‘It’s 2026 — Grow Up’: People Are Calling Out the Habits We Need to Finally Stop
If you’re not into New Year’s resolutions but still have a running list of things you’re over, you’re not alone.
One Reddit thread asked, “Now that it’s 2026, what’s something people need to stop doing?” and the answers went way beyond “stop writing 2025 on your checks.” From believing everything they see online to Ozempic trends, people had a lot to get off their chest.
Here’s what they say needs to go in 2026.
1. Believing Everything You Read Online
Plenty of people agreed that our collective relationship with the internet needs a reset.
The top answer was blunt:
“Believing everything you learn from the Internet.”
Another person pointed out the generational irony:
“I’m of the generation whose parents raised us to never believe anything you read on the internet. Now 25 years later unfortunately our parents believe everything they read on the internet.”
Others said the real issue is that no one was ever taught how to sort fact from nonsense in the first place. One commenter said media literacy should be treated as a core skill, not an optional extra, and another added that people don’t even understand the difference between actual journalism and talking heads repeating someone’s talking points.
By the time commenters were venting about people getting their political views from social media and Reddit threads, it was pretty clear: information isn’t the problem, but how we consume it might be.
2. Voting on Vibes, Not Facts
One person said people should stop:
“Voting out of ignorance. All the information is easily accessible from the device in your pocket.”
Others called out the opposite problem, people who refuse to vote at all or insist voting doesn’t matter:
“Refusing to vote.”
“Believing voting doesn’t matter…”
Several users pointed out that getting your news primarily from Reddit or social media, then turning around and voting based on that, probably isn’t the flex people think it is.
The overall vibe: in 2026, “I don’t know, and I didn’t bother to look it up” isn’t a great excuse anymore.
3. Racism and Political Name-Calling
Some of the strongest responses were about how people treat each other, and how casually serious labels get thrown around.
One person kept it simple:
“Being racist.”
Another added:
“Being apologists for Nazis 🤷”
However, others pointed out there’s another side to this: calling everyone you disagree with a Nazi.
“Calling everyone you disagree with a nazi. It’s disgusting behaviour and s**** on the memory of millions of victims and heroes that went through that.”
Someone responded by pointing out that some modern behavior really does mirror warning signs from history, propaganda, fear-mongering, undermining democracy, and that calling that out isn’t the same as throwing the word “Nazi” at every minor disagreement.
You can feel the exhaustion: people are tired of racism and hate, but also tired of politics being treated like a never-ending team sport where everyone is either a hero, a Nazi, or the enemy.
4. Treating Ozempic Like a Trendy Shortcut
If there’s one 2020s health storyline that isn’t going anywhere, it’s weight-loss injections, and Redditors are clearly over how some people talk about them.
One top comment said people should stop:
“Accusing everyone who is losing weight of taking ozempic”
Another person shot back with the opposite issue:
“Conversely, taking ozempic when you dont actually need it. Being 120lbs and wanting to get to 100 lbs is not a reason to use it. Not wanting to eat healthy and exercise and still lose weight is not a reason to use it.”
Others reminded everyone that these medications do have legitimate medical uses beyond weight loss, and that some people can’t access what they need because insurers and pharmacies treat it like a vanity trend.
One commenter vented that they were finally at a healthy weight but still have diabetes and can’t get their medication covered anymore, even though their underlying condition hasn’t gone anywhere.
The message here wasn’t anti-medication. It was more: stop treating prescription drugs like a casual quick fix or a way to drop “vanity pounds,” and stop assuming you know why someone’s body looks the way it does.
5. Pretending Smoking and Vaping Are Harmless
Cigarettes made the list in a very straightforward way:
“Smoking cigarettes”
Several people said they see fewer people smoking now and more people vaping — and that it’s only a matter of time before we fully understand what constant vaping does to people long-term.
One commenter shared a pretty scary story about a neighbor in his 40s who ended up in the ER with blood clots in his legs. Doctors told him his years of vaping were a factor:
“Vaping is simply putting water vapor in your lungs. Not a good idea folks.”
Others pushed back, arguing that vaping is still safer than cigarettes, but even they admitted that “safer” doesn’t mean “safe.” The overall tone was that both habits are bad options, and pretending otherwise is just denial. (The CDC does say that no tobacco product is deemed safe.)
