Generations don’t just differ in the music they like or the slang they use—they carry entire worlds of habits, routines, and rituals that feel completely normal to them but baffling to others. What’s second nature to someone over 40 can feel like a quirky relic from the past to a Gen Z’er. And on the flip side, what Gen Z calls “normal” can make older generations raise an eyebrow.
While socioeconomic status, education, and geography all shape how people live, one of the clearest dividing lines today is generational. With the rise of the internet, smartphones, and constant digital connectivity, Gen Z has grown up in an environment that feels light-years away from what their parents or grandparents experienced.
This difference shows up in the smallest, everyday things. For Gen Z, habits like leaving voicemails, clipping coupons, or printing out documents feel not just outdated but almost unnecessary in a world where apps and digital shortcuts exist. Meanwhile, older generations often see these same habits as practical, thoughtful, or even safer.
So, what exactly are the quirks that make Gen Z scratch their heads when they look at people over 40? Let’s take a tour of 12 everyday things that Gen Z thinks are oddly stuck in the past.
1. Leaving Voicemails
If you ask someone over 40 why they leave voicemails, they’ll often say it’s more personal—it shows they took the time to explain something in their own voice. For many, hearing tone and inflection makes communication warmer and more human.
But for Gen Z? Voicemails are like dusty antiques. They’d rather receive a text, a voice note on WhatsApp, or even a meme that gets the point across in seconds. Listening to a voicemail, rewinding to catch missed words, and then calling back feels like unnecessary effort.
To younger people, voicemails represent an era of answering machines and landlines—a world they never really lived in. That’s why they often see it as quaint, if not a little baffling, that people still leave them daily.
Read more: 12 Traditional Etiquette Rules From Growing Up That Feel Really Out of Place Now
2. Overworking Without Extra Pay
Older generations often grew up with the belief that hard work and loyalty to a company would eventually pay off—through promotions, pensions, or long-term stability. Staying late at the office or working weekends wasn’t seen as strange; it was simply what you did to get ahead.
Gen Z sees this differently. With the rise of remote work, gig jobs, and the visibility of burnout, they prioritize balance over blind loyalty. They’re less likely to sacrifice evenings or weekends unless they’re fairly compensated. To them, grinding away without extra pay feels like being tricked into giving free labor.
This difference isn’t just about laziness versus dedication—it’s about values. Gen Z grew up watching their parents get laid off after decades of service or struggle with work-related stress. So they approach work with caution, prioritizing flexibility, meaning, and mental health.
3. Using Facebook Every Day
For many people over 40, Facebook is still the ultimate social hub. It’s where they share vacation albums, catch up with old classmates, or browse local community events. Some even use it as their main news source.
But for Gen Z, Facebook is “where the parents hang out.” They prefer TikTok, Instagram, or newer apps that feel faster, trendier, and more interactive. Scrolling through Facebook feels like stepping into a family reunion—cozy but outdated.
It’s not that Facebook is irrelevant (it still has billions of users), but the way people use it has shifted. For Gen Z, it’s more of a tool for school groups or occasional communication rather than their social lifeline.
4. Printing Things Out
Nothing highlights the digital gap quite like printers. People over 40 often prefer to print out boarding passes, recipes, bills, or directions. Holding paper in hand feels reassuring and less likely to disappear due to a dead phone battery or a tech glitch.
Gen Z, however, can’t imagine relying on a printer unless absolutely necessary. To them, paper is clutter. Everything from flight passes to grocery lists lives comfortably on their phone. If they do print, it’s probably for something school-related—or ironically, for journaling or scrapbooking.
The divide here is practical versus digital trust. Older generations value something tangible, while younger ones trust the cloud.
5. Scheduling Meetings That Could’ve Been Emails
In many workplaces, older managers love calling meetings—whether in-person or on Zoom. For them, meetings build connection, clarify goals, and feel more professional.
Gen Z, however, finds this maddening. They’d much rather get information through an email, a Slack message, or even a short video briefing. Sitting through an hour-long meeting that could’ve been summarized in a few bullet points feels like a colossal waste of time.
