A 2022 World Values Survey found that only 75% of Gen Z respondents consider good manners essential, compared to at least 85% among older age groups. The UK also stood out as the only Western country where less than half of respondents said it is crucial for children to develop a sense of responsibility.
Millennials and the Changing Face of Politeness
A 2019 poll by insurance firm Privilege showed that 84% of millennials believe classic British politeness is old-fashioned. More than a quarter (28%) admitted to cutting in lines, 53% do not say 'bless you' when someone sneezes, and 42% are unwilling to give up their seat on public transport for pregnant women or the elderly.
The report also revealed that one in five adults of all ages no longer hold doors for others, and 13% do not say please or thank you.
Public Sentiment on Modern Manners
On a recent Reddit thread, users expressed frustration over declining politeness. One user, @Chunky_Monkey4491, wrote: 'I have noticed people becoming less patient and more angry, myself included.' Another, @_ShredBundy, added: 'It’s like nobody expects to ever have interactions.'
@Pale_slide_3463 noted: 'No one has patience or care anymore.' @Bubble-Master96 recalled letting five cars pass without receiving a single thank-you wave, calling it 'becoming even more common.'
@zwifter11 shared an experience in a busy cafe: 'I had a few people ask if they could take a spare chair from my table. No one had the decency to say please or thanks.' Some users acknowledged their own role in the trend, with @BrummbarKT saying: 'My initial reaction would definitely be a bit flustered, like I have to actually climb out of my thoughts to get into conversation mode.'
Experts Weigh In: Why Manners Are Fading
Psychotherapist Claire Law told Metro: 'Time urgency is one of the psychological factors affecting manners. In today’s world, many people are constantly preoccupied with the feeling that there is an extra task to be done. When the brain perceives time scarcity, efficiency becomes more valuable than socialising.' She added that social modelling helps maintain manners, but people are socialised less frequently as activities become digital and automated.
Dr Benjamin Abrams, a UCL sociology professor, explained to Metro: 'Civility is dependent on a set of social arrangements that are fast vanishing in the UK today. Factors like short-term renting, frequent house moves, the anonymity of modern city living, and the increasing digitalisation of our interactions mean those close-knit community ties are often weaker. Because we now interact far more frequently with strangers we may never see again, the traditional social pressure to maintain strict formal manners has largely disappeared.'
Riky Hanaumi, psychotherapist and clinical director at Quadrant Health Group, told Metro: 'I don’t believe people have suddenly become less kind. What I see is that many of the small social rituals that communicate respect have been displaced by faster, more distracted ways of living. One pattern I’ve consistently noticed is when people are chronically stressed, anxious, or emotionally exhausted, courtesy is often one of the first social behaviours to disappear.'
The Impact of Loneliness and Isolation
Riky noted that disconnection is rising: almost three quarters (72%) of Brits aged 16 to 25 say loneliness has negatively affected their mental health, far higher than the national average of 54%. A 2025 study found that the average adult now spends an additional 99 minutes at home each day compared to at the turn of the century, potentially reducing social skills.
Despite the trends, Riky offered hope: 'The encouraging news is that manners are highly contagious. One genuine “thank you,” one moment of eye contact, or one small act of consideration often prompts the next person to respond, creating a ripple effect that strengthens social connection.'
