10 things boomers had to live without that Gen Z takes for granted

Every generation thinks the next one has it easier—and in some ways, they’re right.

Boomers grew up in a world where “convenience” meant something entirely different.

While Gen Z can’t imagine life without smartphones, Wi-Fi, or delivery apps, boomers spent their youth figuring things out the old-fashioned way.

It wasn’t worse—just different.

Here are 10 everyday things Gen Z takes for granted that boomers had to live without.

1. The internet

It’s hard to believe, but the internet simply didn’t exist when boomers were growing up.

If you wanted information, you went to the library, flipped through encyclopedias, or asked someone older who “just knew.”

There was no Google to settle arguments, no YouTube tutorials, no Wikipedia black holes to get lost in.

Research papers took days, not minutes.

Communication was slower, too—no emails, no instant messages, just letters or phone calls.

For boomers, the world felt bigger and slower without the web.

And yet, they managed to build careers, raise families, and navigate life just fine.

Gen Z can barely imagine it.

2. Smartphones

Smartphones are like a Swiss Army knife for Gen Z—camera, phone, music player, map, wallet, and entertainment hub in one.

Boomers grew up with none of that.

If you wanted to make a call, you found a landline—or a pay phone, if you were out.

Photos required film cameras, which meant waiting days to see if the picture even came out.

Maps were paper, music was vinyl, and social updates happened in person.

The idea of having the whole world in your pocket was science fiction.

Today, Gen Z panics when their battery dips below 20%.

Boomers lived their whole youth on 0%.

3. Streaming services

Netflix, Spotify, Disney+—Gen Z can summon entire libraries of entertainment instantly.

Boomers had to plan around TV schedules and hope they didn’t miss their favorite shows.

If you weren’t home when it aired, you simply didn’t see it.

Music meant saving up for records, tapes, or CDs—and rewinding with a pencil when the tape got stuck.

Movie nights required a trip to the theater or, later, a video rental store.

The convenience of endless, on-demand entertainment simply didn’t exist.

If boomers wanted to binge-watch, they had to hope for a rerun marathon.

And even then, commercials were non-negotiable.

4. GPS navigation

Gen Z taps Google Maps and gets real-time directions, traffic updates, and restaurant suggestions.

Boomers unfolded paper maps, squinted at road signs, and sometimes just… got lost.

Road trips often involved stopping at gas stations to ask for directions.

And if you misheard or took a wrong turn, you could be off-track for hours.

There were no voices calmly rerouting you back to the highway.

Instead, you relied on memory, instinct, or the kindness of strangers.

Traveling took more effort, but maybe more adventure too.

For Gen Z, being lost is a glitch.

For boomers, it was just part of life.

5. Online shopping

Gen Z can order practically anything—clothes, groceries, furniture—with a few clicks.

Boomers grew up with catalogs, department stores, and waiting in line.

If you wanted something, you physically went out to find it.

There was no next-day delivery, no free returns, no “add to cart.”

Specialty items sometimes meant waiting weeks for mail-order deliveries.

And sizing? A gamble every time, with no online reviews to guide you.

Boomers had to try, fail, and try again.

Gen Z just scrolls, clicks, and waits for the knock on the door.

6. Social media

Gen Z shares life updates instantly with hundreds of followers.

Boomers’ “status updates” were phone calls, handwritten letters, or word of mouth.

Photos lived in albums, not feeds.

If you wanted to see what your friends were up to, you actually visited them—or hoped you ran into them at school or work.

There was no endless scroll, no hashtags, no influencers.

Friendships grew face-to-face, not through likes and DMs.

It was slower, quieter, and maybe a little deeper.

For boomers, social media was the family photo album.

For Gen Z, it’s the whole world.

7. Credit cards and digital payments

Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal—Gen Z lives in a tap-and-go world.

Boomers grew up on cash and checks.

If you didn’t have cash, you simply couldn’t buy something.

Checks meant awkwardly writing them out at the grocery store while the line sighed behind you.

Credit cards existed, but they weren’t nearly as common or accessible.

Budgeting was done with pen and paper, not apps.

And overdraft protection? Forget about it.

Money moved slower, and spending required more planning.

Gen Z doesn’t realize how futuristic their wallets really are.

8. Affordable air travel

For Gen Z, budget airlines make hopping between countries almost normal.

Boomers, though, grew up when flying was expensive and glamorous—something you dressed up for.

Most families didn’t fly often, if at all.

Road trips and trains were far more common.

Vacations were local, not international.

Seeing Europe in your twenties wasn’t expected—it was extraordinary.

Boomers didn’t casually book weekend getaways.

For them, every flight was a big deal.

For Gen Z, it’s just another button on an app.

9. Instant photography

Gen Z takes unlimited photos without thinking.

Boomers had to be choosy—film rolls had 12, 24, or 36 shots, and each one cost money to develop.

That meant no second chances if someone blinked or the lighting was bad.

Family photos often included half-closed eyes, blurry moments, and fingers over the lens.

Waiting for film to develop was part of the ritual.

Polaroids offered instant gratification, but they weren’t cheap.

Now, Gen Z can snap hundreds of photos, delete half, and filter the rest.

Boomers had one shot—and they had to make it count.

10. Text messaging

Gen Z texts nonstop, often replacing actual phone calls.

Boomers had none of that.

If you wanted to talk, you picked up the phone—and hoped the person was home.

Answering machines eventually helped, but communication was far less instant.

Notes were passed in class, letters were mailed, and missed calls meant missed connections.

Long-distance calls were pricey, and families often limited how long you could chat.

Boomers lived with waiting, wondering, and hoping to reconnect later.

Gen Z lives with instant replies, typing bubbles, and read receipts.

It’s a world boomers couldn’t have imagined in their youth.

Closing reflection: from patience to convenience

Boomers didn’t grow up worse off—they just grew up slower.

Life required more patience, more planning, and more face-to-face interaction.

Gen Z, on the other hand, has endless tools that speed everything up.

What one generation takes for granted, another remembers as unthinkable luxury.

And maybe that’s the beauty of progress: every new generation gets to skip a little struggle.