Maybe the younger generation isn't as glued to their phones as we're told?

[GreekFrench]

I've been thinking about this recently because there's so much discussion about young people being addicted to their phones, not socialising, not dating in real life anymore, etc.
But honestly, that isn't what I've been seeing at all.
I spend quite a bit of time out and about in Paris, and when you actually sit in cafés, walk around busy neighbourhoods, go to parks, bars and social venues, you see huge numbers of people in their 20s and early 30s out with friends, talking, laughing, meeting new people and generally having a good time.
Of course people use their phones, but it doesn't seem dramatically different from previous generations having other distractions. Most of the time I see groups actively engaging with each other rather than sitting in silence staring at screens.
The same applies to dating. Reading some discussions online, you'd think everything has moved entirely onto apps and that spontaneous interaction has disappeared. Yet I still see plenty of flirting, eye contact, smiles, conversations starting naturally, and generally good vibes between people. It feels like real-life chemistry and social interaction are still very much alive.
Maybe dating has changed somewhat, and apps are obviously part of the picture now, but from what I observe, they haven't completely replaced meeting people organically.
I'm not saying there aren't issues with excessive screen time for some people, but I do wonder whether older generations sometimes paint an overly negative picture of younger adults. From what I can see, many people aged 20–30 are going out a lot, socialising, enjoying themselves and building relationships in ways that would be very familiar to previous generations.
Is anyone else seeing the same thing, or is this just a Paris bubble?

The people I see most glued to their phones are in their 60s and 70s

I've recently returned from Paris and just like in most places nowadays, tonnes of adults and children had their noses stuck in their phones.

When we go out as a family, do you know who is glued to their phone? Dh! He’s 40! He will rant about getting everyone out of the house and we will go on like a 2 hour walk across the moor and the kids are playing. He’s scrolling through his phone while he walks. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And when my MIL comes over (she’s 73), she spends half the time on her phone rather than interacting with her grandchildren (who even as teens are running around outside playing). 😂

I think you’re right, I have a 15 year old and she just isn’t glued to her phone. Sometimes when we go out she doesn’t even bring it.
I see more 30+ age groups glued to their phones these days.

I also think youngsters are far less likely to post photos of themselves online, and they’re really clued up on online safety.
My mum’s friends in their 60s are far more likely to post all sorts on facebook!

My DH is exactly the same! If we have to, say, queue for something for a couple of minutes, he’ll be straight on his phone rather than just chatting or entertaining DS.

I actually think my age group (millenials) and older are more glued to our phones. My mum is dreadful for it, especially when the grandkids are about which is a shame as we live far away and don't visit often.

Most young people I know are not really on social media - they see it as an old person thing.

Wish that were true. There are many, many kids in schools that literally cannot cope being away from their phone - epic meltdown if it’s confiscated because they’ve been caught on it.

They spend hours on Snapchat and TikTok. One of my Y11s showed me her screen time and it was 11 hours in one day.

My dd plays for a football team, does 4hrs of army cadets a week, has a job and spends any other spare time outside with her mates at the park. My ds is harder to persuade to do something other than watch YouTube or sit messaging his friends.

My parents who are in their 70s are obsessed with FB and when they come to see us they sit and stare at their phones.

I agree. I never had that impression of my children's peer groups when they were out together either.

The one place on Earth I saw truly shocking anti-social phone addiction was Hong Kong. Honestly it was like the set of some dystopian futuristic film: Absolutely. Everyone. Everywhere. Faces in phones. While walking down the street, crossing the road, waiting in queues, Absolutely no eye contact between any two humans beyond what was strictly functionally necessary.

I don't know whether that's typical of large Asian cities, or just that one. But it wasn't young people any more than anyone else.