Baby Boomer stereotypes are so prevalent now that they’re almost a cultural shorthand—consider the “OK, Boomer” meme or the expectation that anyone over 60 won’t know how to use a smartphone. How much truth is there in these caricatures? Let’s examine some of the most enduring myths surrounding Baby Boomers and what the research and facts reveal.
10. Boomers are digitally illiterate
It’s easy to imagine Boomers as hopelessly lost in the digital age, but the numbers tell a different story. According to the Population Reference Bureau, Baby Boomers are much more likely than the generation before them to have computers, smartphones, and high-speed internet at home. Households headed by Boomers under age 65 have a 90% smartphone adoption rate, and even among those 65 and older, it’s 83%. Most Boomers not only utilize technology but have been pioneers in tech innovation—consider Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
9. Boomers are all wealthy and had it easy
The notion that all Boomers are sitting on a fat retirement account is simply not accurate. According to Psychology Today, Gen Xers have passed Boomers in family net worth. Boomers also experienced several recessions in their peak earnings decades, and sizable segments of the generation—particularly among Black and Hispanic Boomers—are living in higher rates of poverty than their white counterparts, as identified by the Population Reference Bureau.
8. Boomers are physically and mentally challenged
True, aging brings about health issues, but Boomers are not the weak, forgetful caricature they’re so often depicted as. A study cited by Psychology Today discovered that individuals in their 60s and early 70s are more physically fit than Gen Xers were at their age. And as far as the state of their brains, what has been discovered is that even the oldest of brains can generate new brain cells, so Boomers are far from unable to learn and adjust.
7. Boomers are a homogeneous group
Reducing all Boomers to the same forgets the diversity of the generation. The Population Reference Bureau points out that younger Boomers are more racially and ethnically mixed than older Boomers, and education, work, and even technology use vary importantly within the generation. Reducing all Boomers to the same overlooks these critical differences.
6. Boomers are conservative about change and technology
The Boomer stereotype of being rigid in their ways doesn’t survive contact with reality. Boomers have learned to adjust to enormous social and technological change in their lifetimes, from the civil rights era to the advent of the internet. Indeed, according to a 2019 poll of information workers, those aged over 55 were less likely than Millennials to see technology at work as stressful.
5. Boomers are mostly focused on Florida and Arizona
Although certain counties in Florida and Arizona are indeed densely populated with Boomers, the Population Reference Bureau indicates that there are at least one-fifth of the population in over a third of U.S. counties, dispersed throughout the nation. Numerous ones live in rural counties or have stayed put and aged there, not only in retirement destinations.
4. Boomers are self-absorbed and greedy
The “Me Generation” nickname stuck for decades, but in reality, Boomers are the most charitable givers in the U.S., donating 43% of all giving, reports Psychology Today. They also volunteer at rates equal to or greater than younger generations, and many are mentors, teachers, and community leaders.
3. Boomers are ecologically irresponsible
Accusing Boomers of causing environmental deterioration ignores their role in spearheading the first “ecology” movement in the 1960s and 1970s. For that matter, research released in the Electronic Green Journal confirmed that Boomers were the most eco-conscious generation among respondents.
2. Boomers remain the largest and most dominant generation
Boomers used to be the biggest generation, but they’ve been overtaken by Gen Xers and Millennials. The Population Reference Bureau indicates that Boomers currently constitute approximately 21% of Americans, outnumbered by Gen X and Millennials. Their influence remains strong, but the demographic is shifting.
1. Boomers are identical to all elderly people
It’s easy to put everyone over 65 in one group, but Boomers are different from the generations preceding them in education, health, and residence. The Population Reference Bureau mentions that Boomers are more likely to reside in married couple families, be better educated, and be more adept at using technology than people born before 1946. They’re also healthier in some ways, although increased obesity rates could create problems for them as they grow older.
It’s time to retire these worn-out myths and look at Baby Boomers for what they are: a diverse, resilient, and still active segment of our population.