Younger generations aren’t the only ones with questionable phone habits. Boomers are giving them a run for their money with a phone-clean flop offering that Gen Z, Millennials and Generation X can’t afford.
First up: Boomer screen time has reached sky-high levels, per Newsweek. In 2025, the media cited a recent poll conducted at the time that showed that about half of all boomers admitted to using their phones more than three hours a day. “Boomers spend hours glued to their phones, but that’s not connection — it’s isolation,” explained generational expert Brian Driscoll. Likewise, Ruth Hernandez, a mental health specialist, told Newsweek that this phenomenon shows the prevalence of digital addiction, including generational gaps.
Why would young people care if boomers were glued to their screens? This question is best answered on Reddit. There, commenters often complain about their parents neglecting their grandchildren in favor of using their own phones. It’s also not a secret Lots of screen time Because of excessive Cell phone use can harm your health – A good excuse to experiment Surprising side effects of a digital detox.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma said CBS Morning Screen addiction can lead to “digital dementia.” “This very much mimics real dementia when you walk into a room and wonder, ‘Why am I here, why did I come, and where are my keys?'” Dr. Varma warned.
Other “bad” phone habits
The second phone hygiene complaint about boomers involves the crooked way they send text messages. Instead of using their thumb, they text with one finger. Admittedly, this is less a health issue than a potential medical issue. according to St. Vincent Medical CenterAny type of texting can lead to a more serious problem like carpal tunnel syndrome. Since people ages 50 and over are more likely than others to have hand-related conditions like joint pain and arthritis, they may find all their texting difficult on their fingers.
Etiquette expert Jo Hayes shared another bad phone habit (not really hygiene-related, but still noteworthy) that’s very common among baby boomers. In a HuffPost In an interview, she noted that they tend to forget to lock their screen, which is a known security risk. “I can’t count the number of pocket calls I’ve gotten from my boomer dad. Almost every time I’m with him, I have to remind him just by clicking the side button,” she explained.
