In an era where social currency changes faster than algorithm updates, The Guardian has released its definitive guide to what's actually cool in 2025 – and what's become utterly cringe.
The New Social Hierarchy
Forget everything you thought you knew about being fashionable. The rules have been completely rewritten, and the goalposts have moved dramatically. What was once considered trendy might now be social suicide.
What's Actually Cool Now
- Digital minimalism: Having a dumb phone or dramatically reducing screen time is the new flex
- Staying in: The glamour has shifted from crowded bars to curated evenings at home
- Reading physical books: Carrying a well-thumbed paperback signals intellectual depth
- Embracing middle-age: Finding joy in gardening, quiet pubs, and early nights is surprisingly chic
- Local exploration: Knowing your neighbourhood intimately beats Instagrammable travel
What's Become Deeply Uncool
- Influencer culture: Aspiring to become a content creator now elicits pity rather than admiration
- Veganism as identity: While plant-based eating remains popular, making it your personality is passé
- Cryptocurrency enthusiasm: Still talking about NFTs and Bitcoin marks you as desperately behind
- Self-optimisation: Constantly tracking sleep, steps, and productivity is now seen as sad rather than aspirational
- Dating apps: Swiping has been replaced by old-fashioned meeting people in real life
The Subtle Art of Social Navigation
The most striking shift in 2025's social landscape is the move away from performative authenticity toward genuine, uncurated living. The pressure to present a perfect life online has collapsed under its own weight, replaced by a quiet confidence in being ordinary.
As one trend analyst noted, "We're witnessing the revenge of the analogue. After years of digital overload, people are finding status in disconnection and simplicity."
The New Status Symbols
- Having an empty calendar and protecting your free time
- Maintaining long-term friendships rather than collecting acquaintances
- Developing niche, impractical skills with no commercial value
- Being hard to reach and not immediately responsive to messages
- Expressing genuine enthusiasm for seemingly boring activities
This cultural reset represents a fundamental rejection of the attention economy that has dominated social life for the past decade. The truly cool in 2025 aren't chasing visibility – they're finding richness in the quiet moments between the noise.
