Imagine someone in the early 2000s saying that, in 2023, we’ll no longer use CDs. However, most pre-built PC configurations no longer use CD/DVD ROM drives. Technology becomes obsolete or gets replaced by something more efficient/convenient, but this also means that habits related to these gadgets, devices, and technologies get replaced.
Some of these habits are so old and iconic that many couldn’t imagine dying out; however, they’re currently on their last legs. If you go through our list and stop for a second to try and remember when the last time you did any of these things was, you’ll see just how accurate it really is.
1. Writing things by hand
When was the last time you had to write anything by hand? Sure, if you’re struggling with depression, one of the suggestions from your therapist could be to write down your feelings and thoughts on paper since art tends to be a great therapy. Even then, you’re more likely to type it out than actually write it. But when was the last time you had to write something by hand? Even signatures are electronic nowadays, and this art is quickly dying out.
Sure, some people learn calligraphy and some buy Polaroids and typewriters. But, the fact that a few people out there love retro things or get easily seduced by nostalgia doesn’t mean that the trend is alive and kicking.
Outside of school, people rarely have a chance to exercise this activity. Even when we go on holiday, we send messages in DMs. This is usually done by email when we have to send a business proposal.
While some may assume that it’s just the format that’s changed, this is not the case. The long form of handwritten notes surpasses even the longest of modern emails, so it sometimes feels like the entire form of expression is dying out.
This, however, is an irreversible process, and it won’t be long until writing things by hand becomes even more obsolete.
2. Talking on the phone
There’s a running gag that millennials, especially Gen Z, loathe talking on the phone. In the past, the day a teenager was most likely to land in trouble was when the phone company delivered their bills. Today, this is no longer the case.
Texting is a preferred format; modern generations even prefer sending voice mails over texting. Even when you have to talk, people prefer conference calls via Zoom or Skype to talking on the phone.
Many households kept their phone lines for a while because they got their internet from mobile companies. After all, DSL requires a phone line, but cable internet only needs a coaxial cable. It’s also quicker and more reliable, so even this stopped being an argument. With the emergence of fiber internet, this is not even a conversation worth having.
As for customer support and using phones for business purposes, there’s a simpler and easier way to handle things. They prefer to use VoIP services instead of keeping expensive and unreliable phone lines (and dealing with phone companies). This stands for voice over internet protocol, and it’s virtually a simulation of phone conversation via an internet connection. It’s cheaper, more reliable, and more convenient in a world where remote employees comprise a huge workforce.
3. Cash transactions
People mostly use paperless transactions in the 21st century, and this trend will only continue going in this direction from now on.
First of all, it’s more convenient. On your M-banking app, you can pay your bills, exchange currencies, send money abroad, and buy online without leaving your chair or even going to your phone.
This is primarily expressed in primary functions like ordering food and transportation. Most of the time, the payment is made via an app, and you never have to reach for your wallet.
Still, what makes cashless transactions so convenient? First of all, the chances that you’ll forget your phone at home is simply preposterous. You’re more likely to leave your home without your pants on. Second, it’s safer. If someone steals your wallet or a wad of cash, they can use it all up before you even notice they’re gone. Your M-banking app has a PIN, which makes it harder to crack.
A lot of people just don’t feel comfortable carrying too much money in their pocket or in a suitcase. Why would they have to undergo this when their app can fit far more?
This was a much safer alternative during the pandemic since cashless payments weren’t putting you at risk of contracting viruses. Sure, the pandemic is gone and forgotten, but there are a lot of other viruses out there, and for all the germaphobes, this is a saving grace.
4. Traditional TV watching
People are no longer watching TV, and for good reason.
First of all, cable companies have an abysmal reputation for a reason, and while ISPs aren’t too great either, they’re nowhere near as negligent and rude toward their customers.
Second, even in the last few decades, TiVO was mandatory. People simply need to watch what they want when they want it, so why not do so through the medium that allows this by default? Moreover, with TiVO, you still had to wait for the right show and then record it, hoping you’ve left enough space.
Even those few TVs still in use are smart, and people use them to browse the internet. They either watch content on YouTube or go straight to the Netflix app.
In boomer homes, a TV was a centerpiece. It replaced a fireplace in most millennial or Gen Z households; TV is no longer mandatory.
Lastly, younger generations simply don’t trust mainstream media. Most of them either pick where their information is coming from or consume it straight from social media. While these sources of information are very untrustworthy, most of the younger population prefers it over traditional news.
5. Owning one-purpose devices
A lot of young people don’t wear watches. No one owns a calculator anymore. Traditional cameras are getting increasingly rare. We’ve already mentioned typewriters as an oddity to have in 2023.
What do all of these devices have in common?
That’s right! They’re single-purpose.
All of these functions are available to you through your phone, which is more compact than any of the devices we’ve listed in the first passage.
Even people who wear watches mostly use it as an accessory. Don’t be surprised if you see someone wearing a watch reaching for their phone to see what time it is. Try it out the next time you notice someone is wearing a watch. They’re more likely even to wear a smartwatch, reinforcing our single-device theory.
Another thing that you won’t see very often is a standalone GPS device. Why use it when you can just use your phone? Either that or your vehicle has multimedia already supporting GPS, to begin with.
Even board games are falling into oblivion, mostly because modern video games have so many different fractions, game modes, and mods, providing you with infinite gameplay.
People’s expectations for the utility of these devices are going up by the minute.
The digital age brings an end to many analog habits
Regardless of what you think of these things, the process is irreversible. People are always adopting a more convenient and efficient way of doing things, and these habits have just outlived their purpose. You can still enroll in a calligraphy course or buy a typewriter; it’s just that there are not a lot of scenarios in which you’ll be able to use them organically.
