Coronavirus 'Boomer Remover' Meme Riles Up The Internet: 'Worst Messaging Error' 

The meme "Boomer Remover" started trending on the Internet over the weekend. Millennials and Gen Z netizens have been using the term to refer to the novel coronavirus, which affects the most vulnerable -- those over 60 years old.

Appearing in over 65,000 tweets, “Boomer Remover” apparently started off as a catchphrase on Reddit until it was picked by social media users. It highlights the fact that COVID-19's risks increase based on someone's age.

But “Boomer Remover” is drawing a lot of anger on social media for its mean and inconsiderate implications that the killer virus is wiping out the elderly. Some say that this term is a reflection of a lack of empathy from the younger generation for their elders.

Last year, the term "OK, Boomer" trended as a way for millennials to dismiss the elders, whom they think are ill-informed about the current state of the world.

Some netizens also said that “Boomer Remover” is giving the younger generation a false sense of confidence and safety that they won't be affected by the virus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in its report that there’s at least 20 percent of positive COVID-19 cases among the ages of 20 to 44. Many of them have underlying or pre-existing conditions.

"One of the worst messaging errors of this event has been the overemphasis on it being a problem mainly for the elderly," Twitter user BodieB2 said. The netizen shared that there is a 36-year-old nurse battling the virus at the ICU even as she has no known pre-existing conditions.

However, other young people say that they are using “Boomer Remove”r to convince their parents to stay home, limit their movements and social activities, as well as keep themselves safe. For some millennials, COVID-19 brings an inconvenient truth about their aging parents, and it's concerning.

Meanwhile, another user said that "Boomer Remover" might be an offensive term. Jack Saint, a videographer, also shared his dislike for the term on Twitter. However, he also said that people who lecture millennials for using the term must also remember what teenagers are like.