Generation Z is crazy about a ‘genius’ iPhone feature that translates washing labels – while older generations joke that humanity is ‘doomed’.
Earlier this year, TikTok user Jennifer, from the US, posted a video of herself taking a photo of a laundry label she didn’t understand.
After this, she swiped up to access information about the image, which normally includes the date, location and device it was taken on.
Because Jennifer’s photo contained laundry symbols, her phone gave her the opportunity to look up more about “laundry care” online.
The mother was then presented with a list of laundry symbols and their meanings, all within 10 seconds of taking the photo.
The mom captioned the video, “Personal opinion: You’re 23 years old when you learn that your camera roll can tell you how to properly wash your clothes.”
Jennifer’s ‘washing hack’, which has been rolled out with a new Apple update, has been viewed by more than 1.9 million people and has racked up more than 65,000 likes.
The vast majority of TikTok users were grateful for Jennifer’s iPhone tip, saying they had always struggled to remember the meaning of the symbols.
One wrote: ‘I’m baffled… yesterday I tried to figure out what those symbols meant.’
Tagging a friend in the comments, another added: ‘OMG!’
“Like I LITERALLY looked up what the symbols meant yesterday,” said a third.
“Go cry Android,” a fourth moaned.
Others, however, were stunned to see how many people had not memorized the meaning of each laundry symbol.
The video, which has nearly two million views, begins with Jennifer taking a photo of her laundry tag
Because Jennifer’s photo contained laundry symbols, her phone gave her the opportunity to look up more about “laundry care” online
Other TikTok users were stunned to see how many people hadn’t memorized the meaning of each laundry symbol
One said: ‘We are doomed.’
Another added: ‘Gen Z (needs their phone) for everything. I can’t live without it.’
“After fifteen years I still know all the signs by heart,” says a third.
“The symbols speak for themselves,” replied a fourth.
Meanwhile, a fifth said: ‘Not me who had to learn these signals for care and welfare (lessons).’
In August 2022, it was revealed that more than half of Brits could not identify the ‘do not tumble dry’ symbol on a care label.
Research commissioned by sustainable wet cleaning service Oxwash claims that the national fallout of ruined clothing includes almost 53 million pairs of shrunken jeans.