The Brief: The terms "boomer" and "ok boomer" have become popular insults that millennials and Gen Zers use to call someone uncool.
DEEP DIVE
Intergenerational rivalry is not a new phenomenon, and in 2019 it’s clearly alive and well. Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, Gen Zers, and everyone beyond and between can often be found blaming each other for various wrongs in the world. The most recent form this has taken is young people using the terms “boomer” as a generic insult for someone who is ignorant, out of touch, or otherwise uncool. The term can have a variety of connotations, depending on the amount of irony with which it is used and the feelings the person using it has about Boomers.
Animosity between generations often relates to how political leanings often fall along generational lines. In many ways, “boomer” as an insult is the antithesis of snowflake, a term often used by boomers to insult younger and left-leaning people for being overly sensitive.
my 13 year old kid and all her friends are hanging out and calling each other boomers every time one does or says something stupid
— R.P. Lather, Esq. (@allahliker) October 6, 2019
LRT: my favorite arbitrary generational terminology deal is when kids get mad on social media and start using 'boomer' as an insult, because then it just turns into:: pic.twitter.com/aFNZvYqupk
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) August 27, 2019
00s – as the younger generations come of age and complain about "boomers"
10s – teens call everyone over 25 a "boomer"
20s – "boomer" is a corny catchall insult like "sheeple" or "npc"
30s – "boomers" becomes the derogatory term for actual androids as seen in bubblegum crisis
— D๐CFUTURE (@topherflorence) August 1, 2019
What Does ‘Ok Boomer’ Mean?
In addition to just “boomer,” the phrase “ok boomer” can be used to dismiss something that someone says. It can be spoken to an actual boomer, or a younger person to draw the comparison. It’s a ubiquitous response to someone who is expressing an outdated or close-minded worldview. This meme has become so popular that you can buy merch with the phrase printed on it.
boomers: people on this app are way too sensitive stop being SNOWFLAKES
us: ok boomer
boomers: pic.twitter.com/rZtmn5g1pe
— abbieโๅฝก (@spicyabbie) October 17, 2019
grandpa: [in his last minutes] I love you all very much
me: ok boomer ๐๐๐
— Kellen (@captainkalvis) October 19, 2019
millennials, stand up for ur national anthem
*OK BOOMER starts playing*#streamOKBOOMER
— ๐ฏ๐๐๐ (@MYCHEMlSBACK) October 16, 2019
the teens have collectively weaponized the english language with two simple words. โok boomerโ is unbreakable.
— check it out im Gayfee (@gayfeeshow) October 19, 2019
TikTok #OkBoomer
On TikTok, the hashtag #OkBoomer has received over 10.3 million views. It features memes making fun of boomers for being behind the times, closed-minded, rude to baristas, and more. Many of these videos include a song called “ok boomer” by peter kuli & jedwill, which has lyrics that savagelyย dunk on Baby Boomers.