The landscape of social etiquette is continually shifting, with new forms of rudeness emerging that challenge traditional notions of politeness. In 2026, the old rules, which often centered on showing deference to those higher in a social hierarchy, have evolved. Bridget Dalton, a semiotician and cultural analyst at Truth Consulting, notes a significant shift: “It would once have been considered impolite for a junior employee to set a boundary with a senior colleague, but now it’s much ruder to impose on people who are more junior.”
This redefinition extends to the workplace, where technology has introduced new potential faux pas. Dalton highlights that emailing junior staff outside working hours is now seen as an intrusion, especially since most email services offer message scheduling. She explains, “Contacting them out of hours implicitly suggests they should pick it up, and that’s not fair.” Similarly, ultra-brief chat replies such as “Yep,” “Nope,” or “Noted” can come across as dismissive in a digital-first communication era. Sophie Jewes, co-founder of Raven image consultancy, describes these as “shrugs,” questioning, “Could you really not locate a single additional word?” Jewes also finds the “double chase”—following up on a follow-up—particularly irritating, likening it to “walking into someone’s office and standing there until they look up.” Christine Porath, a professor at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, adds that relying on chat platforms for conversations that could easily happen in person risks treating colleagues as mere names on a screen rather than people sharing the same space.
Ione Gamble, editor of The Polyester Book of (Bad) Taste, criticizes those who take calls with constant background noise, like a barking dog or someone trying to squeeze behind them. It gives the impression, she says, “that they think they have somewhere more important to be than talking to you, that they couldn’t have just made sure they were at home or at their place of work at that time.” Gamble also expresses disdain for out-of-office messages that state, “I only reply to emails within these hours” or “I have an extremely busy and important job, so please do not expect a quick reply,” finding them dismissive.
Public spaces are another common ground for modern rudeness. Playing audible content, such as TikToks, out loud on public transport, in cafes, restaurants, waiting rooms, or even taxis, is a major annoyance. Gamble considers this “prioritising your own comfort over everyone else’s, which is the definition of rudeness to me.” A study conducted by Professor Porath involving 2,000 US workers revealed that grocery store assistants increasingly report shoppers continuing phone calls on earphones while checking out. Porath observes, “They’re interfacing with humans, but humans are not treating them with dignity or respect.” Dalton offers a hierarchy for earphones-in behavior: while saying “Sorry, I’m just going to pay for something” at least acknowledges the cashier, the best practice is to remove earphones before entering a shop. Otherwise, fumbling with them at the till can hold up the queue, which is also considered rude.
Dating etiquette has also seen significant shifts. Olivia Petter, author and founder of the Red Lips singles night, identifies pre-date sins such as initiating a meet-up but never following through with a plan, or attending a singles event when not emotionally available. She advises, “If you’re looking for an ego boost, post a thirst trap on Instagram instead.” Petter also suggests not rushing a kiss in the final moments of a date, recommending, “If it hasn’t happened before public transport enters the picture, you need to wait until the next date.” While ghosting was once considered the worst dating habit, Kitty Drake, The Guardian’s Blind date matchmaker, argues that perceptions have changed, and it can sometimes be “quite polite” in cases of mutual disinterest after a first date.
She contrasts this with the “oddly presumptuous” obligatory rejection text, “You’re lovely, but…” Drake also criticizes those who avoid setting up friends for dates due to potential awkwardness, calling it selfish. Using AI to write sincere messages, while potentially signaling deep care despite a struggle to express feelings, can still come across as uncaring, according to Dalton, who says, “You’re outsourcing your feelings.” Communications expert Ivana Giachino sees this as an invasion of privacy, leading to an “avalanche of texts from people you don’t even know.”
Digital interactions and social media present their own unique challenges. Carrera Kurnik, behind the cultural analysis Substack Internet Anthropology, points out that it’s rude when someone suggests plans in a group chat and receives no response, not even a decline, as it “undermines their social position and leaves their attempt at connection unreciprocated.” Petter adds that this is only acceptable if someone in the group has done “something abhorrent.” Kurnik also raises questions about making content from first dates or filming influencers in public, noting that in the “rage bait” era, rudeness can garner engagement.
Gamble has a stronger stance, advocating to “Ban them” – social media street vox poppers – as it’s an “encroachment on your privacy” to be filmed and judged for an “inane opinion.” Cook and food writer Alexandra Dudley advises turning off sound for holiday or party videos to protect potentially private conversations and suggests not posting pictures of friends if you wouldn’t post them of yourself. Giachino highlights that many adults are too casual about documenting friends’ children online without consent, noting that “Kids absolutely hate being photographed and displayed like show ponies.”
The digital age has also impacted basic social commitments. Haywood observes an “epidemic of RSVP amnesia,” where guests are certain they replied because they merely thought about it, calling it a “symptom of digital life.” Petter adds that not RSVPing while waiting for a better plan is immature, urging people to “Grow up, make a decision and commit to it.” Dalton warns that cancelling plans can “give permission to everyone else to cancel.”
Even in traditional social settings, modern etiquette dictates new considerations. Dalton suggests keeping your phone face down in company, acknowledging the need to manage the distinction between our “entire social life that’s running concurrently with our IRL experiences.” Dudley goes further for dinner parties, asserting that phones “shouldn’t be at the table,” believing in the “sacred element of sharing a meal.” She also finds it “incredibly rude when half the table gets up and leaves before the food is finished” to smoke, as it “separates the party.” Lastly, Gamble finds it “so rude” to bring pets to someone’s house without asking, especially if it’s at their home, noting that the understanding that “not everyone likes pets” has eroded.
“Lots of people think: ‘I can’t actually be bothered to do the setup, because it’ll be awkward for me if it goes wrong,’” says Drake. “It’ll be awkward for you?! I might have to stay alone for the rest of my life because you might be a tiny bit awkward for half an hour on one day?!”
