Are Boomers Doomed To Be Tech Leftovers In A Digital World?

How One Boomer Turned Tech Terror into a Creative Triumph—and You Can Too

The Boomer Blogger Solves

• Disconnection: Boomers feel isolated as grandkids and the world speak a tech language we don’t understand.
• Underutilization: Society sidelines our expertise, leaving us out of the digital conversation.
• Intimidation: Gadgets and AI seem overwhelming, fueling fears of failure in an analog generation.
• Opportunity Lost: Without tech skills, we miss out on creative outlets and even retirement income.

The Boomer Blogger’s Insights

• Free Tools: Tools like Riffusion, Krea, and CapCut turn anyone into a creator—no cash required!
• Facing Fears: Facing tech fears head-on builds confidence and slays the myth that Boomers can’t adapt.
• Creative Proof: A 2:57 music video proved I could master AI and share my story with the world.
• Reconnection: Creativity with tech reconnects us, fights loneliness, and can even spark new income streams.

Canva Pro is perfect for Boomers wanting to level up their designs with premium features. It’s beginner-friendly.

Ready to ditch the tech dread and dance to your own beat? Keep reading to see how I did it—and how you can start today!

A Boomer’s Journey To Tech Empowerment

The Day I Turned Tech Fear into a Techno Triumph

Picture this: I’m sitting in my quiet living room, a Boomer from the 1960s, surrounded by memories of vinyl records, typewriters, and a fireplace, when a wave of unease hits me. Was I destined to be left behind as the world buzzed on with smartphones and AI? NO!

Boomers often feel disconnected from the tech world, underutilized in retirement, and intimidated by technical gadgets. But one cold, almost spring Saturday, I decided to make a video.

Do you know how many YouTube videos are AI-generated every day? Chatty doesn’t either!

They are getting views and attention. Technology to create them is everywhere. You simply need a guide to tell you how it’s done. I downloaded the guide, a Google Doc full of affiliate links to everything being recommended. Yet, the King of Free could not bring himself to fork out the cash for all the “recommended” tools.

So, my day was shared with Grok. Using the “affiliate guide” as a checklist, I found the free tools I would need to create my first Music video.

The Tools

1. ChatGPT (research/ideas/script generator /SEO/ keywords/ tags generator) – In Grok I trust
2. SunoAI (Create Music) – I used Suno, but I find that Riffusion has better sound
3. Midjourney (image generation) – Great Tool, premium price tag. Krea & PicLumen do just as well
4. Leonardo AI (image generation and animation) – It’s always too cartoonish for me
5. KlingAI (animation) – I have 3 Gmails and have registered them all for 166 credits apiece.
6. Canva (design/ thumbnails/upscaling) – This is about the only thing that I have paid for, even knowing that Microsoft Designer is free.
7. Capcut (editing) – We all need a video editor, and this one is in my price range… FREE

Tools in hand, I poured my soul into creating a 2:57 techno music video. “Techno Tide: Walk the Sunshine – Work the Waves,” using my free tools, Riffusion to craft the beat, Krea & PicLumen for the eye candy, Kling AI for turning eye candy into 5-second clips, and CapCut to put the finishing touches on it. Once I got started, I realized that time just slipped away.

I have long held that AI will not take your job. Those who know how to use AI will! Take the time to learn it!

Why Boomers Feel Left Behind by Technology

I saw the transition to AI and streaming putting people on roller skates with jets and trying to maintain their balance. This is a common struggle for many Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 as we watch our analog world fade. Just when we finally accepted using Google to find answers and YouTube for information and entertainment, AI came in and changed everything. What is a Boomer to do? Face our fears and conquer them, only as a Boomer could do. The three fears we are slaying today are disconnection, underutilization, and intimidation. I promise you’ll enjoy this new ride.

Disconnection, The Tech Divide

Disconnection pops up when our grandkids speak a tech language we don’t get. They use apps and algorithms we’ve never mastered. Part of that is because only 59 % of us seniors aged 65 and older use smartphones compared to 95% under 30. Another part is the misguided stereotype that we are too old to understand technology. According to the Pew Research Center (2023), this isolates us further from family trends like creating AI videos on YouTube or TikTok. So I did it! I am going to talk about this video forever. Have you seen it? I love the lyrics coupled with the images.

Underutilization, Or Worse, Ignored

This disconnection leads to further underutilization. The lie that we’re not interested in tech has us omitted from the conversation. The misconception that we’re too old to care about new technology hinders society today by not including our skills and expertise in the equation. Expertise that has been forged by fire, leaving us sidelined and dealing with a personal 14 trillion dollar deficit. When we could be front and center and doing something about our plight.

Intimidation, Facing the Fear

Intimidation arises from the fear of the unknown. Sure, technology is complex to the point of being intimidating. But it cannot be that bad. My 3-year-old grandchild is a master at scrolling through pins and pics, so don’t tell me I can’t deal with it! We are the generation of common sense. Fear of failure? What a Boomer! Never! We are the most resourceful generation of all time, we have been doing so much with so little for so long that we can accomplish anything with nothing. The National Institute on Aging 2021 found that seniors dreaded tech’s perceived difficulty. Yet, persistence taught me it’s about starting, not perfecting, and using free tools like Riffusion and CapCut to overcome fear and grow.

Empowerment: Proving Boomers Can Master Creative Technology

How many things have you put off because you felt like a mountain was too steep to climb? YouTube anything is on my list to get familiar with. As a Boomer, I get most of my information from YouTube. I cut the cord long ago and am a YouTube/Rumble junkie for the news. As The Boomer Blogger, I’ve discovered that mastering creative technology isn’t just possible for us, it’s a thrilling way to reclaim our vitality.

