‘Call a boomer’ service puts students in direct line to lonely seniors
A new street-level activation in Boston is inviting young people to pick up the phone and connect with seniors living across the US.
Installed on Commonwealth Avenue near Boston University, a bright yellow “call a boomer” phone links directly to a second handset inside a senior housing community in Reno, Nevada.
Anyone can pick up and be instantly connected, creating unplanned conversations between generations separated by thousands of miles.
The project is the work of biotech company Matter Neuroscience, which is exploring how simple, analogue interactions might help address loneliness.
The premise is deliberately low barrier – calls are free, and if no one answers, users can leave a voicemail.
Selected moments may later appear on social media, extending the life of each exchange.
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The idea builds on an earlier trial connecting politically different cities, but this version shifts the focus to age. Both younger and older adults report high levels of loneliness, and the installation aims to encourage dialogue that moves beyond assumptions or differences.
Live for an initial month, the phone also acts as a public prompt – testing whether curiosity and conversation can still cut through in a distracted world.
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