Feeling Like a Dinosaur: 5 Trends That Have the Older Generation Scratching Their Heads

It’s been 14 years since I walked the halls of my high school, but if I were to step back in today, I’d probably feel like a relic from a bygone era. The trends that dominate among today's youth often leave me feeling utterly perplexed and out of touch. Recently, redditor u/Fyre-Bringer posed the question, "What's something you heard the younger generation is doing that absolutely baffles you?" Here’s a glimpse into the bewildering world of modern youth culture, as shared by Reddit users and members of the BuzzFeed Community:

• "I guess there’s, like, elementary school-aged kids with full skincare routines now? That’s wild…" —u/retrosnot86

• "Young people seek information by watching TikTok content rather than Googling the answers. If you have a lot of time to spare, you will often get good info, but I'm middle-aged, and I've always been a big reader. I will do almost anything to avoid having to watch stuff (or listen, for that matter) when I can more quickly visually skim and immediately determine if the information is relevant to me and seems legit." —mimib4fdb36f95

• "That they use phones instead of laptops. I use my phone a bit, but it's hard to imagine it being my only computer. I need at least 20 inches of screen, a trackball, and a keyboard with physical buttons just to think properly. I don't want to budget my battery to last all day if an important text comes through. I want my internet signals sent over a hard wire. When my computer stops working, I want to open it up and swap the broken part with a better one." —u/gameryamen

• "I'm almost 28, and an 18-year-old I work with mentioned how guys ask for her Snap. I guess the days of asking for phone numbers are completely gone. I'm not too surprised because I prefer Facebook Messenger over the texting app, but it's still so weird that we don't get phone numbers anymore, apparently." —puertorican

• "Gen X here. I don't understand the eyelash thing where they're so long and fluffy that you look like Snuffleupagus. I also don't understand the nails that are so long you can't function. Like, how do you wipe?" —nrkelly

Lost in Translation: 10 Modern Youth Trends That Leave Older Folks Shaking Their Heads

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of youth culture can sometimes feel like deciphering an alien language. Here are some perplexing trends that have the older generation scratching their heads, as shared by Reddit users:

• "They are allowing every one of their friends on Snapchat to know their location at all times. My 23-year-old coworker and her friends are constantly revoking and then reinstating their visible location depending on whether they're happy or mad with each other. If someone notices that they can't see where another person is, they'll bring it up, wondering what they did to upset them. Her best friend will ask her friend to check her boyfriend's location and whichever friend he told her he'd be with to make sure they match." "At least I can kinda understand family members knowing, but even then, my siblings don't need to know where I am at all times, and my parents should maybe stop constantly checking once I hit 18. 21 surely. IDK, I guess if you grow up with it, you don't think it's weird. I'm 43, and I certainly didn't grow up with people who didn't have the ability to know where I was at all times unless I told them or called them." —u/CallejaFairey

• "All the self-labeling. When I was young, we avoided labels at all costs!" —u/1mamapajama

• "I find many younger people to be very fearful. Hyper-fixating on the worst possible outcomes even though the actual chance is so low it's not worth worrying about." —u/sonicfluff

• "Refusing to learn to drive. I understand not wanting to, preferring to live where you don't have to because of good walkability/transit/likability, etc. But just being unwilling to learn at all? It's an important life skill, and there might be an emergency where you have to!" —u/Beruthiel999

• "Not dating someone because of the phone they have..." —u/SaveusJebus

These trends might seem bizarre or nonsensical to older generations, but to today's youth, they're simply part of the ever-evolving landscape of cultural norms and practices.

Lost in Translation: 10 Modern Youth Trends That Leave Older Folks Shaking Their Heads

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of youth culture can sometimes feel like deciphering an alien language. Here are some perplexing trends that have the older generation scratching their heads, as shared by Reddit users:

• "They are allowing every one of their friends on Snapchat to know their location at all times. My 23-year-old coworker and her friends are constantly revoking and then reinstating their visible location depending on whether they're happy or mad with each other. If someone notices that they can't see where another person is, they'll bring it up, wondering what they did to upset them. Her best friend will ask her friend to check her boyfriend's location and whichever friend he told her he'd be with to make sure they match." "At least I can kinda understand family members knowing, but even then, my siblings don't need to know where I am at all times, and my parents should maybe stop constantly checking once I hit 18. 21 surely. IDK, I guess if you grow up with it, you don't think it's weird. I'm 43, and I certainly didn't grow up with people who didn't have the ability to know where I was at all times unless I told them or called them." —u/CallejaFairey

• "All the self-labeling. When I was young, we avoided labels at all costs!" —u/1mamapajama

• "I find many younger people to be very fearful. Hyper-fixating on the worst possible outcomes even though the actual chance is so low it's not worth worrying about." —u/sonicfluff

• "Refusing to learn to drive. I understand not wanting to, preferring to live where you don't have to because of good walkability/transit/likability, etc. But just being unwilling to learn at all? It's an important life skill, and there might be an emergency where you have to!" —u/Beruthiel999

• "Not dating someone because of the phone they have..." —u/SaveusJebus

These trends might seem bizarre or nonsensical to older generations, but to today's youth, they're simply part of the ever-evolving landscape of cultural norms and practices.

In conclusion, the generation gap isn't just about age; it's also about the rapid evolution of cultural norms and behaviors. What may seem perplexing or even concerning to one generation often reflects the unique challenges and influences shaping the lives of today's youth. While older generations may struggle to comprehend certain trends, it's essential to recognize that each generation navigates its own set of societal shifts and technological advancements. By fostering understanding and open dialogue across generations, we can bridge the gap and appreciate the diversity of perspectives that enrich our society.