By Michael Pyo ‘22, Feature Writer

In 2015, the phrase “OK, boomer” was used as an insult to those who seemed not in tune with the happenings of the modern world; this happened mostly on an anonymous imageboard website called 4chan. Since then, the phrase has slowly died out, as most memes do, but recently, the video creating app TikTok has popularized the seemingly extinct phrase. Teenagers have used this platform to complain about boomers, people born between the years 1946 and 1965, and their experiences with “boomers” either judging or policing their behavior on issues varying from clothing to gender expression. This article explores the supposed misconceptions of the phrase “OK, boomer” at Newark Academy, showcasing the opinions and thoughts of students and faculty of all ages. In the interviews conducted via email, the questions asked what the interviewees believed the significance and social implications of the phrase are. 

My first question was: in your opinion, what are the social implications of the phrase “OK, boomer?” Are they negative or positive, and why?

First off, I wanted to interview actual baby boomers, and I did, but many of the responses were along the lines of, “Unfortunately I have never heard the term and can offer no insights.” These faculty members confirmed they are indeed a “baby boomer.” After attempting to explain, I realized they would not be able to fully explain how the phrase “ok, boomer” affects them and society if they lack a deeper understanding. When I asked Mr. Downes (baby boomer by definition, but identifies more closely with Gen X), highschool math teacher, he said, “ Ironically, if you asked many boomers about the meme, they will probably not have even heard about it! I guess that says a lot.” 

Mr. Coe, the freshman and sophomore humanities teacher, answered, “To me, the phrase, ‘OK, boomer’ has a negative implication. It is used to dismiss someone because of their age, something which everyone surely hates. The fact of the matter is that this time around, it is being used by a younger generation to silence someone from an older generation– a reversal of the norm of older people telling younger people they’re too young to know what they’re talking about.” Sophomore and junior class English teacher, Ms. Morgan (Gen X), also commented, “The social implications are pretty negative, overall. The phrase reveals younger generations’ tremendous frustration with the Boomers’ ideals and experiences.”

Mr. Coe is able to identify the sole purpose of using this phrase as a way to “silence” the baby boomer generation. He states that he is indeed a millennial, someone born between the years 1980 and 1994, which is in between the generations of Gen X and Gen Z. This shows that this “negative” term, mainly used by Gen Z (those born between 1995 and 2015),  has reached a larger audience other than the target generation. In both responses, I see a common thread that this phrase carries a negative connotation- even with millenials and Gen X. 

Molly Cantillon ‘21, of Generation Z, said,“First meant to be a lighthearted joke between people of differing generations, the phrase ‘OK, boomer’ has become representative of cross-generational differences in culture, opinions, and norms. To me, the phrase “ok boomer” is a clear indicator that generations and their correlating opinions are often misunderstood by other generations.” Molly’s first instinct was to discuss the original intention of this phrase as a “lighthearted” and funny joke. I found this in many of my other interviews with students who describe the phrase as “a silly joke” or “pretty funny.” This is a differentiating factor between those of an older generation and Gen Z. 

As I write this article, I wonder what a 15-year-old (me) is doing talking about a topic that deals with an older generation. Through social media and other media platforms, an inevitable conversation has occurred between different generations because the phrase acts as a catalyst for enhancing communication.

This leads me to my next question: Do you think this phrase opens up a dialogue between generations or does it prevent open communication between generations?

Ms. Morgan says, “Ironically, while the phrase is the social-media version of “talk to the hand,” I think it’s opened up a dialogue about why there’s so much frustration on both sides. The controversy has created opportunities for members of all generations to reflect on the privileges from which they’ve benefitted, the consequences of their choices, and the challenges they face — one step in the direction of understanding, cooperation, and change.” I particularly liked her answer because it provides another example of a phrase that is used to shut down a conversation. Similarly, Mr. Coe uses the idea of a “mic drop” to “immediately end the conversation.” 

When I asked Aidan Orr ‘20 the same question, he explained, “It opens up a dialogue about the nature of cross general communication, as there is a disconnect between us [Gen Z] and boomers.” 

I agree that the phrase “ok, boomer” can “spark dialogue between generations to address these differences, but at the same time, it creates an easy outlet for us as teens to end the discussion and stay close-minded” (Molly Cantillon, ‘21). As I reflect upon these interviews, I see older generations perceiving the phrase with negative overtones, while Gen Z has taken the supposed offensive phrase as a joke. 

In a school where the faculty is so diverse in age, students collect different values and experiences as they pass through each class. This diversity creates a wide variety of beliefs among students, as teachers stand at the forefront of our lives as role models and mentors. We are incredibly fortunate to have teachers that are open-minded about discussing topics such as age. For example, the teachers that were interviewed were truly cooperative, and even the IB Economics class discussed the phrase; this shows how socially aware and advanced of a school we are.