollar, and they’re determined to find every possible discount online. They’ll search for coupon codes with the determination of someone trying to crack a secret government code. Every online purchase is preceded by at least 30 minutes of searching variations of “DISCOUNT CODE FOR (store name)” and “HOW TO GET FREE SHIPPING.” Their dedication to finding deals would put extreme couponers to shame.
8. Help with Phones
The constant updates and changes to smartphones lead to endless searches about basic functions. They’re trying to figure out why their phone keeps making that weird noise, how to make the text bigger, and why their photos are “in the cloud” when it’s clearly sunny outside. The searches often include phrases like “WHERE DID MY PICTURES GO ON IPHONE” and “HOW TO MAKE PHONE STOP DOING THINGS BY ITSELF.” Each new phone feature leads to a fresh round of Google investigations.
9. Password Recovery
The epic saga of forgotten passwords generates some of their most frequent searches. They’re looking up how to recover passwords they wrote down “somewhere safe” six months ago, usually after trying every pet name and grandchild’s birthday combination possible. The searches often include frustrated variations of “HOW TO GET INTO EMAIL WITHOUT PASSWORD” and “WHY WON’T COMPUTER REMEMBER ME.” Their dedication to security is admirable, even if it sometimes locks them out of their own accounts.
10. Gift Ideas for Younger Generations
They’re genuinely trying to understand what their grandkids want, leading to searches that perfectly capture the generation gap. They’ll look up “WHAT IS A TIKTOK AND WHY DOES MY GRANDDAUGHTER WANT IT” or “POPULAR GIFTS FOR TEENAGERS 2024 NOT VIDEO GAMES.” These searches often lead them down rabbit holes trying to understand current trends and slang. They’re determined to be the cool grandparent, even if they’re not quite sure what that means anymore.
11. Online Banking Questions
The transition from physical banks to online banking generates endless searches about security and basic functions. They’re trying to figure out how to check their balance, transfer money, and determine whether online banking is “really safe.” The searches often include concerns about identity theft and whether they should trust banking apps on their phones. Their caution about online financial matters shows wisdom, even if it sometimes means they’re printing out every single transaction.
12. Gardening Advice
Their love for gardening has gone digital, leading to detailed searches about plant care and pest control. They’ll type in lengthy descriptions of plant problems, often including the complete history of the plant and what the weather was like when they first noticed the issue. The searches include questions like “WHY ARE TOMATO LEAVES DOING THAT CURLY THING” and “HOW TO KEEP RABBITS AWAY FROM GARDEN NATURALLY.” Their attention to detail in these searches would impress a botanist.
13. Scam Warnings
Their awareness of scams leads to frequent searches about verifying legitimate businesses and offers. They’ll thoroughly research any unfamiliar phone number or email, often with searches like “IS THIS A REAL COMPANY OR SCAM” and “HOW TO TELL IF EMAIL IS REALLY FROM BANK.” While younger generations might tease them about being overly cautious, their careful approach to online security actually shows pretty good sense in today’s digital world.
