Gen Z woman who was shocked by text millennial man sent to her after first date sparks online debate

You may not realise but everything from the way you dress to the social media apps you frequent are subtle giveaways for the year you were born.

As the two most chronically online generations, the distinctions are most visible between Gen Z and Millennials — with everything from the jeans we wear to the emojis we use being assigned as one of the two generational groups.

And it would seem like there’s a new giveaway to deduce whether a person’s year of birth starts with a one or two… the way in which you text.

Taking to TikTok, 27-year-old US woman Libby (@Libbyinboston) shared an image of a text she’d received from a man she’d recently been on a date with and asked for opinions on the quality of his response.

The text wasn’t anything particularly explosive or shocking, with the mystery man simply writing: “Hey, had fun last night. Have a good day.”

However Libby wasn’t too impressed with the message and shared a screenshot alongside asking followers if her date was a bad texter or just simply a man in his mid-30s.

“Is he a bad texter or is he 35,” she wrote on the video, which featured the ‘Let’s f**king go… I guess’ sound.

Libby was deliberately vague when it came to what exactly had left her so unimpressed with the message, prompting plenty of debate in the comments.

“My bf is 38 n txts me as if it’s an email like spacing between texts I’m like can you not haha,” one commenter revealed, suggesting that formal text messages, full-stops and all, become more appealing as you age.

“LIKE WHY ARE THEY LIKE THIS,” a second person questioned, as a third added: “If he texts like he’s messaging his boss on teams you’re the one.”

However not everyone saw a problem with the business-casual approach to messaging, with some viewers suggesting Libby base her judgement after exchanging multiple texts to ‘see to how the conversation goes’.

“Listen, millennials have been thru it. We state facts because exclamation points scare us,” a second added.

Libby isn’t the only person to notice the difference between how Gen Z and Millennials text, with formal and complete sentences being favoured by the latter while the former prefer to express their feelings though a combination of slang, emojis and exclamation marks.

And it seems the constant ribbing is starting to make the older generation feel self conscious about their polite texting manner and adherence to grammar rules, as numerous commenters were seeking advice on how to loosen up over message.

“For us 35+ can you advise how to colour it up??? Emojis and exclamations,” one person asked, while a second user added that they were ‘painfully aware of it’.

Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@Libbyinboston

The woman explained that after she made a profile on a dating app, she started chatting to a man who asked her out for food.

While she was initially enthusiastic about meeting up, she shared a second message the man sent which has completely put her off.

Taking to Mumsnet, the woman asked if she should still go ahead with the date as planned, or if she should run a mile.

But people were pretty divided with their views.

While some agreed it would be an instant turn off, others said they thought she should at least give the date a chance.

“I made a profile on an app and some guy’s asked me out for a bite to eat. I said yes, and we’ve agreed to meet this weekend,” the woman explained in her post.

“Now he’s said shall we have a short walk first before the food to ‘see how we feel’?

“That’s obviously code for, I’ll see if I fancy you and if not I don’t have to eat with you. It wasn’t a fancy sit down meal, just a quick bite to eat like.

“Should I still go ahead? I don’t know why, this has put me off slightly.

“It was only some waffle place, I wouldn’t go for a formal meal for a first date either. Should I still go?”

Explaining he wanted to walk around the city, she added: “I just don’t want to feel like I’m being assessed so much.

“A waffle/crepe whatever is hardly a court summons, it’s barely more than a coffee. If I’m that grotesque surely he can finish it quickly and go?”

People were pretty divided, but many agreed it didn’t make sense to walk aimlessly through a town centre.

“I would never ever go for a walk as a date unless it was someone who was into hiking. Walking down the road with someone is not a date,” one person wrote.

And another said: “I could understand him not wanting to do a whole formal meal type of thing but a waffle!

“At least with a waffle, once you’ve finished you can leave if you don’t like him.

“What do you do on an aimless walk? Keep walking awkwardly with no end in site. That’s a no for me.”

Others thought the woman was being too harsh, however.

One added: “I think you’re being a bit sensitive – it makes sense to suss the other person out before committing to a meal.

“Doesn’t necessarily mean fancying, but what if their vibes are just totally off? Gives you a chance to suss him out too.”

And another said: “No way would I have food on a first date. Eating in front of someone you don’t know is just cringe. Have a short walk and grab a coffee.”