10 Things Millennials Do That Boomers Don’t Get

Every generation has its quirks, and it's no secret that the baby boomer generation has had its share of disagreements with millennials. Much of the tension online between these two generations stems from one generation not understanding the choices of the other. It's safe to say there are many things millennials do that boomers don't get.

Just because someone is a part of a specific generation doesn't mean they fit the stereotype of that generation. However, most millennials will attest that baby boomers grew up in a very different time, which means they can't relate to a lot of what millennials experienced in childhood and early adulthood. Here are some of the most common choices that millennials make that boomers don't understand.

Millennials and Gen Z definitely travel a lot more than baby boomers did when they were young. According to data compiled by Advance Travel & Tourism, Gen X takes more international trips per year than millennials and boomers, but millennials take far more domestic trips than both generations.

The spending habits of millennials are also different than their parents' generation. Millennials tend to focus spending on experiences, rather than saving money for the future. This means, instead of spending money on a new car or house, they're more likely to spend money on a trip or a culinary experience. In 2019, these spending habits became the source of many online discussions when Australian millionaire Tim Gurner told millennials to stop buying avocado toast.

While millennials are traditional in some ways, it's also not uncommon for millennials to buck family traditions and even norms when it comes to the timeline of their lives. According to an article from Business Insider, the typical American family looks much different in the modern world because of how the values and perspectives of millennials differ from those of their parents.

When it comes to family values and social norms that millennials are fighting against, this includes when (and if) they get married. Millennials are getting married much later than those of the baby boomer generation. According to the most recent US Census Bureau data, the median age of first marriage in 2024 was about 28.6 for women and 30.2 for men. Back in the 1980s, the median age was closer to 22 for women and 25 for men.

If millennials weren't getting married in their early to mid 20s, what were they doing? Instead of starting a family early, millennials were more likely to focus on a career. Additionally, educational attainment has increased significantly over the past several decades, with a much higher percentage of millennials earning college degrees compared to baby boomers at the same age.

If you're a millennial with a parent from the baby boomer generation, you might find yourself disagreeing with their method of communication. While boomers often choose to talk on the phone, which is the method they grew up with, 74% of millennials rank text messages as their 'most used' method of chatting. A study by Openmarket even showed that 75% of millennials would choose a text-only phone over a voice-only one.

Estrangement from parents has been a hot topic lately, especially with the rise of many accounts on social media speaking about this dynamic. While boomers are more likely to say family is family no matter what, millennials are pushing back and going no-contact with family members when they feel like they've tried everything else.

Social media is another area where boomers and millennials have very different habits. While boomers spend most of their time on Facebook and WhatsApp, millennials' time is split between Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly, Twitter). With the rise of many social media influencers, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, many boomers don't understand why other generations share so much of their lives on social media.

"There's an app for that" has taken on a very literal meaning in today's world. While boomers are more hesitant to use technology for every part of their lives, millennials have embraced it in many ways. This includes AI usage. While millennials are among the most frequent users of AI in both workplace and personal settings, recent data shows that nearly half of boomers now report using AI, though their usage and familiarity remain lower than that of millennials and Gen Z.

Younger generations, including millennials, have much higher rates of therapy attendance than boomers and older generations. While many boomers grew up without this type of support available to them, millennials and Gen Z are taking it upon themselves to receive mental health treatment and support when they need it.

Although many millennials disagree with the boomers' approach to most things, there are some things they agree on. Even with the necessity of technology, we've seen millennials on social media say they agree with boomers that there's too much technology (especially when it comes to things like having to order on an iPad at a restaurant instead of telling your order to a server).

Boomers also have the right idea, according to many millennials, when it comes to things that can improve productivity, such as waking up early and keeping a clean, uncluttered space.