Every generation has some habits and behaviors that give identity to it. What we eat, use for entertainment, our careers, and what subjects are taboo all tightly connect us to where and when we were born. The Boomer generation has some very strong opinions and values that characterize it. Gen Z doesn't much care to follow in those foot steps.
Boomers were born into the late 40's early 50's. It was a time of national pride and optimism. The United States exited World War 2 with unprecedented economic growth. Americans were focused on raising a family, carving out careers, building a home, and laying down the framework to have a comfortable future.
Boomers look to the future.Image via Canva - Photo by joaopaulo_live2
Under this umbrella of good fortune, Boomers found strong communal bonds and shared goals. They also collectively picked up some habits that matched well with the philosophies of the time. Boomers approach breakfast, visual entertainment, music, careers, and taboo topics very differently than Gen Z:
Breakfast
Boomer with cereal and Gen Z with protein shake.Image via Canva - Photos by Stocklite and Peter Berglund
It's important to start the day off with fuel to get the body in motion. A solid breakfast is the staple start of the day for any Boomer. In 1952, Kellogg's introduced Sugar Frosted Flakes and the cereal boom was on. The Guardian writes that a convenient and easy to prepare breakfast with delicious sugariness was hard to resist. Marketed through the power of brand advertising, commercials made sure cereal was in every Boomer's home.
Gen Z put the cereal down. While often even skipping breakfast entirely, YouGov reports this younger generation prefers lighter and quicker options for breakfast. They love milk and coffee to get the day off right, but it's the influence of plant-based specialty beverages that are gaining in popularity. With morning shakes of almond milk and plant based proteins, ready-to-drink shaker bottles have Gen Z and their breakfast on the go.
Visual Entertainment
Boomers at the movies and Gen Z creating social media.Image via Canva - Photos by RgStudio and Blue Bird
Black and white television, comic books, and most importantly, movie theaters. Boomers love the movies and there's a reason, they can be great. OKA breaks down the films boomers grew up with like Exorcist, Young Frankenstein, Chinatown, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jaws, and so many more. With grit and confrontational realism, Boomers are ready to sit down and invest hours to witness an incredible story unfold.
Not Gen Z. Short form content is here to stay. With platforms like YouTube and TikTok, quick bite-sized videos are the preferred normal. Wired described a trend toward more authentic experiences. With photo-sharing apps and live share sites such as Twitch and Discord, Gen Z want immediate, live entertainment that's easily accessed.
Music
Jukebox and DJ at electronic show.Image via Canva - Photos by Giorez and Leif Bergerson
Boomers grew up through the birth of rock-n-roll and the psychedelic era. Their music tastes are rooted in the 60's and 70's with record players spinning their favorite vinyl. Growing up through brilliant bands such as The Beatles, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Rush, and so many more. (There's some country greats in there too. Please take no offense from this writer.) Audio Ink Radio said Pink Floyd, "... became one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. Their albums are really a trip, and every one of them is legendary and takes the listener on a journey." Boomers love music and aren't afraid to pay for their favorite album.
Gen Z welcomes the digital age. Having access to so many versions of music at the click of a button, their tastes are not linked to any single genre. Woke Waves reports that streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music claim rap and hip-hop as the most popular tunes for the generation. Looking for relatable artists who aren't afraid to be vulnerable in their music like Billie Eilish, Gen Z shares their favorites through social media. In fact, many choices are heavily influenced by trends and sound grabs from sources like TikTok. Why buy the album when you have access to a whole library of music for free on sites like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Pandora.
Career Goals
Boomer at the office and Gen Z at the office.Image via Canva - Photo by cyano66 and charliepix
Corporate world, here we come. Baby Boomers took jobs with complex hierarchies looking to work their way to the top. They were willing to work long hours motivated by the perks and prestige of their professions according to Relocate Magazine. Having strong work ethic meant loyalty and job dedication to the Boomer.
Gen Z isn't having any part of that. This generation is seeking meaningful work, and they aren't afraid to jump around to find it. Working long hours and driving ourselves into the ground isn't dedication, it's working for burnout. Forbes writes that Gen Z is changing the rules of the work place. They've incorporated work-life balance and flexibility. Waiting for retirement to travel? Nope, Gen Z is earning to travel in the now calling it, micro-retirements.
Taboo Topics
Mental health, anxiety. media4.giphy.com
Boomers have a hard time talking about mental health and sex. Medium wrote the generation grew up in an era that defined mental health as taboo. This generation took everything that was happening, regardless of where they stood on it, the emotional experience was bottled up and pushed way deep down inside. Talking about feelings and the pressures of life, no thank you.
Vitalize Psych finds Gen Z isn't afraid to put a taboo topic like mental health out on the table. They've grown up talking about their mental health and other difficulties literally online. With less stigma about mental health issues and an awareness to seek professional help, self care and emotional resilience are priorities.
Things like gender and sexual orientation are discussed openly and inclusively. Psychiatrist.com reports a study showed Gen Z embraced fluid identities and the exploration of both traditional and non-traditional relationships. Sex identity isn't something to be kept private for fear of communal judgement. Thoughts and behaviors can be discussed and expressed openly with friends.
The Wrap Up
I feel it's important to note that no generation is necessarily doing better than another. We all have different experiences and perspectives. It's a powerful tool for building community and fostering understanding that we get to know where each person is coming from. Some habits may be more productive than others. Learning what works and what doesn't so we can pass it on to the next generation with hope. Hope that it will be a little better.
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Female shopper looking for help
21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.