“Okay Boomer” is a phrase that just about everybody has heard in the past few months, and although it may pose as a hilarious meme, this saying really stands for much more than an internet joke. 

The generational divide is expanding and the tension only continues to grow between Gen Z and Boomers. The official age range of a Boomer is being born from 1944 to 1964 and to be a Gen Z you would be born from 1955 to 2015. Although the year you were born would typically be the deciding factor on if you are a Boomer, Millennial, Gen Z, etc, this tends to not be the case in our current society. Generations are unified more by mindset than by year, and there are many factors that go into a person’s mindset and perspective on life.

The term “Boomer” has taken on a negative connotation. Jeff Frambes, a resident of Plain City, can officially be called a Boomer because of his age. Frambes believes that although you might be old enough to be considered a Boomer, you may not fit the stereotype. “Nowadays, calling somebody a Boomer means that they aren’t good at tech, and that we are stuck in our generation, not really accepting new trends or lifestyles.” 

The younger generation, Gen Z, stereotype is that they are obsessed with their phones and are self-entitled. Both of these judgemental assumptions have caused quite the generational divide.

Kenzie Wright, a senior at JAHS and also a Gen Z, offers a solution to this generational divide, “I think that if people realized nobody has to fit inside this mold of the past generation and if we could all just have a nice conversation, that would be great.” 

Frambes also has ideas about how to end the generational divide. He says“…not judging each other, being kind to each other, and listening to each other” is the first step in closing the war between generations. 

“Being open minded is the easiest thing [Boomers] can do, but they always seem to dodge it. Just because we disagree doesn’t mean there’s something’s wrong with us, it just means we see things from a different lens.” says Wright. 

Frambes’ advice to the younger generation is to “Listen to those older to you because they know some stuff. But you’ve also gotta teach us. Be patient.”

Although this generational divide has created a pretty funny internet meme, it is important we look past the laughs and focus on the real issue– the lack of togetherness.