Have you ever wondered, just how much has changed in terms of manners over the years? Even the customs that are more accepted among younger generations — texting rather than calling, drawing lines by “ghosting” or doing “digital detoxes” to keep your mind healthy — seem weird to Boomers. Having grown up in an age of phone calls and physical meetings, Boomers might be perplexed by these new practices. Let’s see 10 modern etiquette norms that make sense to the younger generations, yet Boomers scratch their heads over.
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Preferring Texting Over Phone Calls
Texting has become the standard way of talking these days — especially among the young who value convenience and speed. They also love the fact that texts allow them to multitask, communicate information faster, and reply whenever it is convenient for them. This can sound distant to Boomers who use phone calls for important communications because they are accustomed to using phones to form and maintain connections.
Canceling Plans for Self-care
The young generations usually prioritize their mental health now – and that sometimes involves calling off social events for sleep or self-care. Younger people are more concerned about taking care of themselves in order to not burn out or become over-stressed. Boomers, however, may consider making changes disrespectful, since they were raised to honor commitments no matter how difficult it really is.
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Keeping Social Media Profiles Private
These days most of us keep our social media accounts secret, only posting it to our best friends. Younger generations understand this as a way of guarding data and maintaining a tighter circle of close contacts. Boomers, who know social media to be a public forum where information is publicly shared with friends and family, may be surprised that they’re not seeing everything.
Frequently On The Phone At Social Events
Today, we carry our phones everywhere and we hardly take our eyes off the screen. Whether we are at a party, a lunch out or a family dinner, we find it difficult to stay off the internet and enjoy the offline world. Our Boomer generation, however, finds this disrespectful, and insists that we should pay attention entirely to those people around us and socialize with them rather than getting lost inside the mobile phones.
Splitting Bills Using Payment Apps
Digital money applications such as Venmo and Cash App make it easy for the younger generation to split the bill or owe money to friends. They don’t need to carry money or pay in advance; they send cash through their phones. This is more likely a newer way of payments for Boomers, and some might think it’s too complex or unnecessary.
Setting Clear Boundaries in the Workplace
Work-life balance is now prized and young workers are refusing rigid schedules. They’re not going to reply to emails late or work overtime. Boomers were used to working long hours and they were fully committed to their careers. So these demands of the young employees seem like a lack of commitment to boomers.
Casual Dress Codes in Professional Settings
Workwear is much less formal now, and many offices are now OK with jeans, t-shirts, or even hoodies. Young workers value self-expression and independence, especially in creative or technical fields. Baby boomers, however, generally consider professional attire as a mark of respect for the work and the company, and might feel that casual wear undermines the workplace environment.
Introducing Yourself with Pronouns
In recent years, sharing one’s pronoun has become routine in the office, school and community. This prevents assuming someone’s gender, and people are properly addressed. Younger generations tend to embrace this practice naturally while baby boomers, not used to such discussions, might be a little confused or feel like this stuff isn’t necessary — reading “gender” as a simple notion.
Taking Digital Detox Breaks
Young people tend to break screen habits intentionally (digital detoxes) in order to relieve stress and maintain a healthy state of mind. They perceive it as a reset, given the addiction to social media and electronic devices. For Boomers, who weren’t born into the same culture of digital immersion, this may not make much sense or may seem like just a matter of “muting the phone.”
Why Virtual Invitations Rather Than Paper Invites?
With email, Facebook events, and online RSVP tools, young people are no longer sending physical event invitations. It’s sustainable, economical, and it reaches people in real time. For boomers, however, digital invitations might seem cold or tacky at the big events as they have grown up sending and receiving paper invitations.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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