Good old-fashioned manners really are dying as four in 10 millennials say they wouldn’t give up their seats on public transport to pensioners or pregnant women

• Faux pas now include reading someone’s phone or looking through their photos 
• British politeness, such as saying ‘please’ or holding a door is now old fashioned 
• Millennials think ghosting someone on social media is a modern-day must not

Millennials believe traditional manners are old-fashioned as four in 10 refuse to give up their seat on public transport to pensioners or pregnant women, according to a new study.    

Almost a third of young adults now ignore proper queue etiquette by cutting in, and more than half won’t say ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes. 

And 84 per cent say traditional British politeness, such as saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ or holding a door open, is simply old fashioned, the research reveals. 

Millennials believe traditional manners are old-fashioned as four in 10 refuse to give up their seat on public transport to pensioners or pregnant women, according to a new study (stock image)

Modern must-nots now include reading someone’s phone or social media messages and scrolling through someone’s photo album without permission.

Littering, playing music too loudly from our phones, and talking too loudly on public transport are also viewed as inconsiderate behaviours for the modern day.

Millennials also think ghosting someone on social media is a modern faux pas, with a third of 18 to 34-year-olds believing breaking off all communication is rude. 

The research, by insurance firm Privilege, found that found that more than half thought announcing someone else’s news on social media before them to also be impolite. 

In contrast, just 16 per cent believe putting elbows on the dinner table – a traditional faux pas – is rude.

Top 10 modern faux pas 

1. Littering – 72 per cent

2. Playing music too loudly – 56 per cent

3. Talking too loudly on public transport – 53 per cent

4. Using phone at meal table – 52 per cent

5. Reading someone’s phone messages – 50 per cent

6. Taking up too much room on crowded public transport – 49 per cent

7. Talking while looking at their phone instead of making eye contact – 47 per cent

8. Keeping ear phones in / headphones on while talking to you – 42 per cent

9. Making a tea and not offering to others – 36 per cent

10. Scrolling through someone’s social media photo album without asking – 33 per cent

And shockingly, 42 per cent of millennials admit they aren’t willing to give up their seat on public transport for pregnant women or the elderly.

It was also found that the entire nation is growing increasingly less polite.  

One in five British adults no longer hold doors open for passers-by, 18 per cent don’t observe queue etiquette and 27 per cent talk with their mouth full while.

Even a third of people consider pulling out a chair for someone or ‘ladies first’ is considered outdated etiquette.

And shockingly, 42 per cent of millennials admit they aren’t willing to give up their seat on public transport for pregnant women or the elderly (stock image)

Indeed, seven in 10 (70 per cent) Britons believe we are aren’t as polite as we were 10 years ago.

The study of more than 2,000 UK adults shows it is largely tech and social media which is redefining our perception of good and bad manners.

Top 10 Rudest Cities

Nottingham

London

Birmingham

Edinburgh

Newcastle

Leeds

Norwich

Glasgow

Brighton

Bristol

Charlotte Fielding, head of Privilege Motor Insurance, said: ‘As a British brand, we want to understand how attitudes are evolving and how much we are still paying attention to long-standing social codes of etiquette.

‘It’s really interesting to see how the definition of what is thought to be rude is changing, with airs and graces that were once considered important now becoming a thing of the past.

‘It appears that a new, modern etiquette has taken hold, with TV spoilers and social media must-nots overtaking things like not offering to take someone’s coat, or holding doors open for people when it comes to what’s rude.’

Privilege Insurance’s study also found only 12 per cent of men observe politeness rules, with women almost twice as polite.

Nottingham was found to be the rudest city, while Cardiff is the politest.

Top 10 etiquette considered old fashioned

1. Pulling someone’s chair out for them – 38 per cent

2. Observing a ‘ladies first’ etiquette – 30 per cent

3. Offering to take someone’s coat – 26 per cent

4. Having your elbows on the dining table – 26 per cent

5. Saying ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes – 23 per cent

6. Putting your knife and fork together on your plate when finishing eating – 21 per cent

7. Calling someone by their full name rather than shortening it, i.e. Stuart, instead of Stu – 19 per cent

8. Not swearing in front of strangers/children – 11 per cent

9. Putting your hand over my mouth when yawning – 11 per cent

10. Giving up your seat for elderly/pregnant people – 9 per cent

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