Most of us in U3A belong to the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946–1964), influenced by post-war optimism, social mobility, the Vietnam War, and cultural rebellion.
It was noted that each generation sees the world through whatever shaped them growing up. For older generations, it was newspapers, the Establishment, and a slower pace of information. For Gen Z, it’s phones, social media, and a constant stream of global updates that naturally give them different priorities and values.
We talked about how culture used to come from music and big social movements, whereas today, money and inequality play a huge role in how people think about life and opportunity
Politics came up a lot. Some members said their kids don’t bother with it anymore because they’re fed up with politicians who seem out of touch or self‑interested. Others said their grandkids are actually very curious about how the world works because they can look up anything instantly.
We talked about the usual Boomer–Gen Z tensions, too. Some younger people blame Boomers for housing costs and economic problems. Some Boomers feel Gen Z expects too much too quickly, influenced by influencers who make life look effortless. Boomers tend to worry about things; Gen Z often seems more laid‑back and focused on earning and adapting.
Technology—and now AI—is shaping everyone, but in different ways. Older generations worry about job losses and retraining. Younger generations treat new tech as part of life.
The overall conclusion was that generations are shaped by the world they inherit. Economic conditions, technology, media, and political culture all influence how people think, behave, and prioritise their lives.
The meeting ended with an important reflection: the room was largely made up of Boomers, and most views about other generations were therefore second-hand, so we were mostly guessing what the younger generations think. Having them there would have made the conversation more interesting and richer
.