REPLYING “lol” in a text or WhatsApp message winds up Gen Z recipients, research suggests.
It was among the biggest mobile gripes reported by young people, along with taking ages to reply.
Eighteen per cent of those aged 18 to 28 said they cringe daily at someone’s phone or messaging behaviour.
Some 58 per cent of Gen Zers admit they have considered dumping a partner over poor phone etiquette.
The main “ick” was sluggish replies, at 29 per cent, followed by the anti-“lol” brigade, and playing loud videos or voice notes in public, both despised by 26 per cent.
Twenty-one per cent feel enraged about leaving on the keyboard sound.
And a similar amount dislike getting an impatient “??” message if they do not immediately reply to the first.
The poll of 2,000 phone users also revealed 56 per cent of Gen Zers have judged someone based on their choice of emoji, with poo the cringiest (29 per cent).
That was followed by the monkey covering its eyes (26 per cent), the thumbs-up and the awkward grimace (both 19 per cent).
Sixty-one per cent admit to feeling embarrassed by their own texting habits, committing at least two phone sins a day.
A massive 79 per cent confessed to ignoring messages.
More than half (54 per cent) believe bad phone manners are on the rise, according to the poll by Sky Mobile.
