‘Thank you text’ trend is warm, fuzzy — but a little cringe: ‘Earnestness through irony’

Gratitude is going integer — and millennials are starring the emoji-packed charge.

The latest measurement to opportunity “I emotion you, man” isn’t pinch a brew aliases a carnivore hug. 

It’s pinch a post-hang matter — a heartfelt integer emotion missive sent instantly aft brunch, a nighttime retired aliases moreover conscionable a 15-minute FaceTime. 

“You cognize erstwhile personification texts you correct aft you get location from hanging retired pinch them and they say, like, ‘I had a awesome time, truthful bully to spot you’? What a gift from God,” celebrated TikTok personification @carlabezanson (above). tiktok.com/@carlabezanson

The gist?

“Wow, I needed that. So grateful for you!!!”

Affectionate and aggressively earnest, these follow-up messages — dubbed “millennial convey you notes” — are flooding group chats and inboxes pinch a tidal activity of feelings.

“You cognize erstwhile personification texts you correct aft you get location from hanging retired pinch them and they say, like, ‘I had a awesome time, truthful bully to spot you’? What a gift from God,” gushed TikTok personification @carlabezanson successful a viral video that’s racked up much than 850,000 likes.

Another mushy user, @tpwkky, chimed in, “One point astir maine is I WILL beryllium sending nan ‘thank you truthful overmuch for hanging retired pinch me’ matter instantly aft hanging out. I emotion telling group successful my life they matter to maine bc life is short and you should admit them while you still tin (:”

Cringe? Maybe. Cute? Absolutely.

And according to a 2023 OnePoll study for Josh Cellars, Americans are connected nan aforesaid sappy wavelength: The mean personification says “thank you” six times a time — totaling complete 2,200 expressions of gratitude per year. 

A whopping 83% opportunity they effort to believe gratitude daily. Millennials are conscionable choosing to do it pinch a integer diary introduction sent astatine 9:47 p.m.

Even Gen Z is catching feels — benignant of.

“Me fighting nan impulse to matter my friends, ‘thank you for hanging pinch maine today, it was truthful overmuch nosy :D You’re virtually nan logic I’m gonna spot nan sunrise tomorrow’ each clip we decorativeness hanging out,” joked user @thatssorav3n_ successful a TikTok dripping pinch sarcasm (and complete 573,000 likes).

The generational divided is clear: Millennials deterioration their hearts connected their texts. Gen Z prefers theirs pinch a thick furniture of irony — and a wink.

“I consciousness for illustration it’s a very Gen Z thing, earnestness done irony,” 27-year-old Andrew Pattenaude precocious told Bustle. “It’s for illustration a furniture of protection to opportunity thing that you genuinely feel.”

Still, licensed intelligence wellness counsellor Kathryn Lee says millennials mightiness beryllium onto something. 

“Millennials would astir apt for illustration much of that face-to-face connection, because that is what they grew up with,” she told nan outlet. When they yet get it, “they’re judge to opportunity ‘thank you.’ ”

Gen Z and millennials whitethorn beryllium embracing nan inclination for different reasons. wollertz – stock.adobe.com

In fact, gratitude isn’t conscionable a warm, fuzzy feeling — it’s a full-blown movement.

The Post antecedently reported connected nan aforementioned OnePoll study, and really 57% of Americans are saying “thank you” much often than successful years past. 

A astonishing 40% moreover support a written gratitude list, while others gush astir everything from their families and friends to their bosses and baristas.

TikTok personification @paige_netting summed it up best: “Trying not to nonstop a ‘thank you for hanging retired pinch me, I really admit being together’ aft each casual hangout pinch friends.”

Sure, immoderate group consciousness closest to their loved ones during nan holidays — erstwhile 76% successful nan study said they’re much connected. 

But for millennials, nan caller play of acknowledgment is year-round and ever starts with: “Hey, that was a batch of fun.”

And sometimes, that’s much than enough.

As @thatssorav3n_ put it: “You’re virtually nan logic I’m gonna spot nan sunrise tomorrow.”