The catchphrase took social media platforms by storm this year, earning its place as the latest linguistic weapon in generational warfare. So here's everything you need to know about "OK, boomer."
The flippant yet passive response means to mock or dismiss people who are narrow-minded, conservative, and out of touch—characteristics that are stereotypically attributed to Baby Boomers.
Find trigger warnings and safe spaces laughable? OK Boomer. Don't believe in climate change? OK Boomer. Think Kids These Days are overly sensitive? OK Boomer.
The anti-boomer sentiment stems from the fact that members of the younger generations are set to inherit endless societal problems on a planet that is running out of time.
For example, students rack up tens of thousands of debts even before earning a single dollar. The cost of education sky-rocketed and the younger generations pegged the boomers to blame. In the 1960s, boomers received subsidized tuition and paid very little for their education. However, when they became 'the establishment,' they ignored the bills for education that will supposedly help young people afford college.
Notable uses
Everyone seems to be using the catchphrase. An attendee of this year's Galaxy Con even got Naruto's voice actor to say it in a video and uploaded it in Reddit.
Member of the parliament for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Chlöe Swarbrick, used "OK Boomer" to interject an older member of the parliament who was heckling her during her speech to address climate change. In an editorial with The Guardian, Swarbrick called her "OK Boomer" response as a symbol of collective exhaustion of multiple generations.
Politico Magazine published the editorial "OK Bloomberg," a variation of "OK Boomer," to criticize the possible candidacy of Michael Bloomberg, a former New York Mayor, for President of the United States.
19-year old Peter Kuli uploaded a remix song "OK Boomer" on Soundcloud, which thousands of TikTok videos now use. A few college students and shopping sites also decided to cash in on the trend. Countless merchandise like phone cases, pins, notebooks, mugs, and hoodies with "OK Boomer" adorning it are now for sale.
Reception
"OK Boomer" received a full spectrum of reactions from the public, ranging from #NotAllBoomers to "the hate is justified."
Conservative radio host Bob Lonsberry wrote in a now-deleted tweet, "Being hip and flip does not make bigotry OK, nor is a derisive epithet acceptable because it is new." He even went as far as labeling "OK Boomer" as an ageist slur and compared it to the n-word.
Business Insider's Senior reporter, Rachel Premack, shared a screenshot of a press release stating that "The use of 'OK boomer' in the workplace could be sufficient evidence of age-based hostility to support a lawsuit."
Bloomberg columnist Taylor Cowen also shared his take of the "OK Boomer"' trend, saying that users of the phrase are "putting themselves down by signaling their own impotence." A professor of leadership and management at Miami University believes it "perpetuates age-oriented stereotypes" and hinders generations from respecting and learning from each other.
On the other side, Disney heiress Abigail Disney tells fellow boomers who are offended by the "OK Boomer" response to "sit down and let the kids drive."
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez understands young people's frustration, stating that "OK Boomer" is a manifestation of the acknowledged reality that younger generations are inheriting generational issues where the can be kicked down the road so long. However, she notes that the answer lies in a "positive and inclusive" movement.
Origin
The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, but its first recorded use is in Reddit, dating as far back as 2009. In Twitter, it was first used in 2018. It wasn't until January 2019 when its significant spread across social media started.
