People Raised In The 80s & 90s Still Do 8 Things That Gen Z Finds Completely Pointless
Gorgany / Shutterstock No matter how much times change, there are some old-school habits people raised in the 80s and 90s refuse to give up. Their Gen Z kids may find them completely pointless, but for millennials and Gen X, they're just the way things are done.
A study found that Gen X is currently the most stressed-out generation alive. If doing something silly makes them feel more comfortable, who is Gen Z to judge? Most people prefer to stick to what they know as they get older, and before Gen Z gets too judgy, they might want to remember that they'll probably do the same.
If someone was raised in the 80s and 90s, they probably still do these things that Gen Z sees as completely pointless
1. Listening to the radio
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Music streaming platforms have transformed how we listen to music. In the 80s and 90s, one of the most common ways to hear music was to listen to the radio if you wanted to hear your favorite songs. Even though vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes existed, many people preferred listening to the radio for the DJs and the mix of music. Back then, the voices on the radio were celebrities in their own right.
Gen Z doesn’t understand why this generation still clings to the radio, seeing it as a dying art. They think it's completely pointless when apps like Spotify exist where you can stream any song you want on demand. A study found that nearly one-third of Gen X music fans tune into the radio, while Gen Z listens less than any other generation.
2. Calling instead of texting
Landline phones were everything back in those days. They were the lifeline that connected people to the outside world. While Gen Z scrolls on their smartphones day in and out, Gen X and millennials didn’t have that luxury. They were left cold-calling their friends to make plans or chat. And even as technology has changed, many people who grew up during the 80s and 90s still prefer to pick up the phone and make a call.
Younger generations have a completely different outlook on phone calls. Not only do they find them completely pointless when communication can be done via text or email, but it gives them anxiety. Gen Z isn’t always comfortable picking up the phone, and would rather their Gen X family members text them.
3. Printing out directions when you have GPS
When I was growing up, I remember my Gen X mom printing out maps from MapQuest. It was a website that could get you wherever you needed to go. All you had to do was print out the directions and get in the car. Not having GPS when they were growing up in the 80s and 90s may have made them skeptical of directions through their phones.
Even if they don’t use them while driving anymore, they definitely can decipher them. Gen Z has always had their phones in their hands, which can guide them to any destination. They think using a physical map is completely pointless, which might get them in trouble if they end up somewhere without phone service or an internet signal.
4. Practicing tough love
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Tough love was the norm for people who grew up in the 80s and 90s. Boomer parents were notoriously strict, which may have caused their children to accept tough love and pass it on to the younger generations.
Gen Z has a different outlook on life. They think gentle parenting and more positive interactions are important. They find tough love difficult to deal with.
They may be onto something. Tough love can harm someone’s mental health. Verbal abuse and high pressure to succeed only complicate relationships. Gen Z finds tough love pointless because they’ve experienced the pain it can cause.
5. Working in an office instead of at home
Remote work opportunities are important to Gen Z. While they struggle to find jobs at an alarming rate, with 3.1-3.7% of recent college grads experiencing unemployment, they may be willing to wait for the perfect job before accepting a position.
Working from home has become the norm in the past decade, but some are embracing office culture now more than ever. People who were raised in the 80s and 90s have been working in person for most of their lives. To them, it can boost morale and help inspire productive workflows to be around their coworkers, even if Gen Zers think it’s a waste of time to commute to work when you can handle everything from your laptop at home.
6. Struggling with work-life balance
Even if working in the office is their preference, many older people may not realize how much it impacts their work-life balance. Spending most of their day at work followed by a commute cuts into the hours they have to care for themselves.
Gen Z believes in finding time for themselves rather than devoting their lives to their 9-to-5. They rely on a flexible work schedule to balance their lives.
Gen Xers and millennials are often used to the grind. They watched their parents work constant hours, leaving them at home to care for themselves. It can be second nature for them to devote their lives to their jobs. Gen Z finds this foolish, wondering how they can enjoy the money they make when they have no time to spend it.
7. Collecting physical media
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I’m a millennial who grew up with parents who were raised in the 80s. My dad would count down the days until a new movie was released on DVD. We had a whole cabinet overflowing with the latest releases. While I’m not nearly as dedicated a collector, I do have quite a few of my favorite films in a physical copy. Many Gen Zers find this pointless.
Why take up space in your home with DVDs, CDs, and records when streaming is at your fingertips? Many Gen Z people stick to streaming services to consume whatever they want, when they want. Though some are embracing physical media, it’s still more common for the younger generation to prefer content digitally.
8. They are uptight about certain things
It was stressful growing up in the 80s and 90s with economic instability and trauma that bled into many people's daily lives. Things haven’t gotten much better. Between struggling financially and caring for their aging boomer parents, they’ve been through a lot.
With trauma like this, they may tend to lean on the uptight side. Certain jokes may not be tolerated, or they have a harder time letting go of their stress. Gen Zers think this is completely silly. They’re young and want to live in the moment. Being uptight would prevent them from having fun.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities, living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
