Boomer says American Gen Z has every right to be furious about today's living condition: 'I don't blame them'
He called out older generations who like to compare their own youth to what young adults face today.
In a TikTok video, RadioFlyer (@radiodogentertainment) spoke directly about the growing frustration he sees in Gen Z and why, as a boomer, he understands it. "Well, Gen Z is pissed at us boomers, and I can’t say that I blame them," he began. In the video that has garnered 9 million views and 1.8 million likes, he pointed to a statistic that shocked even him, adding, "There was an article that came out the other day that said you would have to have 5 minimum wage jobs to live in Austin, Texas, to afford the rent there. It’s ridiculous."
He called out older generations who like to compare their own youth to what young adults face today. "Those of you who say, 'Well, back in 1980, I made $15 an hour and I bought a house.' Well, guess what — adjusted for inflation, your $15 an hour that you made in 1980 would now be over $112,000 a year." Far from the stereotype of young people being lazy, he said the truth is quite the opposite. "Most young people I meet, they want to work. A lot of people say, 'Oh, the new generation doesn’t wanna work and they’re lazy.' Now that’s not true. They’re smart. They’re smarter than us. They just don’t want your crappy $15 an hour job," he said.
A 2025 Investopedia American Dream Survey lays bare the financial squeeze that he referenced in his video. It found that 77% of Americans believe owning a home is much harder today than for previous generations. Housing prices have surged nearly 60% since before the pandemic, making what once seemed routine now an overwhelming hurdle. Among those affected are 41% of Gen Z and 42% of Millennials, who say they fear they’ll never be able to afford a home, largely because wage growth hasn’t kept pace with inflation and housing costs.
He admitted he didn’t have solutions to offer but wanted to acknowledge their struggles. With a hint of humor, he ended the clip by referencing a comment he had received: "Gen Z, on the other hand — that one young kid who told me yesterday and commented that I shouldn’t be on TikTok. Get off my lawn." The straightforward video struck a chord, particularly with younger viewers who rarely hear boomers' voices supported so directly.
@gardebien commented, "The cheapest house I've found here is 130k, it's rotting, molding, and has a leaky roof. I make 18$ an hour and don't qualify to rent anywhere alone." @sydneysmilesss added, "Thank you for this. You're one of the only people I've heard who hasn't said young people are lazy and that's why." @oldschoolsteve wrote, "Very true, and there are so many people that will not and can not understand the fact of inflation and how what was then isn’t the same as it is now." @jeremy_lynn0202 commented, "Bruh, I work $15 an hour, it doesn’t matter to me as long as I save up and keep my job and own up to my responsibilities, then there’s no issues."
You can follow RadioFlyer (@radiodogentertainment) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.
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