What’s your ‘boomer complaint’? People reveal their biggest gripes with younger generations – from bringing dogs everywhere to never making phone calls

• Ohio resident Lauren Ahmed started a debate among boomers on X 
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People have taken to social media to share their complaints about young people in what they dub their ‘boomer complaints’.

Lauren Ahmed, from Ohio, took to X, formerly called Twitter, to ask boomers what their biggest pet peeves about Millienials and Gen Zs are, including some people’s complete aversion to making phone calls and leaving voicemails. 

In response, some boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) responded with their gripes – but unsurprisingly, lots of Millennial and Gen Z X users joined in too, revealing they all had their own ‘boomer complaints’ to get off their chests.

In particular, people seemed irked by the rise in technology which, while useful at times, can be bothersome – particularly when it comes to QR codes instead of paper menus and self-checkout tills.

Elsewhere, the younger generation’s ‘obsession’ with their furry friends has caused rage, with one questioning why people feel the need to bring the pet pooches along with them everywhere.

Lauren Ahmed, from Ohio, asked social media users what their ‘most boomer’ complaints are, and hundreds replied (stock image)

Taking to X, formerly called Twitter, Lauren asked people: ‘What is the most boomer complain you have?’ 

Sparking an enormous outpouring of pet peeves, Lauren, from Ohio, said on X: ‘What is the most boomer complaint you have?

‘Mine is I think people take their dogs too many places for my taste and also I think everyone should be more punctual.’

The tweet, which has been viewed more than 14 million times, encouraged hundreds of people to share their biggest frustrations of today.

Lauren’s fury over people’s relationships with their canines proved to be a popular peeve, and one thought the ‘obsession’ enables ‘your dog’s worst impulses for separation anxiety.’

One person immediately chimed into the conversation and complained that children are on their iPads too much these days.

Elsewhere, another was bothered by streaming services, and questioned why ‘four’ different streaming services are needed to ‘replace basic cable.’

Others complained of social media, with a particular focus on TikTok.

For instance, one objected to youngsters scrolling through videos on public transport without headphones in, saying: ‘not everyone wants to hear your TikToks blasting’, they said.

People came in their droves to share their own ‘boomer complaints’ on X, including the ‘flakiness’ of younger generations

It comes after boomers revealed banning old records because of their lyrics is their number one frustration.

Drivers being forced to pay for car parking on an app, bank branches closing and not being able to get a doctor’s appointment also made the list of top niggles for over 50s, according to new research.

The survey was carried out by Boom Radio — the national radio station aimed at baby boomers — which questioned hundreds of its 531,000 weekly listeners about their pet peeves in today’s world.

Respondents were asked 31 questions and given a choice of ‘really frustrating’, ‘quite frustrating’, ‘it does not bother/affect me’ and ‘it does not bother/affect me at all’ as answers.

Some people take issue with the way younger generations dress, and want to see the return of formal outfits at the airport and men wearing shirts with collars 

When asked, 73 per cent of the 653 listeners said banning old records because of their lyrics was very frustrating while a further 17 per cent said it was quite frustrating.

It comes  after the band Queen omitted the track Fat Bottom Girls from their latest greatest hits album — causing a public backlash — because of worries it might be offensive.

One said: ‘How are people ever going to learn to deal with things that make them uncomfortable or force them to question things, if the world is to be painted beige for them? 

‘Perhaps they should be encouraged to listen to the lyrics of a lot of the songs that we grew up with so they can understand that, far from being out of touch, we have been fighting for the same things since the 60s!’

The next biggest irritation was lack of telephone access to companies such as utilities, with 73 per cent of baby boomers saying it was really frustrating, and 17 per reckoning it was quite frustrating.

Car parks with machines that need drivers to use a smartphone app to pay for parking was also on the top annoyances list for 68 per cent. One baby boomer commented: ‘It is BEYOND [sic] frustrating every single parking area uses a different parking app and you are expected to download each one on your phone. If they don’t want to use cash … then at least allow the option of paying by card.’

The entertainment industry also featured highly in the catalogue of grievances. Sixty-one per cent of baby boomers felt really frustrated by unintelligible mumbled words on films and TV, and a further 28 per cent found this quite frustrating, according to the Boom Radio survey. 

Newsreaders didn’t escape boomers’ wrath either — 60 per cent found poor grammar and diction from TV and radio newsreaders really frustrating, while 26 per cent thought it was quite frustrating.

Health was also a key issue. Trying — and failing — to get an appointment with a doctor was really frustrating for 58 per cent of respondents and quite frustrating for 25 per cent. When it came to being ‘nannied on what’s good or not good to eat’, 60 per cent said they feel really frustrated.

Elements of the banking, consumer and retail sector were a particular irritation for the baby boomers questioned. Fifty-six percent said they were really or quite frustrated by automatic check outs at the supermarket — with one adding ‘…us older people like human contact and need it more these days’ — while background music was a widespread annoyance, with 43 per cent saying they were very frustrated at loud music blaring out of speakers in shops and pubs.

On the subject of high street banks, fifty-five per cent of baby boomers found bank branches closing down really frustrating and 23 per cent said it was quite frustrating.

There was also a fear of being caught short. 

Some 56 per cent of respondents were really frustrated by a lack of public toilets, echoing recent research from British Toilet Association which estimated that the UK has lost 50 per cent of its public toilets in the past decade.

As part of the survey, Boom Radio listeners were also asked to share anything about modern society that frustrated them the most. 

One wrote: ‘Young children screaming and generally misbehaving in restaurants. This can come under the heading ‘bad parenting’.’

Another added: ‘Expecting us to keep up with the latest trends, for example, gender issues, new meaning of words, or words you cannot say anymore for fear of offending. It is difficult to keep up with new trends and we are forever being made to feel ‘racist’ or some sort of phobic.’

Other complaints included portion size — ‘…restaurants not offering smaller portions on their menus. Children’s menus are inappropriate. 

‘We don’t want to eat fish fingers and baked beans. We want adult food with slightly smaller portions…’ — and the new generation of sports commentators — ‘…BBC, Sky and BT Sport programmes which are pushing an anti our-age agenda by replacing favourite knowledgeable warm witty presenters with unknown bland social justice warriors…’.

Boomers also found fashion designs for their age insipid. 

‘We’re the generation of Mary Quant and Ossie Clark. So why are so many clothes meant to appeal to us so very boring?’ said one. 

This was supported by the research: when questioned, 50 per cent (23 per cent and 26 per cent respectively), were very or quite frustrated that clothes for ‘our generation’ were ‘too fussy or beige’. 

However, most were relaxed about being teased about their age — with 79% saying it didn’t bother them.

David Lloyd, co-founder of Boom Radio, said: ‘Whilst some of the points raised are simply minor niggles, others indicate how challenging life can become in utterly essential areas for this huge swathe of the population. 

‘The sheer detail in the responses indicates the strength of feeling amongst our audience – and a view their needs are increasingly neglected.’

Boom Radio first aired on Valentine’s Day 2021 and was founded by Phil Riley and David Lloyd — veterans of the British radio industry — who spotted a gap in the market for a new music radio station aimed at Radio 2 listeners. 

According to the most recent radio industry figures released last month, Boom doubled its listening year-on-year as listeners flock to the station to hear more of the music they grew up with. 

Much of Boom’s success is thanks to its veteran presenters playing hit records from the 1960s and 1970s which appeal to their listeners aged over 50.

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