An intergenerational row has broken out over the right way to wear your sunglasses, as Gen Z mercilessly trolls millennials for “aging themselves” by the way they place their sunglasses on their faces.
The debate started after an LA nurse, Jordan Harper, posted a video on TikTok of her Gen Z friend mocking her for the way she wears her sunglasses.
In the clip, which appears to have been filmed by a pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Jordan and her friend are sunbathing, with the nurse joking to viewers that she’s been “definitely teased all day” for her style choice.
While laughing, the pair bicker about how best to wear sunglasses, with Millennial Jordan revealing she pushes them further up her nose, while her friend says she’s showing her age. The younger friend adds that Gen Z tends to wear their sunglasses lower on the edge of their nose.
Commenting on the video, viewers remained divided on the best way to wear their sunglasses. Some said they preferred the Millennial ‘dad way’ because it blocks out the sun, while others opted for the Gen Z style so they could show off their clothes. sculpted eyebrows.
Jordan Harper, a millennial from LA, has opened a debate on TikTok about the proper way to wear sunglasses
As the video begins, Jordan tries to explain how she wears her sunglasses. Her younger friend steps in to tell her that the way she puts it on her face is a “PR nightmare.”
She then puts her sunglasses on her face and slides them up to the edge of her nose – to which her friend laughs and says, “You look like the dad who wears a visor.”
Then she pulls her own sunglasses up the rim of her nose and says, “You have to wear them right.”
The couple then asks other people how they wear their sunglasses; the ‘normal way’ or the ‘father way’.
The nurse joked that she was the victim of ‘absolute bullying’ all day because of her style of wearing sunglasses
The debate comes as older generations have been ridiculed for the way they write emails at work, saying certain phrases will become extinct.
Research shows that terms such as ‘Yours faithfully’ will probably no longer be used in ten years’ time, as instant messaging makes language use less formal.
Research into workplace emails shows that starting with ‘Dear’ will soon be a thing of the past.
The influence of text messaging and the rise of working from home have made offices more informal and relaxed, reflecting the way we write.
Emails are now more likely to end work with ‘Kind regards’ or ‘Many thanks’, with younger workers even choosing phrases like ‘Cheers’, ‘Ta’, ‘Speak soon’ or ‘TY’ – short for thank you .
According to a survey of 2,000 people by Barclays LifeSkills, 37 percent described ‘Yours faithfully’ as ‘old-fashioned’, while 10 percent found it ‘boring’.
Meanwhile, 6 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds said they found the phrase “intimidating.”
‘Greetings’ is considered ‘formal’ and ‘boring’ by 46 percent and 11 percent of respondents respectively.
In contrast, “Best Wishes” is considered “friendly” by 41 percent and “warm” by 24 percent.
Starting an email with “Dear” is also falling out of favor, as 35 percent describe it as “old-fashioned” and 9 percent find it “boring.”
“Hi” may seem overly casual, but younger employees wouldn’t blink an eye if they received an email that starts this way.
Only 17 percent of 18 to 24 year olds find it too familiar, while this is as high as 34 percent of 45 to 54 year olds. A total of 42 percent find it ‘friendly’.
Many are noticing this shift, with 71 percent saying “the younger generation is changing the formality of language in the workplace” and 69 percent believing idioms have evolved over the past five years.
Reliance on technology such as instant messaging platforms at work is seen as the biggest factor at 34 percent.
Working from home and Gen Z entering the workplace are also cited as a major influence.
Four in ten (41 percent) believe ‘Yours faithfully’ will become ‘extinct’ in the next decade and 36 percent say no one will use ‘Yours faithfully’ in the same time frame.
Other expressions that will become extinct include “To whom it may concern,” “With compliments,” and the use of “Dear.”
But the research suggests that more modern email unsubscribes may not be a hit with everyone.
To bridge the gap between different generations and seniority levels in the workplace, using ‘Kind regards’ seems to be the best and safest option.
While 51 percent consider the term formal, many feel that “Kind regards” strikes the right balance. Many think it also sounds ‘friendly’ (34 percent) and ‘warm’ (20 percent). Only 17 percent think it is old-fashioned.
Exclamation marks should also be handled with care. More than half (54 percent) say their overuse is “unprofessional,” and 41 percent say those who use them in work emails come across as “too enthusiastic.”
Kirstie Mackey (pictured), head of Barclays LifeSkills, said: ‘Our research shows that the next generation will clearly make their mark on the workforce when it comes to the way we communicate’
Kirstie Mackey, head of Barclays LifeSkills, said: ‘Our research shows that the next generation will clearly make their mark on the workforce when it comes to the way we communicate.’
She added: ‘The shift towards more personal language is positive, but it is important to demonstrate an understanding of social etiquette in the workplace, which differs from school or university.
‘Finding the right balance and still showing your personality in your communication is essential.’
Dr. Laura Bailey, Senior Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Kent, said: ‘Changing norms in the workplace are reflected in the language used by younger workers and in the way communication in general has changed.
‘Email threads and instant messaging platforms have become intermingled with ‘conversations’ where formal openings and signings may seem out of place.
“For the older generation, letter-writing etiquette may be so ingrained that it is instinctive in every written communication, while for Generation Z, social media has driven language change and accelerated the spread of language trends.”