This section unveils how I turned fear into triumph (I’ll let you decide), but my wife and I liked our video. Did you? Leave a word in the comments if you would like me to create more.

My Story: Another Techno Triumph

I admit that I have no fear of technology. I am now and always have been a nerd. Physics 301 kept me from being an engineer. I have been creating websites for friends and family since the late ’90s. Unfortunately, for most boomers, this is not the case. I am not perfect, though. Today started with a shaky start; grabbing the wrong audio lyrics file set me back an hour and a half. Have you ever tried to get lyrics from an audio file without paying for them? Then it hit me!

I thought I used Suno to create the audio file, so those were the lyrics that I went with. The words from the song did not match the lyrics. Go figure. I used Riffusion to craft my techno beat. Crisis averted.

I finished this project in about six hours. Three hours of learning from mistakes and three hours of actual accomplishments. That moment, seeing my creation come alive, erased my doubts. It’s a story of perseverance any Boomer can echo, proving we can conquer tech with a little grit.

I Wasn’t Always Tech-Savvy—And You Don’t Have to Be Either

I get it—some of you might be thinking, “Sure, this worked for you because you’re already a tech nerd, but I’m not like that.” Trust me, I wasn’t always comfortable with technology either. I’ve been creating websites since the late ’90s, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t stumbled along the way. Remember my lyrics mishap? I wasted an hour and a half grabbing the wrong audio file, and I had to laugh at myself when I realized I’d mixed up Suno and Riffusion. If I can make mistakes like that and still create a video, so can you.

You just need a willingness to try, fail, and try again. My journey began with small steps, like downloading CapCut and watching a YouTube tutorial. You don’t have to get it perfect; you just have to get started. If my 3-year-old grandchild can scroll through pins and pics, and I can fumble my way to a techno music video, then you can take that first step, too. We’re Boomers—we’ve faced bigger challenges than this!

Boomers Are Already Adapting

Don’t just take my word for it. The data backs us up. Pew Research Center (2023) reports that 73% of Boomers now use the internet daily, a leap from 14% in 2000. I was among the 14%. I was online during the wee hours of 31 August 1997, when word of Princess Diana’s death reached me. I had just upgraded to 33kbs and was testing the new “speed”.

My success with AI tools mirrors this trend, seniors are exploring creative outlets like music videos. This evidence isn’t just numbers—it’s a testament to our potential, urging us to seize the digital age.

Tech as a Tool, Not a Threat

Do you see technology as a threat, as a hurdle built for younger minds? Creating the video changed that. When I fixed a static text issue in CapCut, oh, and Captions in CapCut is a pro-level feature. This was part of my learning from mistakes hour. Tech is a tool that I can help you wield. This shift from intimidation to empowerment came with practice, not perfection. For you, it might mean starting with a simple Canva design and building confidence step by step.

Inspiration: You’re Never Too Old to Shine

My journey lit a fire. If I can do it, so can you! I’m in my mid-60s. I’m not just keeping up, I’m creating content that rivals the young crowd. Start with Canva, and watch your creativity bloom. My video’s beat, crafted with free tools, proves age is no limit. Let’s redefine retirement together, one project at a time.

Community: Connecting Through Creative Technology by Overcoming Challenges

The moment I uploaded my techno music video, “Techno Tide: Walk the Sunshine – Work the Waves,” to YouTube, I didn’t just share a creation—I opened a door to connections. As The Boomer Blogger, I’ve learned that a community flourishes when we face tech challenges together, turning obstacles into bridges.

Benefits: Turning Isolation into Purpose

These connections can ease loneliness, a reality for 1 in 3 seniors, according to Michigan Medicine. Engaging with viewers gave me purpose, I wasn’t retired; I was a creator inspiring others. My video’s pulsing effects, a workaround for no lip-sync, sparked discussions, deepening my sense of accomplishment in this digital community.

How to Begin: Embracing Challenges

Start by following my script. Create an audio file that you like on Riffusion, create some images on Krea or PicLumen, walk them over to Kling with all of your Gmails signed up, create some masterful clips, and use CapCut to arrange and edit your clips before posting to YouTube. Once your masterpiece is posted, share your tech triumphs or trials on all of the socials, and watch the comments come in. Join X groups with #SeniorCreators or start a blog like mine, turning challenges into conversation. It’s never about perfection, it’s about connecting, one story at a time, with Boomers who get it.

Opportunities: Turning Creativity into Cash

Uploading to YouTube unlocked potential ad revenue, a stream I’m exploring with my video’s growing views. Blogging, like The Boomer Blogger, or consulting on AI tools offers additional income—$7.6 trillion in Boomer wealth (AARP, 2022) can be leveraged this way. My three-hour project showed me that even a beginner can tap into these opportunities, making retirement financially vibrant versus gray and apocalyptic.

Launching Your Journey

Looking back, I never imagined a chilly Saturday could rewrite my story—from a retired Boomer haunted by tech mountains to a creator dancing to my own techno beat. That 2:57 music video, “Techno Tide: Walk the Sunshine – Work the Waves,” wasn’t just a project; it was a revolution in my retirement, proving that creative technology can empower us, connect us, and fill our days with purpose.

Now, it’s your turn to take the stage. Embrace one free tool—whether it’s CapCut or Canva—and let it spark your creativity, just as I did.

Share your story with #BoomerBlogger, join the conversation, and watch your retirement transform into a canvas of fulfillment. We’re not just keeping up with the digital age—we’re leading it, one beat drop at a time.

Let’s show the world that Boomers aren’t done shining yet!