It’s an unavoidable part of life that as we grow older, the habits of younger generations can start to grate on us. While there’s not much we can do about this, it’s a good idea to learn about such differences so that we can become more tolerant of each other. To show you what we mean, here is a list of modern habits that British youngsters have that are frustrating to us old folk.
Social Media Obsession
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that younger generations can’t seem to detach from their phones, scrolling endlessly through social media feeds. In fact, The Guardian claims that over half of the younger generation claim to be addicted to it. Meanwhile, older people find this rude; this constant need to document everything online instead of being present in the moment leaves them feeling disconnected, so it’s a lose-lose in our eyes.
Cashless Transactions
These days, contactless payments and digital wallets have largely replaced cash, which frustrates many older individuals who prefer physical money. They struggle with the idea of financial transactions existing only in the digital realm, leading to concerns over security and a sense of loss of control over their finances. We’d go back to a cash-dominant society any day.
Streaming Over Traditional TV
Older Brits find it annoying how streaming services have become the go-to for entertainment, sidelining traditional TV watching. This shift baffles us, as we’re accustomed to scheduled programming and channel surfing. The vast choice and on-demand nature of streaming can feel overwhelming and unnecessary to those who grew up with just a few channels. Furthermore, despite all the choices, it often feels like there’s nothing good to watch.
Environmental Activism
While many of us older people support environmental causes, we can become frustrated by the more extreme activism embraced by younger generations. The urgency and often confrontational tactics used by some activists can feel alarming and unrealistic to those who have seen a gradual change over decades, especially when it comes to reckless campaigns such as those by Just Stop Oil.
Decline of Phone Calls
For the younger generation, texting has largely replaced phone calls as the primary mode of communication. Older individuals often find this impersonal and frustrating, preferring the nuance and clarity that comes with hearing someone’s voice. The shift can make them feel alienated from the younger members of their families, but sadly, it’s something we’ve had to try to keep up with.
Casual Dress Codes
Even in traditionally formal settings, casual dress codes are becoming increasingly common in modern Britain. This shift annoys us oldies, as we value dressing smartly as a sign of respect. Seeing jeans and trainers at events like weddings or even in the workplace just doesn’t feel right, and ultimately, it feels lazy and reflective of a lack of pride in appearance.
Declining Use of Formal Language
Younger Brits often favor casual language, including slang and abbreviations, in both speech and writing. This habit grates on older generations who were taught to use formal language in most situations. They find the casual tone disrespectful and worry it reflects a broader decline in communication standards. Who knows how far detached we could become from the English language within another decade?
Working From Home
Ever since COVID-19, remote work has been embraced by younger people, and while they claim it has many benefits, the older generation isn’t convinced. We struggle to understand how productivity can be maintained without the physical presence of colleagues because, at the end of the day, we’re just more accustomed to the structure and social aspects of the traditional office environment.
Overuse of Emoji
Older Brits aren’t against emojis, but we see it as inappropriate in formal communication, yet this is all too common nowadays. Kids today see it as a fun and quick way to express emotions, but we just find it childish and confusing, at least in the office environment. There’s a lot of ambiguity that comes with emojis, so it’s really not ideal for getting jobs done.
Online Shopping Preference
The rise of online shopping has led to a significant decline in high-street shopping, which many older Brits find deeply disheartening. They miss the social interaction and the tactile experience of browsing in stores, and it’s awfully sad to see our favorite independent shops shut down. The impersonal nature of online shopping, coupled with concerns about privacy and security, further adds to their frustration.
Decline of Handwritten Notes
Back in our day, everyone communicated with the art of handwriting, but this has now been largely replaced by typing and texting. This loss seems tragic to us, as handwritten notes were so personal and emotionally driven. There was no better feeling than receiving a long-anticipated handwritten letter from our pen pal or grandchildren, but sadly, this is a joy of life that is now gone.
Gig Economy Jobs
Ask any old-school British person, and they’ll tell you that the gig economy, with its focus on freelance and short-term work, is a trend that we find stressful. We always valued traditional, long-term employment as more stable and respectable, and the lack of job security and benefits in gig work just seems unsettling and risky, something that we don’t want our grandchildren to have to deal with.
Declining Interest in Home Ownership
Younger generations are increasingly choosing renting over buying homes, often due to financial constraints or lifestyle preferences. We can understand this, but ultimately, this shift frustrates older individuals who view homeownership as a key life achievement. The reluctance to buy property is seen as a lack of ambition or stability by many in the older generations because, realistically, young people could still save up for a mortgage if they worked harder.
Instant Gratification Culture
Another modern U.K. habit that drives the older generation crazy is the expectation of immediate results and responses fueled by technology. Us boomers grew up in a time when patience was a virtue, and the idea of waiting was normal. Sadly, today’s constant demand for instant gratification seems ungrateful and unrealistic, and we really think that younger people need to get a grip when it comes to this.
Decline of Personal Responsibility
Many older people perceive a decline in personal responsibility among younger generations. Whether it’s a perceived lack of commitment in relationships or work or a tendency to blame external factors for personal failures, this attitude contrasts sharply with the self-reliance that older generations were often taught to value.
Over-Sharing Online
If you’ve ever used social media, you’ll know of the tendency younger individuals have to share personal details and opinions online. This is something that many older people find bewildering; they value privacy and discretion, and the openness of social media feels invasive and unnecessary. The idea of broadcasting every thought or experience to the world is particularly hard for them to grasp, as it feels like even the most personal details are no longer sacred.