I've had several natives tell me that ぼく is used for young males and after a certain age you stop using it. However, on this sub from japanese learners and from what I've encountered, ぼく can be used by any age and it gives a specific nuance. The best example of this is in Inuyashiki where the old man main character who is supposed to be kind and gentle uses ぼく.
Is this something that just happens in fiction, but in real life it's like what the native speakers have told me? (All of the native speakers who told me this happened to be girls, so idk if that's relevant).
by GreattFriend