Gen Z Shifts Away From Traditional Polite Phrases When They Can’t Hear

A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that Gen Z is moving away from traditional polite phrases like “excuse me?” and “pardon?” in favor of more direct alternatives like “what?” Many Gen Z individuals avoid asking people to repeat themselves, with 51% just nodding along instead. Background noise also poses a challenge, with 81% pretending to understand conversations in noisy environments like bars and restaurants. And it’s not just about missing words – two in three say noisy environments can make it harder to emotionally connect during a conversation, leading 73% to feel annoyed or disappointed when they miss something important. (Talkingpoints)