Basically, if your 2026 personality is still “I’m glued to my nicotine device,” the internet is begging you to retire that era.
6. Clinging to Outdated Tech (and Checks)
On the lighter side, people are very ready to part ways with some old-school habits — starting with checks.
One of the most upvoted jokes was:
“Writing 2025 on their checks”
That spiraled into a mini-thread of people dunking on checks in general:
“What’s a check?”
“In Australia they are phasing out cheques… Only elderly people are allowed to get a chequebook.”
Fax machines also made an appearance:
“Using a fax machine”
You get the feeling a lot of people are done jumping through dated hoops just to deal with banks, doctors, or offices that refuse to join the 21st century.
7. Overused Phrases People Want to Retire
The internet’s favorite slang doesn’t stay cute forever. Multiple commenters were begging everyone to let certain phrases go.
One person wrote:
“Saying ‘Chef’s kiss’ and ‘GOAT’.”
Another added that they’re over labels like:
“boomer and snowflake and Karen.”
Then there are the filler phrases that sneak into every other sentence:
“‘not going to lie’ does my nut in… It sounds sh*t and doesn’t make sense. Stop saying it.”
And the classic:
“Saying ‘My bad.’”
Of course, someone immediately replied:
“Oh, my bad 😅😅”
No matter how you feel about these, it’s clear some corners of the internet want 2026 to be the year we find some new material.
And on the flipside, here are some outdated slang terms Americans want to bring back!
8. Treating AI Like a Brain Replacement
AI made the list more than once, and not in a “this is the future” way.
One popular answer said people need to stop:
“Using AI as a know all be all. It’s meant to be used as a tool, not to replace critical thinking or research.”
That commenter warned that if people keep outsourcing all their thinking to AI, there are going to be real-world consequences down the line.
Another person complained about:
“Putting out AI slops”
Others had a more nuanced take. One Redditor explained that they still write everything themselves, but use AI to clean up grammar or help sift through massive technical documents:
“When used correctly it can work really well… I can upload a 1000 page tech manual and ask AI if it can find a particular fact or not.”
So it’s not “never touch AI.” It’s “stop treating AI like an oracle that’s always right, and stop flooding the internet with low-effort junk just because a bot can spit it out in seconds.”
9. Fighting With Strangers (and Bots) Online
If there’s a theme that basically sums up internet burnout, it’s this one.
One commenter said people should stop:
“Fighting with people on the internet (or should I say bots on the internet)”
Others argued that social media in general needs a cooldown:
“Social media”
“Being on X.”
Another person pointed to televised news and nonstop outrage cycles and said:
“Watching television news”
Taken together, the comments read like one long eye-roll at the constant outrage, quote-tweet wars, and comment-section battles that accomplish exactly nothing.
10. Comparison, Victimhood, and Main-Character Syndrome
Some of the most relatable answers were about how people see themselves — and everyone around them.
One person said people really need to stop:
“Comparing themselves to others and either demanding they have what others earned or overspending to live up to someone else’s standards.”
Another called out:
“Victimhood mentality”
Someone else summarized it as:
“Thinking everything is about them. ‘I don’t like that’ No-one cares that it’s not for you and please move on with your day.”
There were also comments about blindly following influencers or “teams,” assuming you’re being personally attacked every time you’re challenged, and demanding punishment anytime your feelings are hurt.
It all circles back to the same idea: in 2026, it might be time to stop main-charactering your way through life and remember other people exist too.
In the end, no one in this thread was pretending they’re perfect. Most of these complaints are things a lot of us are guilty of at some point — doomscrolling, letting social media wind us up, relying on easy answers, clinging to old habits.
But if you’re looking for some “anti-resolutions” this year, Reddit just handed over a pretty solid list of what people are collectively sick of. And honestly? A little less racism, internet brawling, and blind trust in whatever pops up on your feed doesn’t sound like the worst way to start 2026.
If you like this kind of honest reality check, you might also enjoy the wild story of a grandfather who blew the “grandkids’ college fund” on a luxury boat, the thread where people admitted the supposedly dream lifestyles they wish others would stop romanticizing, and a roundup of small, unglamorous changes that made people’s lives a lot better.
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