This was written and publish first in February 2025, but was adapted here.
Despite his recent controversy, Kanye West once said something in an interview that has stuck with me ever since: “Americans are addicted to convenience.”Ever since I heard that, this statement has proven itself to be true time and time again, especially among my generation.
Convenience has become an expectation, and it goes hand in hand with instant gratification. Our phones have trained us to want things and get them immediately. TikTok is the biggest supplier of this, it is an endless scroll of content designed to keep us engaged.When we look beyond our screens, this “addiction” isn’t just digital- it’s everywhere. Fast food? You can have a full meal in under five minutes. Amazon? A package is probably sitting on your doorstep right now. Meal services like HelloFresh? They eliminate the need for meal planning, grocery shopping, and decision-making. Everything is designed to save time and effort.
Does Convenience Make Us Lazy or More Efficient?
Some people claim my generation is lazy. I don’t completely disagree, but is that really true? Or do we just hate wasting time? We avoid unnecessary meetings, use AI to automate tasks, and streamline workflows for maximum efficiency. Convenience doesn’t necessarily mean we aren’t working hard, it just means we prioritize working smarter.
This past summer, I visited my friend Serena in Italy, and my addiction to convenience became even more obvious. It was almost a rude awakening. There wasn’t a Target on every corner. Getting around wasn’t as simple as calling an Uber. At first, it was difficult to adjust, everyday tasks required more effort than I was used to. But it made me wonder: Are we so accustomed to instant solutions that we struggle with anything less?
This whole idea kind of ties in with this concept that I also think about often. Our generations desire for personalization. We don’t just want things fast, we want them to feel unique and ours.
Using the same examples, this becomes even clearer. HelloFresh isn’t just about skipping the grocery store, it’s about receiving meals tailored to your preferences. You can choose meals based on what you like to eat, dietary restrictions, and how many people you’re feeding. AI tools learn your voice and habits. Amazon and other online stores don’t just deliver, they recommend products based on your interests. TikTok curates videos on the For You page to match your exact tastes.
This is where something like Spotify Wrapped comes in. It’s a personal reflection of our tastes. And we love it. Why? Because it feels like it was made just for us.
We crave customization in everything, buying things with our horoscopes on them, iPhones in color we want, necklaces with our birthstones.
So what do you think? Does personalization make convenience more addictive? Have we become impatient, or are we just adapting to a world that moves faster?
So maybe Kanye was onto something…are we addicted to convenience, or have we just evolved to expect it?
Master of None 