Why QR Codes Are Everywhere Now (and What They Actually Do)

QR codes seem to be everywhere now: on restaurant tables, in parking areas, on package returns, on tickets, and even on your own phone.

Sometimes you are supposed to scan the code. Sometimes you are supposed to show it to someone else. So what is that little square actually doing?

In this video, Modern Boomer Guides explains QR codes in plain language, including what happens when you scan one and what to check before you go any further.

A QR Code Is a Connection, Not the Whole Errand

A QR code is a type of barcode your phone can read. For a restaurant menu, it is like a website address the camera reads for you. Other codes might identify an order, a ticket, or a return.

It also helps to know which job you are doing. At a cafe, you scan the business’s code. At a return counter, the code may be on your phone, and the employee scans it. Before opening your camera, check whether the instruction is to scan the code or show the code.

Shortcuts Still Deserve a Quick Check

Scanning a code does not order anything or charge your card. Those are later steps you choose. When a link appears, look at it before opening it, and ask: What is this code supposed to help me do?

Scammers have placed fake QR stickers over real ones. If a code looks like an unexpected sticker, sends you somewhere unfamiliar, or asks for sensitive information that does not fit the errand, pause and check through a website or app you already know.

Want to Learn More?

This video is based on A Modern Boomer Guide to Understanding Apps for Everyday Errands, a 52-page full-color visual guide covering ordering, payments, coupons, pickup, delivery, receipts, notifications, and the everyday steps behind app-based errands.

Preview the guide for free or get the complete digital edition →