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Millennials Didn’t Just Destroy These 40 Industries, They Buried ’Em And Salted The Earth
There was a time when people blamed millennials for “destroying” certain industries. A backlash against the consumption of flashy items was believed to have contributed to the supposed decline of luxury brands. At the same time, traditional gyms were reportedly harmed by the generation’s preference for specialized fitness classes.
Now, many of these millennials are speaking out about the destruction they believe they personally contributed to. A recent Reddit thread sparked discussions about their mission to sabotage restaurant QR code menus, decorative soaps, and the wedding industry as a whole.
For all non-millennial readers out there, has Gen Y inflicted significant damage as perceived?
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#1
Cemeteries….i do not believe my rotting carcus deserves a permanent piece of earth and to take up space for the next generation.
QueerAxolotls 1 week ago
If I don't become one of those tree bodies, I'm coming back and haunting someone. Let my descendants freak people out with gifts of fruit from the dead ancestor tree.
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#2
I refuse to buy fabric softener and my clothes smell and look great.
Lyone Fein 1 week ago
I have never understood fabric softener, dryer sheets, odor pour ins, or any of those other extraneous laundry items. I am washing my clothes in order to remove everything that isn’t clothing from them. Why would I want to add more chemicals to them, and then put that on my body?
#3
I've had the same batch of clothes for like 15 years does that count?
#4
The wedding industry (although I guess this sector is still going somewhat strong). My partner and I eloped and went on a trip to a foreign country for a honeymoon with the saved cash.
#5
The cheap pet food industry. Forgive me for not wanting to feed my cat cornmeal and chicken byproduct slop.
#6
I'm childfree, so the entire toy and baby industry, I guess.
#7
Hair coloring.
I'm keeping the grey.
Judy Reynolds 1 week ago
I am waiting for my hair to go grey, so I can dye it pink. Don't want the bleach. And it looks like it is going to be a long wait.
#8
I've been trying really hard to k**l the coffee industry. I drink as much as I can but they keep up too well!
#9
Chain restaurants. I’m done paying out the wazoo for microwaved meals and premixed drinks.
I’ve learned to cook and I’m not a Michelin star chef by any means but I can make way tastier food at home now.
#11
Movie theatres.Too pricy when streaming and snacks at home are affordable.
L.V 1 week ago
No that's something I won't give up! I love going to see a film on a big screen, and meeting friends to go together( don't worry, we don't speak during the film, but will have a drink before our after). I'm more selective though, and either use my unlimited subscription, or go to an indie cinema showing hard to find or foreign films.
#13
Greeting cards/bday cards/etc. The only cards I will buy are thank you, retirement, wedding, and sympathy. And only from the dollar store. Cards go into the trash so why pay $5 for one? I have a Cricut so sometimes I’ll make my own cards.
I also avoid gift wrap whenever possible. I buy baby shower gifts and wedding gifts and put them in storage totes. Much more practical. .
Wheeskers 1 week ago
As an adult, my kid has never sent me a card for this reason. It kills me. I would love to get something like that from them. The card isn't for them, it's for ME. I would cherish it like no tomorrow. I would save them with my others from other people whom I love. I would love to see him just write, love you mom on it and not a text. I want to hold it near my heart. But I'll never get to because of this way of thinking. How you feel about the industry is whatever but just once think of those that would love getting something from you. It's about your loved one, not how you feel about the card makers.
#14
“Nice” dishes.
We have a decent set of everyday plates and tableware. One year, my in-laws gifted us a set of nice dishes and tableware. They were APPALLED that we gave away our old set and exclusively use the good stuff.
We aren’t supposed to use them, apparently. Except like once or twice a year whenever we host Christmas or Thanksgiving or something… which we never host.
realenancy170 1 week ago
You are absolutely right in using them. I am a boomer who pared down possesions to things that I loved for aesthetic reasons or could use. Nice dishes can be used every day. Nice dishes can be "dressed up" occasionally with a tablecloth and linen napkins if you want for a special occasion.
#15
Decorative soaps.
#17
Soda! Gave it up January 1st, 2024, and haven’t looked back. No cans, no 2 liters, no convenience store cups. I brew unsweetened tea at home and drink water.
StrangeOne 1 week ago
I hear if you stop drinking pop and other highly sweetened drinks and food for a while, when you start eating and drinking pop you can taste all the sweeteners. It becomes nauseatingly sweet to you.
#18
Silverware that's actually silver and not stainless. "Fine china.".
Bacon Tentacles 1 week ago
Silver is gorgeous, but it tarnishes at the drop of a hat. Been there, done that. I'll take the stainless, thanks.
#19
In germany we say "The retail sector is dying" ("Der Einzelhandel stirbt"), meaning people go less and less to stores and buy their stuff local in a shopping or city centre.
You know what? I couldn't care less that this part of the retail-industry is dying. You go to an electronics store here and they ask 20€ for a 1.5m HDMI cable. You can get a 5m cable with shipping for 10€.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 1 week ago
I like in-person shopping for things I want to see and handle before I buy (fresh produce, for instance), and when I just want an excuse to get out of the house. But a lot of times, it’s easier to find exactly what I want online. And I’d rather wait for the delivery than stand in line in a noisy, crowded store to pay for my items.
