It turns out that some new ideas are just bad ideas.
Every generation brings with it a wave of new trends and disruptive ideas that promise to change the world as we know it. The Baby Boomer generation, having seen its share of fads come and go, often met the latest crazes of the 2020s with a healthy dose of skepticism. They were frequently told they “just didn’t get it” when it came to new tech, finance, and lifestyles.
As we stand here in 2025, it turns out that a little old-fashioned caution was warranted. Many of those world-changing trends did, in fact, crash and burn.
1. The great NFT collapse.
The explosion of Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs, in 2021 was met with bafflement by many Boomers. The idea of paying millions for a digital receipt linked to a JPEG of a cartoon ape seemed like the height of absurdity. They were told it was the future of art and ownership, a revolutionary technology built on the blockchain that would redefine value itself. Skeptics were dismissed as being too old to understand.
Guess what? The skeptics were right. The speculative bubble burst spectacularly, with the market collapsing over 95% from its peak. Most of those high-value digital assets are now effectively worthless, and the market is littered with scams and lawsuits, as mentioned in Lost Angeles Times. The “future of art” turned out to be a classic speculative mania, just as many Boomers suspected all along.
2. The SPAC boom and bust.
For a moment, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPACs, were the hottest thing on Wall Street. These “blank check” companies promised a faster, easier way for trendy startups to go public without the scrutiny of a traditional IPO. Financial news was flooded with stories of celebrity-backed SPACs and incredible paper fortunes. It was hailed as a new, democratized form of finance that would reshape the market.
Many Boomers, who remembered the dot-com bubble, saw this as history repeating itself—too much hype chasing too few quality businesses. Their caution proved wise. The vast majority of companies that went public via SPACs have seen their stock prices plummet, and hundreds of SPACs have liquidated after failing to find a company to merge with, according to vox.com.
3. The empty promise of the metaverse.
We were told the metaverse was the next evolution of the internet, a persistent virtual reality where we would all work, shop, and socialize as digital avatars. Companies poured billions into developing these virtual worlds, promising a digital utopia. Many Boomers, however, questioned the basic premise: why would anyone want to spend their entire day wearing a clunky headset in a low-res cartoon world instead of living in the real one?
By 2025, the answer is clear: most people don’t. The metaverse remains a niche interest for gamers and tech enthusiasts, not the mainstream social hub it was hyped to be, The NY Times reported. The technology is still awkward, and the experience often feels isolating and pointless. The skepticism about whether this was a solution in search of a problem turned out to be spot on.
4. The at-home fitness tech bubble deflated.
During the pandemic, companies like Peloton became cultural phenomena. The idea that expensive, connected fitness equipment would permanently replace gym memberships was touted as the future of exercise. People spent thousands on stationary bikes and treadmills with subscription-based classes. Many Boomers, accustomed to the social aspect of a gym or a simple walk outside, wondered if the trend had staying power.
It didn’t. As the world opened back up, people flocked back to gyms, group classes, and outdoor activities. Peloton’s valuation plummeted, and the market for high-end home fitness tech cooled dramatically. It turns out that most people don’t want their living room to be a permanent spin studio after all.
5. The “crypto will replace cash” dream died.
Beyond the NFT craze, the broader libertarian dream was that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin would become a mainstream medium of exchange, replacing government-backed fiat currencies. We were told it was the future of money—decentralized, anonymous, and free from government control. Many Boomers, trusting a system backed by a central bank, saw it as volatile, unregulated, and a tool for criminals.
Their skepticism has been validated. As of 2025, cryptocurrency remains a highly speculative and volatile asset class, not a stable currency used for daily transactions. Its price swings are extreme, and its use in the real economy is minimal. The practicalities of security and usability never overcame the hype.
6. The meal kit delivery business model soured.
Subscription meal kit services like Blue Apron were once hailed as the future of home cooking, promising to eliminate grocery shopping with perfectly portioned ingredients delivered to your door. The companies achieved massive valuations based on this promise. Skeptics, including many Boomers who enjoy grocery shopping and cooking on their own terms, questioned the high cost and logistical complexity of the model.
They were right to be wary. These companies have struggled massively with profitability and customer retention. The high cost, excessive packaging, and lack of flexibility led many customers to cancel their subscriptions after the novelty wore off. The trend never fundamentally changed how most people cook.
7. The scooter invasion retreated.
For a few years, cities across the country were flooded with thousands of electric scooters from companies like Bird and Lime. They were hailed as a revolution in urban “micromobility.” Many residents, particularly older ones, saw them as a public nuisance—cluttering sidewalks, being driven recklessly, and breaking down constantly. They questioned the long-term viability of the business model.
