7 things Boomers were taught to never talk about that younger generations overshare constantly

Ever notice how your parents would rather walk across hot coals than talk about their therapy session, while your cousin posts minute-by-minute updates about their mental health journey on Instagram?

This generational divide in what we share versus what we keep private fascinates me. After spending time with both my boomer parents and millennial friends, I've noticed a pattern that's almost comical in its consistency. Topics that older generations treated like state secrets have become casual conversation starters for younger folks.

It goes deeper than just "kids these days overshare." There's something profound happening here about how we've redefined privacy, vulnerability, and connection. What one generation sees as maintaining dignity, another sees as toxic secrecy. What one views as authentic sharing, another considers airing dirty laundry.

Let me walk you through seven topics that perfectly capture this shift. And before you think I'm picking sides, I should mention I'm caught right in the middle of this generational sandwich, old enough to remember when these topics were taboo but young enough to appreciate why talking about them matters.

1. Mental health struggles and therapy

Growing up, the only time I heard the word "therapy" was in hushed tones, usually followed by "poor thing" or "I hope nobody finds out." Mental health was the ultimate family secret, buried deeper than grandma's jewelry box.

Fast forward to today, and therapy has become a badge of honor. Young people drop their therapist's insights into casual conversation like they're quoting a favorite podcast. "My therapist says I have anxious attachment style" flows as easily as discussing the weather.

When I started therapy after experiencing burnout at 36, I wrestled with whether to tell anyone. My parents' generation had taught me that seeking help meant weakness. But watching younger colleagues openly discuss their mental health journeys showed me something powerful: transparency creates connection, not judgment.

The shift makes sense when you think about it. Boomers grew up when mental health treatment could cost you a job or reputation. Meanwhile, younger generations see therapy as preventive maintenance, like going to the gym for your brain. They've normalized what was once shameful, and honestly? We're all better for it.

2. Money troubles and financial stress

Remember when asking someone about their salary was considered ruder than showing up to dinner empty-handed? Boomers would rather pretend they won the lottery than admit they're struggling financially.

Now scroll through social media and you'll find detailed breakdowns of people's debt, budget spreadsheets, and "how I'm surviving on $30k in NYC" videos. Young people share their financial failures and victories with the same enthusiasm.

Financial analyst turned writer here, so trust me when I say this shift has been wild to watch. In my corporate days, discussing salaries was practically forbidden. Now I see twenty-somethings organizing spreadsheets to ensure pay equity in their workplaces.

There's wisdom in this transparency. When we hide our financial struggles, we perpetuate myths about success and make others feel alone in their challenges. That said, there's something to be said for the boomer approach of keeping some financial details private, especially in our age of data breaches and identity theft.

3. Relationship problems and breakups

My parents' generation believed that what happened in a relationship stayed in that relationship. Period. You could be miserable for decades, but heaven forbid the neighbors knew you were seeing a marriage counselor.

Today? People live-tweet their breakups. They post relationship status updates that read like soap opera scripts. Every fight, reconciliation, and "it's complicated" moment becomes public consumption.

When my partner and I went through couples therapy to work on communication patterns I'd developed during my high-stress career days, I initially felt that old shame creeping in. Should we hide this? Pretend everything's perfect?

But here's what I've learned: there's a middle ground between suffering in silence and turning your relationship into reality TV. Sharing that you're working on your relationship can help others feel less alone, but not every detail needs to be public record.

4. Health issues and medical conditions

Boomers would literally be on their deathbed before admitting they had a health issue. "How are you?" was always met with "Fine!" even if they'd just left the emergency room.

Meanwhile, younger generations document their medical journeys in real-time. From chronic illness to mental health medication to fertility struggles, nothing seems off-limits. Instagram has become a support group for every condition imaginable.

This openness has undeniable benefits. People find communities, get advice, and realize they're not alone. But sometimes I wonder if we've swung too far in the opposite direction. Does every migraine need a status update? Does every doctor's visit require documentation?

The key is intention. Sharing to connect and help others feels different from sharing just to share.

5. Career failures and job loss

For boomers, losing a job was perhaps the ultimate shame. They'd pretend to go to work for weeks rather than admit they'd been laid off. Career setbacks were buried like toxic waste.

Today's professionals post "I got fired" LinkedIn updates that go viral. They share rejection letters, failed interviews, and career pivots with surprising candor. The "failure resume" has become an actual thing people create and share.

This transparency has revolutionized how we think about career paths. Instead of pretending everyone's trajectory is a straight line up, we're finally admitting that careers are messy, non-linear, and full of plot twists.

6. Political beliefs and social views

"Never discuss politics or religion at dinner" was practically tattooed on every boomer's forehead. These topics were considered too divisive, too personal, too likely to ruin Thanksgiving.

Now? People wear their political beliefs like designer labels. Social media bios read like manifestos. Every opinion on every issue gets broadcast to hundreds or thousands of followers.

There's value in standing for something publicly. Social change often requires people to speak up. But I sometimes miss the days when you could have a conversation without knowing someone's stance on every political issue within five minutes of meeting them.

7. Sexual experiences and intimate details

This might be the starkest generational divide of all. Boomers treated intimate details like nuclear codes, never to be discussed even with close friends. The birds and the bees talk was awkward enough to cause physical pain.

Younger generations discuss their intimate lives with the casualness of reviewing a restaurant. Dating apps, hookup stories, and detailed relationship preferences fill social media feeds and brunch conversations.

Breaking taboos around these topics has helped people feel less ashamed and more informed. But there's also something lost when nothing remains private, when mystery and discretion become extinct concepts.

Final thoughts

After filling 47 notebooks with reflections and observations since I discovered journaling at 36, I've noticed that both approaches have merit. The boomer tendency toward privacy protected dignity and maintained boundaries. The younger generation's openness creates connection and breaks harmful stigmas.

What strikes me most is how both extremes can be limiting. Total secrecy isolates us, but complete transparency can leave us overexposed and vulnerable in different ways.

When I finally had honest conversations with my parents about mental health, breaking our family's generational silence, something beautiful happened. We found a middle path, one where we could be real without oversharing, vulnerable without losing boundaries.

Maybe that's the real lesson here. Instead of swinging between extremes of secrecy and oversharing, we can choose intentional transparency. Share what serves connection and growth. Keep private what needs protection. And remember that not everything needs to be content.

Because whether you're a boomer who won't admit you have feelings or a Gen Zer who posts every feeling you have, the goal is the same: genuine human connection. And that's something every generation can agree on.