18 Laughable Things That Will Die Off With The Baby Boomers
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Baby Boomers have witnessed unprecedented changes throughout their lifetimes—from the rise of television and the internet to the evolution of societal norms. As the Boomers step back, the torch is passed to Millennials and Gen Z, who bring fresh perspectives and innovative thinking.
A striking example is the decline of floppy disks; once the gold standard for data storage, they’ve become virtually extinct, with a mere 3% of adults in the U.S. reporting they still use them, according to a recent TechCrunch survey. These are the 18 laughable things that are likely to die off with the Baby Boomers.
Landline Phones
A 2022 survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that only 29% of adults in the U.S. resided in households with a landline phone, a significant decline from over 90% in 2004.
Today, 97% of Americans own a cellphone. Features like texting, instant video calling, and endless apps have rendered landlines almost obsolete.
Fax Machines
How many times have you received a physical fax in the last month? Probably zero. Nowadays, who has the time to deal with paper jams and busy signals when we have instant email, cloud sharing, and secure digital signatures at our fingertips?
A recent study by the International Data Corporation (IDC) revealed a staggering decline of over 30% in fax machine shipments over the past decade. Moreover, secure document-sharing services like DocuSign and Adobe Sign lead the charge.
Printed Newspapers
A report from the Pew Research Center reveals that between 2000 and 2020, the daily newspaper circulation in the U.S. plummeted by over 50%. Platforms like Buzzfeed, Twitter, and online news outlets have transformed how we consume information.
According to Statista, as of 2021, nearly 62% of U.S. adults said they often get their news online, starkly contrasting to just 20% who relied on printed newspapers. They offer instant updates and interactive content.
Physical Photo Albums
As digital photography has skyrocketed—the Photo Industry Association reports that Americans took around 1.2 trillion photos in 2021 alone—we’ve seen a dramatic shift away from those physical albums. A recent survey found that nearly 80% of people prefer storing their memories digitally.
The convenience of instantly sharing photos via social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook has made the labor-intensive process of physically printing and sticking pictures in an album feel outdated. Who wants to deal with the potential of faded photographs and damaged pages?
Traditional Watch Wearing
The need for a classic wristwatch has diminished with the rise of smartphones and smartwatches. Statista reports that the global smartwatch market is expected to grow from 187 million units in 2019 to over 330 million units by 2023, indicating a clear shift in consumer preferences.
As these tech-savvy folks rely on their smartphones for timekeeping, coupled with features like health monitoring and notifications, the allure of a traditional watch has become rather quaint. Brands like Fossil and Garmin are adopting innovative design technology, catering to consumers’ changing tastes.
Encyclopedias
Why trudge through a maze of paper when a simple Google search can summon a treasure trove of information in seconds? Encyclopaedia Britannica ceased print publication in 2012, acknowledging that the internet had become the preferred medium for accessing information.
Today’s tech-savvy teens are glued to their screens, devouring information via Wikipedia or YouTube in real-time. With Wikipedia boasting over 6 million articles in English—constantly updated and expanded by users worldwide—it’s no wonder physical encyclopedias have been all but relegated to the dusty corners of thrift shops.
Handwritten Letters
There’s an undeniable charm in receiving a letter penned by hand. However, a recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that about 90% of American adults now prefer sending text messages or using email over traditional mail.
A 2021 CBS News poll found that less than one-third of Americans had written a personal letter within the last year. With the speed of instant messaging and the ubiquity of social media platforms, why would anyone take the time to find a pen, paper, and stamp? The ease of sending a quick “LOL” or “brb” has captured the hearts of the younger generations.
Paper Maps
Family road trips used to involve wrestling with giant, creased paper maps and trying to fold them back up. Nowadays, GPS navigation systems and smartphone apps like Google Maps have become our trusty co-pilots. Seventy percent of Americans (with smartphones) frequently use navigation apps, and Google Maps boasts more than 1 billion active users each month worldwide.
And it saves space (no more wrestling with the map on the dashboard). Real-time updates about traffic, route changes, and nearby gas stations are also at our fingertips! Plus, who can resist the allure of a route that shows you the perfect coffee shop along the way?
