The double generation gap between the Baby Boomers and Generation Z (the Zoomers) is widening and social media knows how to fuel the fire.
Those born between 1945 – 1960 fall under the “Baby Boomer” category. This generation learned from their parents varying views of war and how people were treated and vowed to change and guard against oppression, mass killings, and segregation. Although initially wary, Baby Boomers began to trust technology more than their older counterparts and encouraged industries such as retail and dining to attract those who normally would sew their own clothes and cook at home to venture out and trust another’s cooking, clothing and product.
They are a hard working generation but having lived under the Cold War, learned that life could be over in a second and every minute should be cherished, thus giving rise to the sexual revolution and widespread experimentation with drugs. Opposite the resolute, follow the rules, devote your life to one employer philosophy held by their older counterparts, Baby Boomers began to divorce in higher numbers and were the first generation to “live for the day.”
However, Baby Boomers aged, and living for the day or “YOLO” was not practical. Boomers are practical and have realized in their maturity that rules and traditions and structure might be positive after all.
Generation Z’ers were born between 1995 and 2010, and have been, since birth, conditioned to take on the weight of an internet dependent society, with their career hopes lying in the balance of what new technology chooses when it ends one industry and opens a new one.
Although older generations are envious of the “young and carefree” for all their access to tech and societal cushions they worked hard to build, the Zoomers feel they got the short end of the stick.
Whether it was Y2K, 9/11, the Great Recession, the Social Media explosion or COVID, Generation Z didn’t know what the heck their parents were complaining about during their school days, as they are constantly being bombarded with privacy threats, responsibilities requiring connectivity at all times, and lack of direction when it came to what careers are “safe” and future goals.
They are forced to take a train that has no map or disclosure of where it is going to stop and they are not viewed upon in society as old enough to help make decisions and societal changes.
So Zoomers look to the Millenials to guide their agenda but the latter is facing their own issues with jobs, family responsibilities and keeping Boomers and Traditionalists connected and up to speed.
So Zoomers are left with deciding if they should go to college and get a degree in an industry that may no longer exist, or choose a career that accents their strengths but is hidden by a COVID mask.
However their advantage is their youth, as they will be perfectly poised and able to express extreme flexibility when society and industry “resets”. Lay low and loose is now their strategy.
So as an older, seasoned Baby Boomer begins to give advice to the young adult, some have responded with “Ok, Boomer”, translated into meaning “what you have to say is irrelevant, and you (and your generation) are irrelevant.”
Boomer’s have responded by calling them “Zoomers”, implying “you’re acting like an electrical discharge with no control, plan, or purpose,” or “Snowflake” meaning, “you are too weenie to handle the grown up stuff.”
The Millennials and Generation X’ers try to offer guidance, but they don’t want to be caught in the cross-fire and become the brunt of any more memes than they have to.
So the Boomers and the Zoomers continue to have it out. But the latter may be out played.
Boomers have been around the block a few times and can still see the world through non-tech eyes. Moreover, they know how to lay on a good guilt trip.
But what they’re really waiting for is a power and cell phone outage to prompt the Zoomers to surrender and call for help…..
But then again….the Zoomers are waiting for that same moment, because they’re the ones who remember all the wifi passwords once the power comes back on….
Dr. Daliah 
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