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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Technology
Danni Scott

Gen Z beg people to ditch 'cringe' phone habits - including typing with index finger

Keeping up with new technology and the etiquette surround it can see like a headache sometimes. Gen Z have already deemed the thumbs up emoji rude in certain situations, while anyone older might see it as a friendly but quick acknowledgment.

Whether you're up to date with all the latest tech launches or still using your Nokia 3310, there are some habits so bad they should be ditched immediately - according to the younger generations anyway.

On the banned list are using ellipses, dirty screens, nicknames, and perfect grammar with almost a third saying the biggest crime against tech is using your phone on speaker in public.

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An absolute no-no is using loud speaker when in public (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Trends move so fast it can be hard to keep up if you're outside of the loop but Gen Z have some clear rules for the dos and don't when it comes to their devices.

Almost a third of people aged between 18 and 40 deemed the worst habit you can have as playing music out of your loud speaker in public, according to MusicMagpie research.

Music isn't the only culprit as taking a FaceTime call or using loud speaker when on a call also had around a third of people cringing, although more Millennials had a problem with this than Gen Z.

Music-lovers are being urged to keep the speaker usage within private property - the person next to you probably doesn't need to know your dinner plans or listen to your favourite song anyway.

Second-hand cringe is a real issue for 18 to 25 year olds as 71% said they get an uncomfortable feeling from the way friends, family or loved ones use their devices. Sometime habits might be classed as modern 'icks' - which are instant turn offs or cringe factors - but are actually just people being impolite or inconsiderate of others.

One major 'ick' is putting your phone on the table at dinner, especially if you're ignoring your dinner date in favour of your device. While we can all agree this is understandably seen as rude, some cringe-y habits are a little less obvious.

A quarter of Gen Z find it unbearable when you save someone's details under a nickname like "work wife" or "babe". There is a caveat that this mainly applies to nicknames that are already cheugy (uncool), if the name is an inside joke this is far more excusable behaviour.

Dirty or cracked phone screens are an instant turn off (Getty Images)

Scrolling and typing with your index finger is also a major no-no, this habit is known to be infuriating to younger generations who instinctively know how to use the device. Type with your thumbs and it'll speed up texting as well as appeasing the Gen Z around you.

Messaging etiquette showed the gulf in Millennials and Gen Z culture with a third of younger adults hating unnecessary ellipses while only 8% of their older counterparts finding it problematic.

Least problematic to over 25s was responding to a voice note with a text message, but this response would be seen as cringe by 29% of Gen Z.

The voice note has become common with long text messages also seen as uncool (21%). Vocalising your thoughts via voice note is much preferred by many, as it allows your tone to come through unlike a text, but is less committal than a phone call.

Liam Howley, Chief Marketing Officer at MusicMagpie said: "With so much of our communication being conducted by technology devices these days, it's no wonder the ick has transcended the physical world and entered the digital world.

"It's clear from the research that we have more than just a bit of brushing up to do on our tech manners and perhaps it's time to put that phone down when we're out on a date!"

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