25 Modern Technologies That Older Adults Consider Unwanted

If you grew up during the technological boom, you may have quickly realized that learning new things was like second nature to us. But one aspect of growing older is how our acceptance of new developments has changed. While we were quick adopters of innovations at one period in our lives, nowadays, our attitude towards new apps, platforms and services may stem from a deep aversion to new-fangled setups dominating almost every aspect of life.

#1

Image source: oneislandgirl, Gray StudioPro / freepik

I hate the internet connected dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc. I do NOT need to talk to my appliances and I do not need to pay extra for it. It’s just one more thing which can break.

#2

Image source: loquacious_avenger, rawpixel.com / freepik

I have no use for keyless door locks. I’m an avid early adopter of most technology, but I don’t like the idea of a hackable door into my residence.

edit: I know that if someone wants to get into my home badly enough, they are getting in. I just want them to work for it.

#3

Image source: PixelTreason, dmytro_sidelnikov / freepik

It’s not necessarily technology, but a service made possible by technology.

I won’t DoorDash/postmates/grubhub. It’s ridiculously expensive and would make me feel very lazy and entitled.

(I acknowledge that If I were disabled at all, I’d probably feel differently.).

#4

Image source: WilliamMcCarty, freepik

Alexa, Siri, any “smart home” voice thing.

SlayerOutdoors:

This. I’m 41. Not that old and very tech savvy. These things have no place in the home. If you start getting ads for roofers after talking about needing a new roof with your wife? You’ll see why.

#5

Image source: Ashilleong, shisuka / freepik

QR menus.

Verukins:

QR codes to order food/drinks.
Hard to find what you are after…. but impossible to explain allergies… there’s no talk back and forth to clarify things in case “if there is sesame on the burger, it will kill me” isn’t well enough understood…. and people without allergies never understand it.

brownishgirl:

I don’t own a cell phone. It gives me great pleasure to ask for a menu.

#6

Image source: p38-lightning, freepik

90% of my internet usage is still on a laptop. Why work with a tiny keyboard and a tiny screen when you don’t have to?

#7

Image source: OldGuyInFlorida, freepik

TikTok.

I work with teenagers. Several have asked if I have a TikTok account. They promise my (future) TikToks would be popular & I could grow a following.

I roll my eyes or sneer at people who’re obviously performing for their phones.

I don’t want to be TikTok popular.

#8

Image source: cantareSF, freepik

AI for writing. I’ll compose my own goddamn e-mails <—note the hyphen), thank you.

AnotherPint:

This. The examples I’ve test-generated come out smarmy and synthetic-sounding, like a book report by a glib a**-kissing teenager who hasn’t actually read or understood the book.
What’s depressing is how many people think the AI-produced output is just fine, because it’s spelled right. But it’s voiceless mulch.

#9

Image source: Emotional-Rise5322, jannoon028 / freepik

Facebook.

skyshock21:

Anything owned by Meta.

#10

Image source: RunsWithPremise, Towfiqu Barbhuiya / freepik

So many new appliances and devices have apps. Sometimes you don’t have a choice but to download their app to setup whatever the thing is. My fridge has an app that gives me a report on how many times the door gets opened. I don’t give a s**t and I have notifications turned off for these apps. I just want to plug a fridge in, set the temp, and have it work for a hundred years like my parents’ old Frigidaire did when I was a kid (although maybe use a LITTLE less power).

#11

Image source: Tall_0rder, freepik

Honestly, most cloud storage solutions as primary. If I want to save something, I want it under local control.

#12

Image source: CartographerKey7322, itchaznong / freepik

Twitter.

Twitter used to be a decent place to get information and was fun sometimes. I now use Threads for the fun and Bluesky for news. Eff that X app.

#13

Image source: SagebrushID, freepik

I use a cell phone, but I refuse to have any banking apps on the phone. And not Venmo or any of those other money transfer apps.

#14

Image source: That-Resort2078, freepik

VR headsets. Give me motion sickness.

#15

Image source: No-Carry4971, freepik

I will not read books on my phone or a kindle or anything like that. Some of the glory of reading is the faint smell of the book, how it feels in your hands, the turning of the pages, and also just generally doing something that is not staring at a screen.

#16

Image source: cantareSF, dragonimages / freepik

Your f*****g app that re-invents the web browser with less functionality. No, I would NOT like to download and install it now.

#17

Image source: Salty_67, Marc van / flickr

A car driving itself. Stupid.

#18

Image source: SemiOldCRPGs, Sailko

An Apple product. Purely and simply because of what they did to the Apple II community when the Mac came out. It’s my longest running grudge and I’ll take it to the grave with me.

A TV. Got one in the living room that hasn’t been on in over 15 years.

#19

Image source: seeingeyefrog, Wolfmann

Self checkout. If there are no cashiers, I’ll take my business elsewhere.

MidAmericaMom:

I am not a fan 1. as I am one of those people with a full grocery cart. It can’t handle it. 2. they Always seem to be broken or need someone to clear some whatever issue 3. A grocery I used to shop, no cash allowed. The lineup for the normal line can be huge as many use cash at that store. As I do 1 – I skip that store.

PositiveAtmosphere13:

I’m not being paid to do it, and they’re taking away jobs for others.

#20

Image source: Flea-Surgeon, vadiar / freepik

I don’t have a system that automatically puts the blinds down in the evening and somehow my life is still tolerable.

#21

Image source: realmaven666, freepik

Smart thermostat, doorbell, appliances, speakers. I read about a guy who couldn’t turn on his ceiling fan when AWS went down. Seriously- who needs a cloud enabled ceiling fan. I only use a streaming device on my TV – I won’t give LG access to my network. Electronic companies can brick your stuff if they want. I can always get a cheap streaming device if they want it bricked. I get my streaming device from my internet provider. They already know what I am doing.

I stopped using my fitbit when I decided I really didn’t want google to know my sleep patterns.

#22

Image source: TruckerBiscuit, wayhomestudio / freepik

Cash apps linked to my bank accounts.

#23

Image source: Opus-the-Penguin, Sanket Mishra / pexels

I wouldn’t say I *refuse* to use ChatGPT, but I’ve never bothered to learn how and I don’t really care.

cingalls:

I took a few classes on how to use AI. It was presented favourably, I understood it well and still consider it hot garbage.

#24

Image source: jefx2007, zkolra / freepik

Smart watch.

Joeuxmardigras:

I’ve never really wanted one, and don’t feel like I need it. I have a friend who bought the new $800 one from Apple and added cellular to it. I can get a nice Swiss watch for that price and it’ll last a lifetime.

#25

Image source: No_Ad_6484, TaiCIWJHai King Tung

I try to use and embrace as much technology as I can, but I refuse to use a kiosk to order fast food. No thank you, I will do without.