Shashi Tharoor has a hilarious comeback on son Ishaan’s ‘ban booms on WhatsApp’ remark | Today’s news
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, known for his sharp political wit and light-hearted internet banter, once again amused social media users with a witty reply, this time aimed at his son Ishaan Tharoor.
The exchange began after Ishaan shared a post on X responding to Zoho co-founder and former CEO Sridhar Vemba’s suggestion that India should ban social media for young children. “I agree that little kids shouldn’t be on social media at all. But India needs to ban Boomers on WhatsApp first before doing anything else,” Ishaan wrote.
Tharoor responded with a playful remark, saying that even his son’s generation could be considered “boomers” by Indian standards.
“Due to our reproductive patterns, my son, unlike the West, every generation of Indians, including yours, qualifies as (baby) boomers!” he joked.
What does the word boomer mean?
The word “boomer” is short for “baby boomer” and traditionally refers to people born between 1946 and 1964, during the post-World War II population boom.
However, in India, the term is often used informally to describe older people who hold outdated views or authority figures, who offer unsolicited advice and hold to traditional thinking.
What sparked the debate?
The debate began after Sridhar Vembu reacted to reports that the French parliament had passed a landmark law banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms.
France has become the first European Union country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 15 after lawmakers in both houses of parliament approved the law earlier this week. The law also prohibits students from using cell phones on school premises.
Supporting the move, Vembu said India should adopt a similar approach to encourage children to spend more time outdoors and away from mobile screens.
“India should ban social media even for young children. I believe young children should read physical books, play in the dirt under the sun and stay away from social media!” he said.
His remarks were in response to a post by a WION journalist that highlighted how several countries, including France, Australia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, are implementing measures to limit children’s access to social media.
France recently passed a law to prevent children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. The legislation, due to come into effect in 2027, will require users to verify their age before accessing these platforms.
The French move follows Australia, which became the first country to ban social media for under-16s.
