12 Ways Millennials Differ From Boomers

The Times They Are a-Changin'

En español | Millennials (those born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s) outnumber boomers. What changes will history’s largest generation wreak upon society? Well, according to the survey firms Arbitron, Edison Research and others, say good-bye to ...

1. Driving a Car

Once was, a teen counted the days until he or she could get behind the wheel. But the percentage of young adults with a driver’s license today has plunged. Millennials drive about a quarter less than their counterparts did eight years ago.

2. Using a Landline

They cut the cord: 41 percent of millennials aren’t hooked up to a landline phone. And no wonder: 83 percent sleep next to their mobile devices. (Also so over because of time-telling, alarm-blaring cellphones: watches and clocks.)

3. Eating a Drumstick

Kentucky Fried Chicken fears that “Generation McNugget” doesn’t understand old-school chicken with bones. The fix: buckets of boneless chicken.

4. Buying a House

Forget the “ownership society.” Only 18 percent of men and women ages 18 to 34 say owning their own home is one of the most important things to achieve in their life.

5. Getting Hitched

Only 21 percent of current 20-somethings are married. By comparison, nearly half of boomers had exchanged "I Do's" before they left their 20s.

6. Keeping Your Salary Secret

Curious about what your young coworkers make? Just ask ‘em! The Wall Street Journal says millennials ignore this office taboo.

7. Saving the Planet

Uh-oh! The young green-minded gang seen here may be a rare breed. Surprisingly, three times more millennials than boomers at the same age said they didn’t make any personal effort to help the environment.

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8. Getting Dressed-up for Work

When you’re under 30, every day is Casual Friday. A recent MSN study found that 8 out of 10 young adults want to be able to wear jeans to work.

9. Buying Pricey Clothes

It’s very likely the jeans your millennial coworker are wearing aren’t even hers. Cash-strapped 20-somethings are going to swap meets for clothing and 60 percent say they look for duds at the cheapest price possible.

10. Making a Sandwich

The last person to make a 20-something a sandwich was likely his or her own mother. A consumer report found that millennials are driving the growth of the fast-food sub industry.

11. Dining Out

The go-to date night of sitting in a restaurant for dinner could be history. A 2012 survey found that millennials dining out has declined by 20 percent in the past five years.

12. Valuing Privacy

Give millennials a discount and they’ll apparently tell you anything you want. People ages 18 to 35 said they’d freely share personal information online if it meant they would save money.

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