Gen Z is begging boomers to stop texting like it’s still 1998—and it’s hilarious.
You ever get a text from your parent that made you cringe so hard you nearly dropped your phone? You’re not alone—and Gen Z is collectively howling at the wild, weird, and wonderfully outdated ways Boomers still use their thumbs. From overly enthusiastic punctuation to baffling emoji combos, Boomer texting is a whole vibe—and not something anyone under 30 understands. If you’ve ever had to explain a meme to your dad, this one’s for you.
1. They treat every text like a formal letter.
Boomers have this uncanny ability to make texting feel like a business memo. You’ll get a “Dear Samantha,” at the top and a “Sincerely, Mom” at the bottom—as if you’re about to sign a contract instead of picking up groceries. It’s kind of adorable, but also wildly unnecessary. You’re texting, not mailing a letter through the Pony Express.
You might just ask, “Hey, want Thai or Mexican tonight?” and get back a multi-paragraph response with greetings, commentary, and a signature. It’s sweet, but you’re left wondering if they think their messages will be archived in the Library of Congress. Gen Z is all about efficiency, so these drawn-out formalities can feel hilariously out of touch, according to Global English Editing. Still, you’ve got to appreciate the effort. They’re showing up—just stuck in 1987 while doing it.
2. They sign every message with their name.
You know it’s your dad texting, but somehow he still ends every message with “—Dad.” Like, sir, your name is literally right there in the chat header. Gen Z finds this endlessly funny, because it feels like something only someone writing on a postcard from summer camp would do. It’s not malicious or even annoying—just hilariously unnecessary, as stated by CleverType. It’s like they don’t fully trust the technology, so they’re making sure you know who is communicating, even though your phone literally has their photo, number, and full contact info.
You almost want to reply, “Thanks for the clarification, Steve.” For Boomers, it’s a habit from email days or handwritten notes. For everyone else, it’s a charming little relic that screams, “I don’t quite get how texting works—but I’m doing my best!”
3. They use ellipses like they’re building suspense.
Boomers love a good ellipsis. And not just one—they’ll stack those little dots like they’re trying to build a dramatic pause you never asked for. You’ll text, “What time is dinner?” and they’ll reply, “Not sure yet…” Suddenly, you’re wondering if dinner’s canceled, someone died, or if they just got distracted mid-thought.
Gen Z sees those three dots and assumes a storm is coming. The ellipsis gives every message this weird, ominous vibe, even if it’s just your mom saying she went to the store. There’s a place for suspense, but not in casual chat about picking up eggs, as reported at CNN. You want to tell them, “You can just end the sentence normally—it’s okay.” But Boomers are committed. The dots are their thing, and they’re not giving them up anytime soon.
4. They capitalize random words like it’s a ransom note.
It’s like Boomers think some words are just more important than others, so they give them capital letters for dramatic effect. You’ll get texts like, “Please bring your Jacket and Call me After.” And you’re sitting there wondering if “Jacket” is code for something or if “After” is a person. Gen Z reads it and instantly starts giggling. It feels a little like getting a message from someone still learning the language—only it’s your aunt who’s lived here her whole life.
Capitalizing random words makes everything look unintentional and confusing, like the text is shouting and whispering at the same time. You almost want to ask if their phone is glitching. But no—it’s just their Boomer brain hard at work, emphasizing words the rest of us read normally.
5. They text like they’re narrating a voicemail.
When Boomers text, it often sounds like they’re speaking into an answering machine circa 1992. “Hi honey, it’s me. Just wanted to say I’m thinking about you. Hope you’re doing well. Talk soon, love you!” All typed out—no punctuation missed, full sentences, and an almost audible voice in your head. Gen Z will read this and wonder if their phone accidentally transcribed a voicemail.
You half-expect to hear static and a beep at the end. It’s funny because you can actually hear your mom’s voice as you read it—it’s just that detailed and… formal. It’s sweet, really, but also a little extra. You asked if they could pick up paper towels, not for a heartfelt message worthy of a Hallmark card. Still, it warms your heart—even if it makes you chuckle.
6. They use punctuation like they’re writing a thesis.
Boomers don’t just throw in the occasional period—they treat every text like a punctuation playground. Every sentence is perfectly punctuated, commas included, and sometimes even semi-colons show up like they’re drafting an English paper. To Gen Z, this comes across as oddly serious. Like, why is this message so intense? “Okay.” hits different when there’s a period. It feels final—cold, even. But Boomers are just doing what they were taught.
Grammar mattered in school, and they’re not about to throw out the rules for casual texting. The thing is, Gen Z thrives on quick, flowing messages without all the structure. To them, overly proper punctuation feels stiff or even passive-aggressive. But to Boomers, it’s just respectful and clear. The generations are clearly texting in different languages—and the results are hilarious.
7. They respond to group chats like it’s a private convo.
Boomers have a knack for forgetting there are other people in the group text. You’ll be chatting with friends and family about where to meet up, and suddenly your dad replies with, “Don’t forget to take your vitamins today.” Thanks, but now everyone knows you still parent me at 34. Gen Z will instantly cringe—and then laugh—because it’s so painfully Boomer. They treat group chats like direct lines to one person, totally ignoring the other ten people in the thread.
It’s as if the concept of group messaging hasn’t fully registered. You try to explain it, but the next week, they’re doing it again, wishing your cousin good luck on his test in a chat about weekend plans. It’s chaos. It’s classic. And somehow, it’s always entertaining.
8. They send 47 texts instead of one normal one.
You’ll ask your mom a simple question, and suddenly your phone’s blowing up with a flurry of one-liners. “Well.” “I was thinking…” “Maybe we could…” “Wait, no.” “What about Friday?” “Is that okay?” It’s like watching someone narrate their inner monologue in real time. Gen Z calls this “paragraph panic,” because it feels like an entire thought broken into a chaotic avalanche of bubbles. Boomers don’t mean to cause stress—they’re just thinking out loud via text.
But instead of editing their thoughts and sending one clear message, they hit send after every new idea. The result? Ping, ping, ping. You can’t even open Instagram without being ambushed by part seven of your dad’s dinner thoughts. You love them, but you wish they’d learn the art of the tidy text.
9. They overuse emojis in ways that make no sense.
Boomers discovered emojis and never looked back—but their use is… chaotic at best. They’ll end a sentence with five random icons that have nothing to do with what they said. “So proud of you today! 🍕🐘💡💋🥾” Like—what are we celebrating here, a pizza-eating lightbulb that went hiking with an elephant?
Gen Z lives in the world of ironic or meaningful emoji use, so the randomness of it all sends them into giggles. You want to ask if they meant to pick something else, or if they just scroll the emoji list and pick whatever feels festive. It’s peak Boomer energy to think more emojis equals more love or emotion. And honestly, it kind of works—you just have no idea what they’re saying. But at least they’re expressive, right?
10. They try to use slang and get it hilariously wrong.
You haven’t lived until your dad texts you “That’s lit, fam” completely unironically. Boomers trying to use Gen Z slang is both heartwarming and utterly cringeworthy. They’ve clearly picked it up from TikTok or overheard it from a grandkid, but it lands about as well as a dad joke at a poetry slam.
You want to give them credit for trying, but you also want to confiscate their phone. “It’s giving Tuesday vibes,” your mom says, trying to sound trendy—while also being completely confused about what “It’s giving” even means. Gen Z can’t help but laugh, not because they’re mean, but because the attempts are just so wildly off. Still, you kind of love that they’re trying to stay relevant. Even if it makes you cringe in the best way.