Personal Checks
According to a report by the American Bankers Association, check use has plummeted by a staggering 50% over the last decade. Only 14.5 billion checks were written in 2021, the lowest number since the association started tracking in 1995. Can you imagine anyone under 30 whipping a checkbook to pay their friend back for coffee?
Convenience is king in our fast-paced world, and digital wallets—like Venmo and Cash App—are taking the throne! A recent survey by the Federal Reserve found that about 40% of U.S. adults prefer cashless payments over physical checks. In 2019, only 8% of payments were made by check, as digital transactions dominate.
Traditional Cable T.V.
As streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ take center stage, traditional cable is in a tight spot. According to a Nielsen Total Audience Report, streaming now accounts for a whopping 25% of total T.V. usage in the U.S. and continues to grow!
The convenience of on-demand viewing allows audiences to watch what they want, when they want, sans those intrusive commercials. The average monthly cable subscription can set you back a staggering $100 or more while streaming services typically average around $10 to $15 each.
Dial-up Internet
As we zip through life in the fast lane of fiber-optic and 5G technologies, dial-up has become a punchline in the tech world. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that less than 2% of households in the U.S. still rely on dial-up connections.
With maximum speeds typically capped at a mere 56 kbps, the tortoise-like pace was enough to make even the most patient souls lose their minds—waiting ages to load a single web page or download a song. Today’s average broadband speeds hover around 100 Mbps, making dial-up feel as ancient as the rotary phone!
Print Magazines
Print magazine circulation has been steadily declining, with a 20% drop since 2010. More and more readers are turning to digital platforms for news, fashion tips, and lifestyle advice. Brands like Vogue and National Geographic are investing heavily in their digital presence.
Notably, a recent study by Statista indicated that digital magazine readership is projected to surpass 200 million by 2025, leaving print editions feeling left out in the cold. Digital magazines offer the same content with the added convenience of accessibility from any device.
Disposable Cameras
With smartphones now boasting powerful cameras and instant sharing capabilities through social media, the charm of taking a single-use snap doesn’t hold up. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults own a smartphone, making it the go-to device for capturing life’s moments.
But who misses the excitement of waiting for film to develop, only to find the blurry pictures of a birthday party? Or the shocking moments of discovering that Flash was off entirely? Fujifilm, however, notes that disposable cameras have been making a comeback since 2019.
VHS Tapes
The last VCR was manufactured in 2016, marking the end of an era for VHS enthusiasts. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu offer instant access to an endless library of films at our fingertips, transforming how we consume content. Only 10% of households even own a VHS player any longer!
The average American now streams over 8 hours of content weekly, leaving those dusty tape collections gathering cobwebs. VHS players were officially discontinued in 2008, and by 2020, sales of these tapes had dwindled to practically nothing.
Answering Machines
Nearly 85% of adults aged 18-29 use their smartphones for voice calls. Furthermore, the convenience of voicemail services integrated into mobile phones has made these clunky devices nearly obsolete.
The average American receives 3-5 voicemails per week, but now it’s easy to check them instantly on our phones as they ring—far less suspenseful.
Yellow Pages
The rise of the internet has made searching for local businesses easier, rendering the printed directory nearly obsolete. Seventy percent of adults rely on search engines and online reviews to find services.
Apps like Yelp and Google Maps offer user-generated feedback, which is far more reliable than the old-fashioned listings.
CD Collections
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), physical music formats accounted for a mere 20% of overall music revenue in 2022, with streaming services skyrocketing to capture a whopping 80%!
Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music offer vast libraries, making a CD collection look almost quaint. And let’s be honest – who has the time to burn a mix CD when you can create a playlist in seconds? 99% of U.S. households now subscribe to at least one or more streaming services.
Stamps and Mail-in Voting
The rise of digital communication—email, social media, and instant messaging—has made sending a letter a chore. According to the United States Postal Service, mail volumes have dropped significantly, with first-class mail declining by more than 40% since 2001.
As younger generations lean towards online platforms for everything from shopping to voting, the traditional mail-in ballot is becoming less appealing. Voters prefer voting in person or via secure online methods rather than waiting for the postman.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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