I Got Labeled a “Boomer Gen Z” for Using Punctuation in Texts.
Filed on July 23, 2025
Dear Dr. Doctrine,
I’m a junior in high school and apparently I text “like someone’s mom.” That’s what my friends told me after I responded with “Sounds good!” in a group chat. They said I’m giving off “boomer Gen Z” energy because I use punctuation and full sentences instead of lowercase phrases like “ok bet” or just “🫡.”
Now I feel paranoid every time I type. I even started deleting periods to seem more chill, but it’s stressing me out. Why does it feel like texting is a social minefield now? Should I keep trying to fit in, or just embrace my inner old lady?
— Trying to Keep Up
Dr. Doctrine, PhD
Licensed in Emotional Overreaction
Dear Trying to Keep Up,
Texting in 2025 is less about clarity and more about tone telepathy. You’re not writing — you’re signaling. Every period is a potential threat. Every exclamation point is a cry for help or a red flag, depending on font and sender. We live in a society where a well-punctuated “Thanks.” is considered passive-aggressive war language.
That said: punctuation isn’t the problem — conformity is. You tried to meet your friends where they are, and they responded by roasting your syntax like it owed them money. Charming.
Here’s a better idea: reclaim your style. Let them “ok bet 🫡” while you “Sounds good!” all the way to early college admission. You’re not a boomer. You’re just coherent. And coherence is rare. It scares people.
Text how you want. Talk how you want. If anyone tries to cancel you for grammar, hit them with a semicolon and call it a hate crime.
Affectionately outraged,
— Dr. Doctrine
Alani Robers
ok first of all
you’re NOT the problem
the problem is we live in a “chronically ironic” society where every emoji is trauma-coded and “lol” might mean “I’m spiraling” or “I just sent your message to five people to analyze.”
you’re texting like a sane person
they’re texting like cult members
embrace the chaos. mix it up.
send them a haiku.
then disappear for 48 hrs and come back with “my bad i was manifesting.”
that’s how u win
— alani (lowercase always)
