Gen Z has revealed their biggest texting “icks,” with the ubiquitous phrase “LOL” topping the list, according to a Sky Mobile poll of 2,000 British adults. Teens and young adults in their late teens and twenties criticized older generations for adding “LOL” after every message, with some saying the practice “boils their blood.”
Other texting habits that annoy young people include late replies, overusing emojis or GIFs, sending loud voice notes in public, and using the thumbs-up emoji. Nearly one in five 18- to 28-year-olds admitted they are “repulsed” by older generations’ texting styles.
TikTok influencers have also voiced their frustration. London-based Boms, with 113,000 followers, questioned the value of “LOL,” saying: “We are tired, it’s nonsense.” U.S. comedian Nasser Al-Rayess added, “Can we stop saying LOL after every message we send? ‘Just got hit by a car, heading to the hospital, LOL’ — ain’t no laughing out loud every single time.”
Orlando Moonlight echoed the sentiment, saying the abbreviation “boils his blood” and claiming people use it to appear “sassy.” Millennials have defended their use of “LOL,” criticizing Gen Z for “telling me what to do.”
The Sky Mobile poll also highlighted emoji grievances among young people. The poo emoji topped the cringe list for 29% of Gen Z, followed by the monkey covering its eyes (26%), thumbs-up (19%), and awkward grimace (19%). The thumbs-up emoji was considered rude by 66% of young respondents.
Gen Z’s Top 10 ‘Phone Icks’
- Late replies
- Saying “LOL” in every message
- Playing loud video or voice notes in public
- Overusing emojis or GIFs
- Texting “??” after 2 minutes of no reply
- Keyboard sounds left on
- Loud ringtones or alarms
- Replying with a thumbs-up
- Having yourself as your lockscreen
- Sending multiple one-word messages in a row
Interestingly, the study revealed that 79% of young people admit to ignoring messages on purpose, even though 29% are annoyed by slow replies. Some consider a 15-minute response time too long, despite 81% taking up to two hours to respond themselves.
This texting frustration mirrors in-person social struggles. Many young service workers have been noted for giving customers the so-called “Gen Z stare”, refusing to greet or make small talk. Older generations have labeled Gen Z “emotionless” or “socially stunted automatons,” while even some older Gen Zers have noticed poor communication skills among their peers.
Gen Z, however, defends themselves, explaining they may stare or remain silent only when someone asks a “stupid question,” highlighting a clash of communication styles across generations.
