As generations change, so does the world around them, and there are many experiences one generation may have that another doesn’t. Sometimes, that’s a good thing, as in generations that grew up when health care wasn’t as advanced as it is now.
On the other hand, younger generations sometimes miss out on the good things older generations have. Older generations lived in simpler times, and there are some things millennials and Gen-X fear that Gen-Z will never experience or be able to know, which makes them sad. New technology can be great, but we miss some parts of the previous generations.
Of course, there are pros and cons to every new development and every nostalgic moment. Some things that people remember as great but were bad for others, and some things that people think are bad now but are life-changing (in a good way) for others. There are just a collection of things that most Gen Xers and Millennials enjoyed that Gen Zers won’t or will have difficulty finding.
No Internet to Haunt You Forever
Young people do a lot of dumb things, and some of them are truly bad. There was a time when that resulted in some temporary shame, but then it passed. Now, your slightest mistake can end up posted on the internet, where it can live forever.
Concerts Without Phones Waving in the Air
It used to be that crowds would hold up lighters for an encore or during a ballad, and it was pretty cool. Now, cell phones have replaced lighters, and it just isn’t the same.
Cheap Concerts
Back in the 80s and into the early 90s, you could still go see a concert by a popular artist for around $20. Just take a look at what prices for big shows are now. Tickets can go for well over a thousand dollars.
Cheap Movies
Movie tickets were also a lot cheaper back in the day. There were even discount theaters where you could see a movie for a dollar or two. Ticket prices have outpaced inflation, though, and it can be prohibitively expensive for a family to go see a popular movie.
Kids Roaming Free
After school and during summers, a lot of kids went out to play in the mornings, came back home for lunch, went back out, came back for dinner, and then went back out again, coming home at dark. There was little adult supervision, and everyone was okay with that. For a glimpse of what it was like, check out Stranger Things, minus the monsters from alternate worlds.
Going Through Security With Shoes On
The terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 changed the flying experience forever. Before then, you didn’t have to pay for special status in order to keep your shoes on when going through airport security. You also could greet arriving friends and family at the gates.
Playing Outside After School
Once upon a time, most kids actually went outside to play after school. That slowly began to change in the 80s with the advent of home video games, and now staying inside to play games or watch shows is the norm, not the exception.
Not Being Tracked All the Time
In today’s world, it can feel as though we’re constantly being watched. For example, there are security cameras everywhere, our phones can be tracked, and online, targeted ads based on our browsing and purchasing history appear. It wasn’t this way until relatively recently.
Life Without Devices
Most Gen Xers and Millennials didn’t grow up with cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. Now, an entire generation hasn’t known life without them, and social scientists are seeing big, troubling changes in how people interact with one another.
Life Without Social Media
Devices also provide a gateway to social media. You can have fun and positive experiences there, but more and more, social media is becoming a bastion of misinformation, hatred, bullying, threats, shaming, and strife.
Album Art
Albums still have cover art, but with everything going digital now, it’s hard to appreciate it. When LPs were still common, album art was a big deal. Today, good-quality vintage covers can fetch a nice price on eBay.
Mix Tapes
Playlists are the digital equivalent of a mix tape and are easier to make. However, the time and thought put into making a mix tape was part of what made them so great.
Handwritten Letters
It’s certainly a lot faster and easier to send an email or text, but something has been lost with handwritten letters all but vanishing. They had more intimacy, and you knew someone cared enough to take the time to write one.
Feeling Safe at School
Since the horrific Columbine shootings in 1999, schools have tragically become favorite targets of gunmen seeking to inflict carnage on innocents. School shootings are common enough now that children have to do active shooter drills in order to prepare for the real thing.
Learning Instead of Testing
As a means of accountability, school systems all across the country have implemented frequent standardized testing. This has led teachers to complain that they have to “teach to the test” instead of bringing analysis and enrichment to their lessons.
The Heyday of Pizza Hut
There was a time when Pizza Hut was a really fun, family-friendly place to go, and it was a hot spot in many communities. Now, it seems like just another restaurant, and many have moved to being takeout-only.
Magazines
Magazines haven’t entirely vanished, but they’re in serious decline. Most of the content has moved online instead of going away, but there was something nice about flipping through the pages, and it was exciting to have a subscription and find a new issue had arrived.
Snow Days
School being canceled due to snow is one of the greatest thrills of childhood. That happens less often now, and both climate change and technology are the culprits here. The milder the climate, the less likely it is for snow to fall, and in places that still get a lot of snow, improved treatment and removal techniques mean school reopens faster.
Chickenpox
Really, a disease is a good thing? Before chickenpox vaccines were widely available, almost every kid would get chickenpox once while growing up. The itchy blisters aren’t fun, but the worst is over after a few days, and the disease is rarely severe in children. So what’s the good thing? Because it’s highly contagious, you had to miss school for a week.
Reckless Abandon
Millennials, especially Gen Xers, grew up in the world less obsessed with safety and less knowledgeable about it than today’s is. Combined with the culture of letting kids roam freely, this led to a lot of risky (and frequently dumb) behavior that was, quite frankly, a lot of fun.
We won’t give young readers any ideas, but you’ll often hear people who grew up in those times say that they’re amazed they and their friends never got badly hurt or killed!
19 Cultural and Behavioral Differences Between Gen Z and Millennials
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Here are 19 key differences between Gen Z and millennials:
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