#21
It was me. I k****d Toys-R-Us, I grew up. I'm so sorry. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
StrangeOne 1 week ago
but.. but. I don't wanna grow up. I want to stay a Toys R US kid. So many, many toys that I can play with, still.
#22
Subway - coming from a big east coast American city, we’re teeming with tasty submarine sandwiches, and don’t need subways corporate, loveless, flavorless, sugar-filled bread subs. Ignoring the loss of $5/foot long and the Jared Fogle stuff, I’m excited to see subway close indefinitely.
#23
Local florists. I love to buy local when I can, but my local florist charges $60 for 12 small tulips. I can get 15 large tulips from Whole Foods for $14.
I hate that. I wish I could afford to buy local. Just can’t.
#24
Mcdonalds. It use to be a fun place for kids and families but Millennials made it grow up with them. Now it is all screens and corporate cafe vibes.
StrangeOne 1 week ago
Hey, leave us out of it. We, millennials, very much want the old McDonalds back.
#25
The iron industry — like does any millennial actually iron their clothes? The cursive and signatures industry. Not that there’s an industry for that but I just, forgot cursive, and don’t have a proper signature.
#26
Over consumption.
Especially buying literally everything on Amazon. I understand if it's a necessity for older folks or in rural areas. But I'm realizing that I can buy nearly everything besides food + toiletries at my favorite local thrift store or on Facebook Marketplace.
GalPalAl 1 week ago
I boycotted Amazon when they first started to compete with, and eventually destroy the market with traditional bookstores. Now it's on principle alone. Hey Jeff Bezos, why don't you donate money to charitable efforts instead buying a stupid boat to gloat. Greedy ahole. May karma pay you a much needed visit. Jerkwad
#27
Car rental. Never rented a car in my life. And air travel. I haven't flown in well over a decade and never paid for a ticket myself.
So yeah, poverty is the most effective killer of industries.
#28
Millennials were the first generation I think to start abandoning terrestrial radio broadcast in favor of podcasts or streaming. Millennials on the edge with Gen X such as myself still listened to radio...but I think most millennials born in the 90s probably never got into radio. And probably for good reason as radio industry declined severely by the late 90s.
Mel in Georgia 1 week ago
The only thing I listen to on the radio is NPR. Please donate to keep it going in your local area.
#29
Cable. I was one of the first people I knew who "cut the cord" in the early 2010s. I was in my little hipster phase, thinking i was smarter or more unique watching indie movies and documentaries on Netflix. I uses to be mad judgy when I would hang out at my friend's houses and they'd be watching cable.
Now I'm nostalgic for a time where most people would at least be watching the same shows instead of being in their algorithmic content bubbles, or if 2 people happen to be watching the same show, people are on different episodes.
Now I find myself watching old broadcasts that have the commercials because I miss that time.
nicholas nolan 1 week ago
It was only 2 years ago that stand alone internet service was actually cheaper than bundling cable/phone/internet in my area. It was weird, trying to go down to the single service and having them tell me the bill would go up by $20/month.
#31
The fashion industry I guess? Most of my clothes are from Costco because they have my size (try finding a 36" inseam at any regular retail store, I dare you!) I haven't stepped foot in a Gap, old navy, Macy's, etc in a decade. .
#32
The iron, ironing board and starch industries.
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What do you think ?
Mel in Georgia 1 week ago
How about PCs? A lot of people millennial age and younger have maybe a laptop? You can drag my tower PC from my cold, dead boomer hands.
Boris Long-Johnson 1 week ago
It depends on what you want out of a computer. If you’re a gamer or need loads of local storage than a tower makes sense but otherwise you may well be better buying a laptop and a dock/monitor/keyboard/mouse. I don’t game so that’s what I do - best of both worlds and just use a NAS for local storage.
Load More Replies...
featherytoad 1 week ago
Not an industry, but voting out Republicans. Essentially, killing off the Republican Party.
G A 1 week ago
Yeah and look what the hell happened. They were replaced by MAGA mor ons
Load More Replies...
Kallen Kneeland 1 week ago
Some of these make me so proud of these "kid's"! They are our hope for a positive future for mankind.
Mel in Georgia 1 week ago
How about PCs? A lot of people millennial age and younger have maybe a laptop? You can drag my tower PC from my cold, dead boomer hands.
Boris Long-Johnson 1 week ago
It depends on what you want out of a computer. If you’re a gamer or need loads of local storage than a tower makes sense but otherwise you may well be better buying a laptop and a dock/monitor/keyboard/mouse. I don’t game so that’s what I do - best of both worlds and just use a NAS for local storage.
Load More Replies... featherytoad 1 week ago
Not an industry, but voting out Republicans. Essentially, killing off the Republican Party.
G A 1 week ago
Yeah and look what the hell happened. They were replaced by MAGA mor ons
Load More Replies... Kallen Kneeland 1 week ago
Some of these make me so proud of these "kid's"! They are our hope for a positive future for mankind.
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