Thumbs-Up Texts, Loud Chewing and Tardiness: Brits Reveal Their Biggest Pet Peeves of 2025 by Generation

New research from USDT Casino’s Pop Culture Team reveals what’s really getting on the nation’s nerves – and how age plays a part in our biggest bugbears.

Whether it’s someone skipping the queue, chewing with their mouth open or replying “K” in a text, a new study has revealed the habits that are officially driving Brits round the bend in 2025.

Commissioned by the Pop Culture Team at USDT Casino, the nationwide survey breaks down the most common social irritations by generation , from Gen Z to Boomers , and reveals just how deep the divide runs when it comes to modern manners.

What’s Winding Up the UK: 2025’s Biggest Pet Peeves by Generation

Gen Z (Aged 18–27)

• FaceTiming in public without earphones came out as the most annoying habit (72%).
• Loud eating and being left on read closely followed, along with people who blast TikToks on public transport.
• Half of Gen Zers said receiving a thumbs-up emoji or just the letter “K” in a message feels passive-aggressive.
• Others cited slow walkers, unsolicited financial advice, and people who say “vibe check” in everyday conversation as top icks.

Millennials (Aged 28–43)

• Ghosting, whether in dating or friendship, topped the list of bad behaviour (74%).
• Being late without a message, and friends who only ever talk about themselves were close behind.
• Many said they were frustrated by overuse of therapy-speak, people who cancel plans last minute, and relentless group chat notifications.
• One in five admitted they have a “hate-follow list” of influencers they watch just to roll their eyes at.

Gen X (Aged 44–59)

• Swearing around children, interrupting, and people who never say thank you were the most commonly reported irritants.
• Oversharing online, especially when it’s overly personal or performative, also ranked highly.
• Others mentioned loud music in cafés, cryptic social media posts, and being told to “just Google it.”

Boomers (Aged 60+)

• Lack of eye contact and general conversation skills were the biggest concerns (66%).
• Many were frustrated by people wearing headphones while talking, or those who look at their phone mid-conversation.
• Public swearing, disappearing manners, and using slang like “lol” in spoken language were also flagged.

Additional Findings:

• 72% of Brits admit to pretending to take a phone call to avoid speaking to someone.
• 45% of Millennials say they follow influencers they actively dislike,  just for the drama.
• 1 in 3 Gen Zers have unfollowed someone over being tagged in an unflattering photo.

“What counts as rude in 2025 isn’t what it was a decade ago,” says Rebecca Rowan, Pop Culture Contributor at USDT Casino.
“One person’s ‘normal’ is another’s ‘absolutely not’. Our research shows that every generation has its limits — but the common thread is clear: Brits still care deeply about basic respect, whether that’s showing up on time or replying with more than just an emoji.”