“OK Boomer”: offensive or just a joke?

As 25-year-old Chlöe Swarbrick delivered her speech to the New Zealand parliament on Nov. 5, the voice of an older lawmaker heckling her arose from the audience. Her snappy response, “OK, Boomer” quickly went viral on the internet as millions of Millennials tuned in to watch one of their generations shut down what they considered to be a problem: the older generation and their unwillingness to change.

The latest catch-phrase, “OK, Boomer,” has grown largely in popularity among Generation Z (born in 1996 to 2010), and is now being widely used as a clap back against those they deem to be out of touch or old fashioned, primarily Boomers (born in 1946 to 1964) or anyone older than the current younger generation. Although to some the phrase may seem offensive, its defenders say it should be regarded as more of a joke than an actual insult.

The phrase was originally popularized when it was used in a comment in a video on the popular social networking site, TikTok. The video, made by an older man, accuses both Millennials (born in 1981 to 1996) and Gen Z of having the “Peter Pan syndrome,” a condition associated with victims never being able to mature mentally and engage in adult behavior. The viewer’s response encapsulates the generation differences between Baby Boomers and Millennials and Gen Z and has since been adopted by many as a way to dismiss the Boomer generation, criticizing the stubborn and close minded mentality of the older generation. 

It seems that the younger generation has gotten so tired of the constant judging and belittlement directed at them from their elders that they have started to fight back.

The controversial phrase has garnered many supporters in both generations. While some may say it is harmless and merely a joke, there are some, such as Lonsberry, who sees the phrase as offensive and disrespectful. His tweet promptly backfired when shared around social media; some viewers simply fired back with “OK, Boomer,” generating hundreds of likes, while others called his statement an overreaction. It has received so much backlash that Lonsberry has since deleted his tweet.

Those offended by the phrase need to see it for what it is: a harmless prank on the elder made by the younger generations. Ever since its rise, videos and memes have been popping up everywhere, typically showing a person of the Boomer generation becoming “triggered” or upset after a Millennial casually tosses the phrase at them. 

According to Adam Cooper, associate professor of linguistics at Northeastern, the term’s original intended use may be the same as any other sarcastic phrase.

“It’s purposely flippant and meant to draw ire,” Cooper told News@Northeastern, “but it’s so pervasive that it might soon become a victim of its own success.”

And a victim it has become. The phrase has become so widespread and popular that it has become more of a joke, directed to anyone older than the person speaking. Instead of being used to criticize someone’s mindset, it is now more commonly used as a general “comeback” or insult in any petty argument.

The bottom line is: “OK, Boomer” was never intended to be offensive, but its rise in popularity gives insight on how the younger generation feels. The fact that the phrase has even appeared should be startling to people. It shows a big divide between generations, which can only be fixed by a better understanding of each other.