Bored Panda
29 Younger Generation Trends Older People Just Can’t Wrap Their Heads Around
Social IssuesOCT 27, 2025

29 Younger Generation Trends Older People Just Can’t Wrap Their Heads Around

0
0
If you find yourself frowning upon something someone younger is doing, that most likely means one of two things: you’re either too old to understand what the current youth is up to—as most of us probably are—or you’re simply a grumpy person in general, which is an entirely different matter.
If you belong to the former category, find comfort in the fact that you are far from the only one baffled by all sorts of youngster trends. Be it a new hairstyle every other male under insert a certain age here is walking around with or activities teenagers are taking part in, it might not be easy to identify with a generation that grew up in an entirely different world. But we should probably at least try to understand them, no matter how confusing it all is. (Goodness knows, we’ve gone through a phase of trends our parents found odd, too.)
If you’re curious about what are some of the things young people do that absolutely baffle those older than them, scroll down to find netizens' answers to an ‘Ask Reddit’ thread on the matter started by u/Fyre-Bringer to find out.
If you scroll down, you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center of Innovation in Social Science, Dr. Deborah Carr, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions regarding generational differences.

#21

Close-up of a modern keyboard illustrating younger generation trends in technology older people find confusing.
I've trained 3 early 20s co-workers now that don't use the Shift key to capitalize letters. They hit caps lock, type the letter to be capitalized, then hit caps lock again.
I can't wrap my head around it.
Report
0points

#22

Teen girl using smartphone at cafe table with latte, illustrating younger generation trends older people struggle to understand.
I'm not really too baffled, I just see a lot of worrying trends.
The main thing that concerns me is the steep decline in mental health among young people since smartphones went mainstream and we got the internet in our pockets. I'm not shocked at all to see it but it is very bad.
0points

#23

The popularity of "nuisance streamers" with younger folks. I don't find being a public nuisance even a little bit entertaining or funny, especially when its being filmed.
Also just in general the trend of filming, photographing and trying to make "content" out of their entire life in some vain hope of becoming internet famous. I don't get it. Last thing i'd ever want to do is have my entire life posted on the internet.
0points

#24

Not using condoms. My generation was raised hearing about Ryan White and seeing Very Special Episodes about why we didn't want AIDS and everything else. Apparently some younger people aren't worried about it anymore.
0points

#25

Making fun of another kid because they don't have a specific water tumbler. It sounds like somebody is trying to parody "making fun of other kids for having the 'wrong' brand of clothes or phone".
Report
0points

#26

Four young men sitting outside a building, showcasing younger generation trends in casual fashion and socializing styles.
All the self labeling. When I was young, we avoided labels at all costs!
0points

#27

Calling anyone with a different opinion a troll. I see it over and over and over.  I do not understand and I can only feel pity.
0points

#28

I listened to a 23-year-old (more than a decade younger than me) say she wanted to start 'preventative Botox.' Girl...
Report
0points

#29

Medical professionals in protective gear performing surgery, illustrating younger generation trends older people struggle to understand.
I know a girl that had plastic surgery by the time she was 19. When I first met her, she was literally a ten. Now, she's funny looking.


0points

Add Your Answer!

Not your original work?

0
0