Gen Z expose the bad texting habits of older generations

Ever had a 20-something accuse you of being rude for using correct punctuation? This might be why.

Using the thumbs up emoji, full punctuation, signing off messages with your name and using ellipses are some of the biggest texting sins, according to South Australian’s Gen Z who have revealed the common mistakes older generations are making.

Will Sinodinos, 23, of Westbourne Park, said depending on the context, responding to a message with the thumbs up emoji could be considered rude by some.

“The thumbs up is pretty similar to the classic ‘k’ where it’s blunt and can be used to annoy someone,” he said.

Mr Sinodinos said receiving the emoji response could be enough to make Gen Z abandon the conversation

“It really does depend on the context of the conversation but if you’re putting in more effort to respond and the other person responds with just an emoji it can be annoying,” he said.

Will Sinodonis says replying with just an emoji is considered rude to some Gen Z. Picture: Ben Clark

However, Gen Z consider no response far worse than any emoji saying being left on seen was equivalent to being ignored, making them feel unvalued.

While responses aren’t always necessary, Talia Murray, 21, of Sheidow Park, said it was nice to have her texts acknowledged instead of being left on read.

“Leaving a message on read kills me, I 100 per cent prefer them liking it so I know they care,” she said.

Using full punctuation is also considered unnecessary for everyday texting by Gen Z.

“I never bother with it because I feel like it’s more formal and I save that for when I’m speaking or talking to somebody important,” Ms Murray said.

“I don’t mind it but I feel like it comes out of nowhere when it’s not spoken because I’m like why are you bringing punctuation into this?”

Jayden Hansen, 20, of Christies Beach, agreed older generations such as Boomers tended to be “too formal” over text by signing off each message with their name “like an email”.

“I know some people who do it a lot and it’s sometimes funny but also irritating because I can see their contact name when they message anyway,” he said.

Gen Z believe being left on read is rude and a sign someone isn’t interested in them. Photo: iStock

Texts ending with an ellipses make Gen Z uncomfortable and like the sender is being purposefully vague and passive-aggressive.

One Gen Z, who wished to remain anonymous, said seeing ellipses in a text always made their “heart drop”, especially from senior colleagues.

“At my old job, the managers were much older and when I had to close and count the sales, I had to send it to them and they’d be like ‘thank you …’ which freaked me out when I first started because I thought I messed something up,” they said.

“I think it makes me nervous and scared because I’ve grown up in a generation where we don’t allow pauses,

“We aren’t comfortable with silences and pauses because everything is always fast paced.”

Differences in texting styles among Gen Z and older generations can be confusing. Picture: Getty Images

UniSA English Language and Literacy senior lecturer David Caldwell said language was always changing, especially in the hands of younger generations and new technologies.

“Anytime someone lays down rules for language, they are inevitably broken and subverted, particularly by the younger generations who come through,” Dr Caldwell said.

Although Gen Z are more laid back than their predecessors, Dr Caldwell said it was important they acknowledge their style of messaging wasn’t the only one.

“It’s important to be aware that they have a different kind of communication style and to recognise that other generations might see their style as rude or at least different,” he said.

“There are moments where Gen Z need to expand their repertoire depending on their audience, for example, to produce a more formal SMS to their grandparents, but at the same time, they can send their more casual SMS to their best mates in a group chat.”

Gen Z’s biggest text gripes

1. Replying with a thumbs up

2. Leaving them on read

3. Using full punctuation

4. Signing off messages with their name

5. Using “ …” at the end of a sentence

Originally published as Gen Z expose the bad texting habits of older generations