MomSkoop
Back in the ’60s and ’70s, certain behaviors were considered completely normal — even polite.
But times have changed, and what once seemed like common courtesy can now come across as invasive, disrespectful, or just plain awkward.
Gen Z, raised in a world that values personal boundaries and consent, sees many of these old-school habits very differently.
Here’s a look at 12 everyday customs from those decades that today’s younger generation considers seriously rude.
1. Smoking Indoors Without Asking
Picture this: you sit down at a restaurant in 1972, and the person next to you lights up a cigarette without even glancing your way.
Back then, smoking indoors was as ordinary as ordering a coffee.
Offices, airplanes, and even hospital waiting rooms had ashtrays on every table.
Today, Gen Z finds this habit shocking.
Growing up with strict no-smoking laws and widespread health awareness, they see indoor smoking as a serious violation of shared space.
Blowing smoke into someone else’s air without permission feels deeply inconsiderate to a generation that prioritizes collective well-being and personal boundaries above social tradition.
2. Calling Someone Without Texting First
Surprise phone calls were just how people communicated in the ’60s and ’70s.
There was no texting, no DMs, no way to check if someone was busy — you just picked up the receiver and dialed.
If they were home, they answered.
Simple as that.
Fast forward to now, and an unexpected call can feel like a full-on ambush.
Gen Z grew up treating the phone as a last resort, preferring texts that let people respond on their own schedule.
An unannounced call interrupts focus, triggers anxiety for many, and signals a total disregard for the other person’s time and comfort.
3. Using “Sir” or “Ma’am” in Casual Settings
Formal titles like “sir” and “ma’am” were badges of respect in the mid-20th century.
Using them showed you were well-raised and culturally aware.
Teachers, bosses, and even strangers expected this kind of deference in everyday conversation.
Gen Z tends to read these terms very differently.
In casual settings, “ma’am” can feel stiff, patronizing, or even ageist — especially to younger women who feel the word implies they’re old.
Many prefer first names or neutral greetings that don’t carry social hierarchy.
What once signaled respect now sometimes signals distance, making conversations feel unnecessarily formal and a little uncomfortable for everyone involved.
4. Pressuring Kids to Hug or Kiss Adults
At every family gathering in the ’70s, kids were expected to greet every adult with a hug or kiss — no exceptions.
Refusing was seen as rude, and parents often pushed their children to comply as a sign of good manners and family respect.
Today, this practice raises serious red flags around bodily autonomy.
Gen Z strongly believes that children should never be forced to show physical affection, even with relatives.
Teaching kids they must hug adults regardless of their comfort level can undermine their sense of consent from a very young age.
Respect, many now argue, should never require a child to ignore their own discomfort.
5. Dropping By Someone’s House Unannounced
Neighbors just showed up at your door in the ’60s, and that was totally fine.
Open-door culture was the norm — people popped over for coffee, borrowed sugar, or just chatted on the porch without any prior notice.
It was seen as friendly and community-spirited.
Gen Z, however, values personal space and scheduled time intensely.
An unannounced visit can feel invasive, stressful, and disrespectful of someone’s daily routine.
Many young people live with roommates, work from home, or deal with social anxiety that makes surprise guests genuinely overwhelming.
A quick text asking “hey, can I stop by?” goes a long way in today’s world.
6. Commenting on Someone’s Weight or Appearance
“You’ve gained a few pounds!” or “You look so thin — are you eating enough?” were throwaway comments in the ’70s, tossed around at family dinners or office parties without a second thought.
People genuinely believed they were showing care or interest.
Gen Z sees body commentary as one of the most harmful habits carried over from that era.
With body image issues, eating disorders, and mental health awareness at the forefront of youth culture, commenting on someone’s physical appearance — even positively — can be deeply triggering.
Bodies are personal, and unsolicited opinions about them, no matter how well-meaning, are considered straight-up disrespectful today.
7. Assuming Traditional Gender Roles
In the ’60s and ’70s, gender roles were baked into nearly every social situation.
Men automatically picked up the check, women were expected to serve guests, and deviating from these norms could earn you raised eyebrows or sharp criticism from family elders.
Gen Z pushes back hard on these assumptions.
They’ve grown up in households, schools, and media that increasingly challenge rigid gender expectations.
Assuming a woman will cook or a man will always pay feels outdated and dismissive of individual identity.
These unspoken rules erase personal choice and can make people feel boxed in — something today’s younger generation simply won’t accept without question.
8. Giving Unsolicited Life Advice or Criticism
Older generations in the ’60s and ’70s often felt it was their duty — even their right — to weigh in on younger people’s life choices.
Career paths, relationship decisions, and personal goals were all fair game for uninvited commentary, especially from older relatives or authority figures.
Gen Z finds this habit exhausting and disrespectful.
Unsolicited advice implies you know better than someone about their own life, which feels condescending rather than helpful.
Young people today prefer to ask for guidance when they need it.
Being talked at — rather than talked with — shuts down real connection and signals that the other person’s autonomy simply doesn’t matter.
9. Smoking Around Kids or Non-Smokers
Secondhand smoke was barely a conversation topic in the early ’70s.
Parents smoked in cars with the windows up, in living rooms while kids watched TV, and at birthday parties without giving it a second thought.
It was just part of the atmosphere.
Now we know better — and Gen Z absolutely does.
With decades of research confirming the dangers of secondhand smoke, especially for children, this habit is viewed as genuinely harmful and selfish.
Exposing non-consenting people, especially kids, to toxic air for personal comfort is seen as a serious ethical failure.
It’s not just rude anymore — many consider it a form of harm.
10. Expecting Employees to Work Unpaid Overtime
Staying late without complaint was practically a badge of honor in the ’70s workplace.
Bosses expected dedication to mean long hours, and speaking up about overwork could label you as lazy or uncommitted.
The culture of “always available” ran deep in corporate America.
Gen Z has a completely different relationship with work-life balance.
They’re vocal about fair compensation, mental health, and the right to disconnect after hours.
Expecting extra labor without extra pay isn’t loyalty — it’s exploitation, full stop.
This generation watched their parents burn out under those same expectations and decided early on that their time and well-being are worth protecting, loudly and unapologetically.
11. Asking Personal Questions Too Early in Conversation
“So, are you married yet?” “How much do you make?” “When are you having kids?” These questions flew freely at social gatherings in the ’60s and ’70s.
They were considered signs of genuine interest — a way of getting to know someone quickly and personally.
Gen Z draws very clear lines around personal information.
Salary, relationship status, and reproductive plans are considered deeply private — not small talk material.
Being peppered with these questions by near-strangers feels intrusive and presumptuous.
It signals that someone sees you as a category to fill in rather than a full person.
Earning trust before asking personal questions is just common courtesy now.
12. Using Formal Language to Assert Status or Authority
Stiff, formal language was a power tool in the ’60s and ’70s.
Bosses, teachers, and community leaders used elaborate vocabulary and rigid speech patterns to remind everyone exactly where they stood in the social hierarchy.
Speaking plainly was sometimes seen as a sign of low class.
Today, Gen Z reads that kind of language as performative and off-putting.
Using complex vocabulary or overly formal phrasing to assert superiority feels like a manipulation tactic rather than genuine communication.
Young people favor direct, accessible conversation that puts everyone on equal footing.
Clarity and authenticity beat status-signaling every time — and pretending otherwise just makes you sound out of touch.