This difference comes down to how each group defines productivity. For people over 40, productivity often means visible, structured teamwork. For Gen Z, it means efficiency—getting things done as quickly and smoothly as possible.
6. Making Excuses About Technology
We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m not good with technology” or “I just don’t get this app.” For many over 40, admitting this feels normal. Technology changed rapidly in their adult years, and not everyone felt comfortable keeping up.
Gen Z, however, has little patience for this. They grew up with smartphones in their hands, coding classes in school, and apps for everything. To them, learning new tech is like riding a bike—you just do it. Excuses sound odd, if not like a refusal to adapt.
Of course, some of this comes down to comfort. People over 40 often trust traditional methods more, while Gen Z thrives in the digital fast lane.
Read more: 8 Daily Behaviors That Quietly Reduce Intelligence, According To Neuroscientists
7. Adding Text to Photos
If you’ve ever seen a Facebook album titled “Family Vacation 2015” with text splashed across every photo, you’ve seen this habit in action. People over 40 love adding words like “Best Friends” or “Happy Birthday” directly onto pictures.
Gen Z finds this funny and a bit old-fashioned. Their editing style leans more toward filters, subtle captions, or meme-style humor. To them, text on photos feels less aesthetic and more like something you’d find in a scrapbook.
8. Clipping Paper Coupons
Coupons are a staple of older generations. Many baby boomers grew up clipping them from newspapers or saving flyers. It’s practical, familiar, and often tied to a sense of pride in finding a good deal.
Gen Z, however, sees this as unnecessary. Why clip paper coupons when apps, loyalty cards, and online promo codes exist? Digital discounts are faster, more personalized, and take up no space. For them, coupon clipping feels like rummaging through the past.
9. Watching the News on TV
The nightly news at 6 or 7 p.m. is still a ritual for many over 40. It provides structure, routine, and a trusted anchor delivering updates.
Gen Z, on the other hand, consumes news passively throughout the day—via TikTok, Twitter, or push notifications. Waiting for the evening news feels like waiting for dial-up internet. They often find TV news overly formal and too slow compared to the constant drip of updates on their phones.
10. Taking Notes on Paper
Pens, notebooks, and sticky notes are staples for many over 40. Writing by hand feels grounding, and research even shows it improves memory.
Gen Z, however, sees paper as an inconvenience. Notes live on apps, shared documents, or tablets that sync instantly across devices. While some enjoy handwriting for journaling or doodling, most see it as impractical for daily tasks.
11. Using Corporate Jargon
Older professionals have a love affair with corporate buzzwords: “circle back,” “synergy,” “touch base,” and “bandwidth.” For them, it’s part of workplace culture, signaling professionalism and shared language.
Gen Z finds this language frustrating and confusing. To them, jargon creates unnecessary barriers and wastes time. Why not just say “let’s talk later” instead of “let’s circle back”? They prefer straightforward communication over coded office slang.
12. Carrying Cash
For many over 40, cash is still essential. It feels secure, private, and universally accepted—even where digital payments fail. Some also see it as a way to control spending, since you can’t overswipe physical bills.
Gen Z, however, rarely carries more than a few coins. Why bother with a wallet full of bills when your phone or card can tap-and-go? Digital wallets, payment apps, and contactless cards feel safer and faster. To them, cash belongs more to flea markets or grandma’s birthday envelopes than everyday spending.
Read more: Psychology Says These 12 Things Will Instantly Kill Any Conversation
Bridging the Generational Gap
When you zoom out, none of these habits are truly strange—they’re simply shaped by context. People over 40 grew up in a world where trust was built on tangible, physical systems: paper, cash, face-to-face communication. Gen Z, by contrast, was raised in an always-on digital environment where convenience and speed define normalcy.
What one side calls “practical,” the other calls “outdated.” And someday, Gen Z’s own habits—like doomscrolling TikTok, binge-watching while multitasking, or sending 20 emojis instead of a full sentence—may look equally odd to the generations that follow.
In the end, these quirks are reminders of how quickly the world changes. Each generation leaves behind its own “normal,” and in a few decades, today’s digital shortcuts may look just as quaint as clipping coupons or leaving a voicemail.
Image: Freepik.
