I hear ya ... but it's also just sour grapes. Older generations never like the way younger generations speak (this is documented back to ancient Rome), and making comments about how the younguns' form of communication is degrading/inferior/wrong is your job now.

What I hear, when I see comments - like "THIS!" or whatever - from that generation, is that they share a LOT more in common than I did with my peers, because they are constantly online, viewing the same content streams, and have a constant, ongoing "conversation" with their peers that is a series of quick touches and confirmations, rather than long conversations.

This friend group has seen the same things coming across their social feeds, and can see their friends interacting with the content through likes, or upvotes, or shares. So they are already - and always - in conversation. So all they need to do is express quick support - a click or a "THIS!" - to remain in the conversation with their peers.

For me, personally, I don't view the younger generation(s) as separate individuals, but as a swirling pool of shared ideas. I have this liberty because I really don't have any "friends" in this demographic (except for the children of my friends, who I have a distinctly third-hand relationship with) to measure by. So I see them online, I see them interacting in the way they are comfortable doing so, and how their style of conversing has changed from my peer group.

And honestly ... from time to time ... when everything has been said, and I just wanna bump it ... I'll post THIS! as well.