Millennials sending home classics to the scrap heap

MILLENNIALS have already been shamed for their laziness and lack of loyalty, but now it seems they could be blamed for sending a series of ‘classics’ like live TV and the Big Mac extinct.

Gen Y are sending certain items extinct: John Flynn, 25 and Bea Ferguson, 24 eating cereal and a Big Mac while using a corded phone. Picture: Tim Carrafa

MILLENNIALS could be washing their hands of bars of soap — as well as live TV, cash, DVD rental stores and the Big Mac.

They have already been shamed for laziness and lacking loyalty, but now it seems millennials could be blamed for sending a series of ‘classics’ extinct.

Generation Y, as they are otherwise known, may prove to be cereal killers with an international study declaring 40 per cent thought the breakfast staple was too inconvenient to clean up.

The McDonald’s Big Mac could also be on the chopping block.

A memo leaked from the restaurant chain earlier this month claimed only one in five millennials had tasted the double beef patty burger.

And as the buzz around mass-produced beer disappears, Roy Morgan Research found 25-34 year olds were driving the growth of craft brews that came “at the expense of the local mainstream beers”.

Bars of soap are also on the slippery slope with three in five Americans aged 18-24 thinking they would be covered in germs.

Almost 30 per cent of their Australian counterparts used body wash or shower gel within a month of being surveyed in 2015-16. Just 15 per cent used bar soap.

Melbourne University online consumer psychologist Dr Brent Coker said millennials weren’t the first generation to send some popular products the way of the dodo.

He said “general behaviour” and product preferences continually changed over time.

“A lot of these products just aren’t necessary anymore,” Dr Coker said.

“For example, younger people might not like using serviettes because they don’t like sitting down at the dinner table. It’s not a formal ritual anymore.

“It is grab food, have it on your lap and watch Netflix on your iPad.”

IBISWorld predicted revenue from free-to-air TV would drop $4.9 billion in 2015-16 as Australians, predominantly those under 30, swapped the google box from the iPad and streaming services.

They’ll also switch off DVD rentals with estimations that revenue will more than halve in the next five years.

IBISWorld senior industry analyst Nick Tarrant said most people only tuned into live TV for sport and programs where they would otherwise miss an announcement or revelation.

“The traditionally popular shows like sitcoms, comedies and dramas just aren’t being watched anymore,” he said.

“Most consumers now want to watch shows when and where they want and it is so easy to do that online.

“Younger consumers are much better at doing that, they know their way around.”

OUT OF VOGUE

DVD RENTALS

Australia’s DVD rental industry has more than halved in the past five years.

LIVE TV

Revenue predicted to fall $4.9 billion in 2015-16, led by millennials’ shift to online entertainment.

BARS OF SOAP

Less than 15 per cent of Australians aged under 25 used soap bars in the month before being surveyed, compared with 38 per cent of those aged 50-64.

THE BIG MAC

Only one in five millennials has eaten a Big Mac burger.

COLD CEREAL

40 per cent of millennials find cereal too inconvenient because they have to wash up.

MAINSTREAM BEERS

Australians aged 25-34 lead the surge in craft beer’s popularity, despite a drop in beer drinking overall.

CARRYING CASH

Westpac Cash Free Report predicts Australia will be cash free by 2022.

HOME PHONES

Almost a quarter of 25-34-year-olds have ditched fixed-line phones for mobile only, compared with just three per cent of people aged over 65.

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@moniquehore