That skepticism was well-founded. The companies have faced massive financial losses due to vandalism, theft, high maintenance costs, and fierce regulatory crackdowns from cities tired of the chaos. While scooters still exist, the initial vision of a scooter-led transit revolution has significantly downsized.
8. The extreme open-office trend has been walled off.
The trend of designing offices with no walls, no cubicles, and massive shared tables was pushed by tech companies as a way to foster collaboration and a flat hierarchy. Many older workers, who were used to having a private office or at least a high-walled cubicle, were skeptical. They predicted that the constant noise and lack of privacy would be incredibly distracting and hurt productivity.
The Boomers were right. Study after study has shown that extreme open-office plans decrease face-to-face interaction and increase distraction. After years of employee complaints, many companies are now spending a fortune to re-introduce partitions, pods, and private spaces, admitting that the trend was a massive failure.
9. The #VanLife fantasy met reality.
Social media feeds were once filled with influencers showcasing a glamorous #VanLife—waking up to stunning vistas, working from a laptop on a beach, and living a life of pure freedom. Many Boomers, with a lifetime of experience dealing with car trouble and household budgets, looked at these curated images and saw the hidden reality: mechanical breakdowns, a lack of security, and no stable income.
Their practical skepticism was proven correct. A wave of “Why I Quit Van Life” videos and articles has since emerged, detailing the harsh realities of loneliness, the constant search for safe places to park, and the financial instability of the lifestyle. The curated fantasy crashed against the hard rocks of reality.
10. “Move fast and break things” broke our trust.
The guiding ethos of early Silicon Valley, “move fast and break things,” celebrated rapid growth and disruption above all else. This approach created some of the world’s most powerful tech companies. Many Boomers, however, saw this as a reckless philosophy, questioning what “things” were being broken in the process—things like privacy, social cohesion, and factual discourse.
Their concerns have become mainstream. The public and governments around the world have soured on this model, leading to intense regulatory scrutiny, massive fines for privacy violations, and a deep public distrust of Big Tech. The “grow-at-all-costs” era has ended, replaced by calls for responsibility and ethical design.
11. Ghost kitchens have largely vanished.
The concept of “ghost kitchens”—delivery-only restaurants with no storefront, often operating out of a shared warehouse space—exploded during the pandemic. They were hailed as the lean, efficient future of the restaurant industry. Skeptics, however, wondered about quality control, brand identity, and the long-term sustainability of a business completely reliant on high-commission delivery apps.
By 2025, the ghost kitchen boom has become a bust for many. While the model works for established brands expanding their delivery footprint, countless virtual-only brands have failed to gain traction. Customers missed the connection and accountability of a physical restaurant, and the business model proved far more challenging than it appeared.
12. The “subscription box for everything” fatigued consumers.
There was a period where it seemed a new subscription box company was launching every day, promising to curate and deliver everything from coffee and dog toys to pickles and socks. The business model was praised as the future of retail. Many Boomers, however, saw it as an unnecessary expense and a recipe for accumulating clutter.
They were right to be cautious. The market became incredibly oversaturated, and consumers quickly developed “subscription fatigue.” The novelty wore off, and people realized they preferred to buy things when they actually needed them. This led to a massive wave of consolidation and failure among the smaller, niche players in the subscription box space.
13. Radical minimalism was too extreme for most.
Popularized by documentaries and blogs, the radical minimalism movement advocated for decluttering one’s life by owning only the bare essentials—sometimes fewer than 100 items. It was presented as a path to enlightenment and freedom from consumerism. Many Boomers, who had spent a lifetime building a comfortable home, found the idea impractical and extreme.
Their perspective has largely won out. While the principles of decluttering and mindful consumption have become popular, the extreme version of minimalism never caught on as a mainstream lifestyle. Most people discovered that they actually enjoy their books, their comfortable furniture, their hobbies, and their keepsakes. The ascetic ideal proved to be too sterile for real life.
14. Fintech’s promise to replace banks fell short.
A new generation of “fintech” apps like Robinhood, Chime, and various crypto exchanges promised to democratize finance and make traditional banks obsolete. They offered commission-free trading, high-yield savings, and easy access to investments. Many Boomers, however, were wary of entrusting their life savings to a company with no physical branches and limited customer service.
Their caution was vindicated by a series of high-profile problems in the fintech world, including trading restrictions during market volatility, massive security breaches, and the complete collapse of platforms like FTX. These events highlighted the value of the regulation, insurance, and stability offered by traditional banking institutions.