Parents across Britain, brace yourselves—your kids might secretly (or not so secretly) think you’re uncool.
A new survey of teenagers living at home shows that 68% believe their mums and dads are painfully embarrassing, with Oxford (89%), Bristol (84%), Glasgow (84%), and Edinburgh (83%) topping the charts for the least hip parents in the country.
The poll also finds that 89% of teens admit feeling second-hand embarrassment from their folks. Dads seem to bear the brunt of it, with 54% declared less cool than mums at 46%.
One of the biggest offences? Attempting viral TikTok dances (48%), followed by misfiring youth slang (44%), sporting a “Karen” haircut (30%), and still rocking skinny jeans (22%). Even adding a child’s friend on social media came in at 30%—a risky move, apparently.
| Rank | Behavior | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You attempt to do viral dance routines from TikTok | 48% |
| 2 | You use youth slang | 44% |
| 3 | You try and impress your child’s pals | 40% |
| 4 | You kiss your children in front of their friends | 34% |
| 5 | You have a ‘Karen’ haircut | 30% |
| 6 | You add your children’s friends on social media | 30% |
| 7 | You kiss your partner in public | 25% |
| 8 | You wear skinny jeans | 22% |
| 9 | You come along to the pub when your teens are out with friends | 21% |
| 10 | You borrow your teen’s clothes | 21% |
| 11 | You sing along to your favourite songs at the top of your voice | 17% |
| 12 | You post selfies on social media | 16% |
| 13 | You listen to the same music as your children | 15% |
| 14 | You go along to gigs with your children | 14% |
| 15 | You play loud music when driving | 12% |
In partnership with the upcoming Netflix film Back in Action, starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx as former CIA agents turned parents of two teenagers, the survey underscores a universal parental challenge: how to stay relevant without veering into cringe.
A staggering 95% of parents acknowledge that teenagers aged 13 to 19 regularly find mum and dad embarrassing.
Yet nearly three-quarters (73%) still claim they’re better parents than their own mums and dads were, and 88% insist they’re cooler, too.
So why do parents keep trying to prove their cool credentials? More than half (56%) say they long for a closer bond with their teens.
Many even admit to little “white lies” (64%)—perhaps about their music taste or favourite TV shows—in hopes of appearing more relatable.
And while a substantial group (49%) simply laugh off their uncool label, 7% actively try to up their game in front of the kids.
Ultimately, despite their arsenal of cringe parent traits, an encouraging 91% of teens say they wouldn’t change a thing about their mums and dads.
Public displays of affection, awkward dance moves, and questionable fashion choices might provoke a few eye-rolls, but these so-called faux pas can also bring families closer.
As Back in Action reminds us, even when parents slip into spy mode, the real mission is to love and support our kids—no matter how many TikTok routines we botch along the way.