7 phone habits boomers can’t let go of no matter how many times you explain it

Let’s be honest: everyone has a few habits they can’t seem to shake.

But when it comes to how boomers use their phones, some patterns feel practically carved in stone.

It’s not that they’re clueless. Far from it.

Most have adapted impressively to a world that’s changed faster than anyone could have imagined.

Still, there are those moments that make you pause and think, “Wait, did they really just do that?”

If you’ve ever tried (and failed) to convince a boomer to stop forwarding chain texts or using speakerphone in public, this one’s for you.

Let’s unpack seven phone habits boomers just can’t seem to let go of, no matter how many times you explain it.

1) Leaving voicemails like it’s 1997

Raise your hand if you’ve ever listened to a five-minute voicemail that could have been a text.

Yeah, same.

For many boomers, voicemails are a sign of respect. Taking the time to speak, to explain, to connect.

But for younger generations, they’re an unnecessary detour.

A quick “call me when you can” text feels faster and more practical.

I once got a voicemail from my aunt explaining, in real time, how to make her favorite quinoa salad.

Halfway through she lost her train of thought and started looking for her glasses.

It was adorable, but also twenty minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

When I asked why she didn’t just text me the recipe, she said, “Oh honey, I like hearing your voice when you call me back.”

And that’s the thing. This habit isn’t just about communication. It’s about connection.

So while we might roll our eyes at the long messages, maybe we can also appreciate the sentiment behind them.

Still, I’ll take a texted recipe next time.

2) Using speakerphone everywhere

Have you ever stood in a grocery store aisle listening to a stranger’s loud conversation about their dog’s rash?

Odds are, a boomer was behind that phone.

I say that with love. But seriously, why the speakerphone?

For some boomers, holding the phone to their ear feels uncomfortable or awkward, especially now that smartphones are larger and bulkier.

Others think they’re multitasking, talking while unpacking groceries, folding laundry, or driving.

And of course, there’s the ever-popular, “I can’t hear well otherwise.”

But here’s the issue. Speakerphone in public is the auditory equivalent of oversharing on social media.

Everyone around you becomes part of your conversation whether they like it or not.

A little empathy goes a long way here.

Hearing loss is common, and many boomers genuinely struggle to hear through traditional calls.

If that’s the case, Bluetooth headsets or accessibility settings are great alternatives.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt if we all collectively agreed to keep private chats, well, private.

3) Forwarding questionable “news” and chain messages

If I had a dollar for every “share this with ten people or you’ll have bad luck” text I’ve received from a well-meaning older relative, I’d probably own a small island by now.

The boomer generation came of age in a time when printed news and broadcast media were largely trustworthy.

That built a deep-rooted faith in information.

When the internet arrived, many carried that same trust into the digital world, not realizing how easy it is to spread misinformation online.

That’s why so many boomers fall for viral hoaxes or conspiracy-laced posts.

It’s not ignorance, it’s habit. Their default setting is to believe that if someone took the time to write it, it must be true.

I’ve had to gently tell my mom that no, NASA isn’t paying people $18,000 to stay in bed for a year.

Or that Bill Gates isn’t secretly tracking people through WhatsApp.

These conversations can be tricky.

The key isn’t to mock or shame, it’s to guide.

Explain how misinformation spreads and show them reliable sources. Over time, some of that digital skepticism starts to stick.

4) Taking photos of everything but never deleting anything

Scroll through a boomer’s photo gallery and you’ll find at least three of every shot.

The blurry one, the slightly better one, and the “just in case” backup.

And heaven forbid they delete any of them.

Storage full? They’ll just start deleting apps instead.

There’s something sweet about it, though.

Many boomers grew up when taking photos meant buying film, waiting for development, and cherishing physical prints.

That scarcity made each picture feel precious.

So now, even in the era of cloud storage, the instinct is to keep everything.

Still, trying to show them how to manage digital clutter can feel like an uphill battle.

I once offered to help my dad sort through his photos, and we ended up reminiscing over every image for hours.

It was lovely, but not efficient.

If you’ve been trying to convince your parents to declutter their phone gallery, good luck.

You’ll probably end up with a slideshow instead of progress.

But maybe that’s okay. Sometimes nostalgia wins.

5) Using text like it’s email

Have you ever received a message from a boomer that starts with “Dear [your name]” and ends with “Sincerely, Mom”?

Boomers were raised in the world of formal correspondence.

Letters were neatly structured, signed, and often proofread before sending.

So when texting came along, many brought that same sense of decorum with them.

To younger folks, a long, punctuated message can read as cold or overly serious. To boomers, it’s simply proper.

Here’s what fascinates me as a former financial analyst turned writer.

It’s not just about generational habits, it’s about communication psychology.

The boomer texting style reflects a deep respect for clarity and completeness.

Every thought deserves full sentences, punctuation, and closure.

Meanwhile, younger generations thrive on speed and tone.

A simple “ok.” can feel passive-aggressive, while “ok” feels casual and warm.

Those micro-differences can completely shift how a message is read.

If you’ve ever tried explaining to your dad why a period after “Thanks.” sounds frosty, you know how futile it feels.

But at least their grammar is impeccable.

6) Answering calls from unknown numbers

If an unrecognized number flashes on your phone, chances are you’ll let it go to voicemail.

But if a boomer sees it, they’ll answer like it’s a mission from the president.

There’s a generational mindset at play here.

Back when landlines ruled, answering the phone was a matter of courtesy and often necessity.

You never knew if it was a neighbor, a business call, or a friend inviting you over for dinner.

Screening calls wasn’t an option.

Fast forward to today, and half of all calls are spam or scams. Yet many boomers still instinctively pick up, convinced that it might be important.

I’ve watched my mom answer unknown numbers with a cheery, “Hello, this is Susan!” as if telemarketers were long-lost relatives.

The irony is that boomers are also the demographic scammers target most, precisely because of that trust.

It’s not that they’re naive, it’s that their social norms were built around politeness, not suspicion.

Teaching them to let calls go unanswered can feel counterintuitive to everything they were raised to do.

But it’s worth repeating: not every ring deserves your attention.

7) Refusing to rely on digital tools

Whether it’s mobile banking, online reservations, or using an app for boarding passes, boomers often resist fully going digital.

“I just don’t trust my phone with that,” my neighbor once told me after printing out her flight ticket and a backup copy “just in case.”

This hesitation often comes from two things: fear of error and a need for control.

Many boomers spent most of their lives mastering manual systems like paper records, phone directories, and in-person transactions.

Moving to digital feels like handing over control to something invisible and unpredictable.

And honestly, I get it. Even as someone comfortable with tech, there’s a sense of security in having something tangible.

The difference is that younger generations grew up in a world where technology fails often, and that’s just part of the process.

We’re used to glitches, password resets, and software updates. Boomers, on the other hand, see those hiccups as validation of their distrust.

Still, I’ve noticed that once they do embrace digital tools, they often go all in.

My mom, who once swore she’d never trust online shopping, now lectures her friends on the best discount apps.

Final thoughts

Here’s the truth. Most boomer phone habits come from a place of connection, trust, and care.

They’re not stubborn for the sake of it, they’re just operating from a different technological mindset.

Yes, it can be frustrating when they insist on leaving long voicemails or refuse to delete photos from 2013.

But there’s something endearing about their persistence too.

They remind us that communication isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about humanity.

And if you think about it, maybe we could learn something from them too.

In a world where messages are skimmed and calls are avoided, a little patience, a little intention, and yes, even a voicemail now and then might not be such a bad thing.