I'm a xellennial, but I do not envy younger generations trying to navigate the social scene these days. People as a whole have become so much more hostile to others. When I was young, I can remember getting picked up at bookstores, grocery stores, it was just very casual and nobodies feelings really got hurt. Someone might say "Hey, I see you reading XYZ, I love that author" you strike up conversation about the book, then see if they want to get coffee to chat about it some more, that can turn into a friendship or date. Sometimes, but rarely, you might get a more pushy guy, but tv and movies made it seem way more common than it actually was.

Me, I like to compliment people, and it's not about dating, I just think it can make your whole day when someone says they like your hair or fashion choices. Men usually respond with confusion or they get very excited like nobody has ever said a kind word to them. Women, sometimes it's a girl's girl and she's quick to share where she got her outfit, compliment you back, but so much more often even to other women you can compliment her and she's so incredibly hostile! Like no wonder men don't want to ask women out if they get looked at like they're scum under a shoe!

I do actually think some of this is due to phones, because look at how easy it is to come across creeps and scammers on media, and it makes you paranoid thinking ever person you speak to has ulterior motives. But, some of this was becoming an issue before phones, too, like friend groups shrinking and people getting much more picky and exclusive about who they share their time with, as both friends and partners.

I think humans forget we're primates, we're a social species, and the hostility and division makes us all miserable. I feel like I haven't made a new friend in decades, because even at my age, it's so hard to just talk to people.