It’s not unwise to say that Gen Z are masters at texting, especially considering how they have made texting truly their own. Born directly into the digital age, Gen Z has developed a unique relationship with the technology they grew up with, which is evident in their use of technology that predates them.
Despite being a phenomenon since the early 90s, texting has only grown in popularity and interest in the modern era. With the internet allowing text messages to be sent without using SMS, the convenience it offers has led many people to adopt it as a reliable form of communication.
Given the essential role of these communication tools today, Gen Z has embraced the technology well and made it their own, creating arbitrary expectations and rules that gradually gain acceptance. These expectations are often meant to convey politeness in their uniquely interesting ways.
There isn’t a strict set of rules to follow, but here are a few things you might notice when talking with Gen Z:
1. Lack Of Capitalization
Texting is often seen as a more informal medium, and this is reflected in how language is used. Texting is expected to be more relaxed, without adhering strictly to proper grammar and spelling rules.
Although the days of “jeje” typing with extremely condensed words are long gone due to today’s virtually limitless character counts, capitalization is often viewed as an unnecessary grammar function. In fact, capitalizing words can imply seriousness, which might give off the wrong tone in some situations.
This lowercase form generally conveys the necessary information over text, and if you decide to capitalize the start of your words or sentences, it may give the impression that you’re serious or displeased. With Gen Z texting, it’s better to keep it light and lowercase.
2. Altered Punctuation Mark Use
In addition to the lowercase rule, punctuation marks are also used differently in texts. Tied to the informal format, punctuation is used in a more relaxed and eccentric way to convey a fun and chill vibe.
The question mark (?) and exclamation point (!) are often exaggerated in texting, especially when expressing extreme shock or surprise. However, the period (.) is frequently avoided, as it can imply anger or displeasure, which creates an awkward tone in casual settings. Similar to capitalization, it’s often best to leave it out.
3. Refrained Use of Smiley
This might be a Gen Z thing that you won’t get immediately but you’ll notice it when you hardly ever see them using the default smiley emoji. There are a ton of emojis offered today, and a lot of people have taken to using other emojis to show their joy or happiness.
Ironically, the smiley emoji has instead taken on a sarcastic connotation, pretending to smile when in actuality you’re not. It feels counterintuitive, but it is what it stands for now. You’ll often see Gen Z worrying about the use of the smiley emoji when talking to older people in text, since they have to guess if they understand the connotation or not.
4. Not Leaving On Read (Or Like)
A more recent feature in texting is the ability to see if the person you’re texting has read your message. While this can be a good indicator of whether a reply is forthcoming, it can be frustrating if your texting partner reads your message but doesn’t respond, or if they reply with just a blank like emoji.
Not responding can cause anxiety and miscommunication. It’s best to check your message and respond when you’re able to, to avoid making your texting partner worry.
5. Small Chat Bubbles
Sometimes, you have a lot that you need to say to your friend, and sometimes you get so excited that you use a lot of words to do so. That is fine, but it’s probably not the best idea to put all of that into one text message. Sure, your friend will likely want to know about the latest gossip that you have about your daily life, but not when it’s laid out like that.
Chat bubbles are like paragraphs, and they can help provide some visual space to a long block of words and help your story be more readable. So make it easier on your texting partner, and add some space to help make your juicy story even more juicy.
If you text with Gen Z, these are probably a few things that you’ll notice them do every so often. But it’s important to note that there are now specific rules when it comes to Gen Z texting, only some things that you might notice happening often. However, if you’ve ever been confused by how Gen Z communicates, then hopefully these five points have illuminated the reasons why.
