The origins of modern youth culture

[The Hallucinating Goose]

A discussion I have with people a lot is about the current youth culture but one thing we can never quite decide on is exactly where it originated.

The culture which I'm referring to is the fashion of wearing black puffer jackets and face coverings, and the riding of e-scooters and e-bikes.

It seems to have exploded from nowhere over the last couple of years. What's interesting is the brands of clothing they're wearing used to be respected walking and outdoor brands which a kid would never have been seen dead in. Unfortunately the reputation of these companies has massively diminished amongst walkers as a result of this. I know sports direct and JD sports and what have you sell these brands which will contribute but there still had to be some trigger as to why the youth started buying them, so what was that?

The face coverings it would seem they wear to look intimidating, but again, why do they want to? Where has that mindset come from? 

The scooters and bikes I know can be purchased very cheaply online and I would guess they buy these to have some form of motorised transport that they think you don't need a licence, insurance etc. for (even though you do in a lot of circumstances) and of course they don't have to wear helmets.

They don't seem to see a problem with this frightening and intimidating behaviour or the blatant law breaking, which is certainly quite worrying.

So I was wondering what your thoughts on where this all came from are? 

[Futtocks]

Face coverings - privacy while doing teenager things despite the massive CCTV coverage of everywhere in the country. Plus a liking for the outlaw look, just like wearing a bandana over your face while playing cowboys.

EBikes/Scooters - I'd have loved one of these when I was a kid, but they didn't exist.

Clothing - price.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

34 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Face coverings - privacy while doing teenager things despite the massive CCTV coverage of everywhere in the country. Plus a liking for the outlaw look, just like wearing a bandana over your face while playing cowboys.

EBikes/Scooters - I'd have loved one of these when I was a kid, but they didn't exist.

Clothing - price.

What teenager things are they doing that they feel the need to cover their faces? And where did the liking of the outlaw look come from? Was it a particular celebrity that has influenced them?

Similarly, why do they feel it is completely fine to break the law when riding the ebikes and scooters.

The clothing certainly isn't the price; the walking brands they wear are expensive. It isn't a fashion that would have been popular amongst younger people even just 10 years ago so surely they have to have seen one of their idols wearing it, maybe? Who was that?

This is what I mean, there doesn't seem to be a clear answer as to exactly where all this originated.

The lack of respect for the law and the intimidating behaviour could be a product of video gaming (where there are absolutely no real life consequences for what happens in the game) and perhaps hip hop culture where all the rappers act, for want of a better word, 'hard'. This might also influence the lack of respect for the law seem as so much rap and hip hop is based around that. 

Its certainly an established theory that the reason a lot of young people show off is to get attention, to try to make themselves feel better within themselves. However they misinterpret this attention as positive whereas the wider community look down on them. Does that come from a lack of intelligence? They find it easier to get attention through negative behaviour, and any attention is better than none? That would certainly contribute to the intimidating behaviour.

[gingerjon]

7 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

A discussion I have with people a lot is about the current youth culture but one thing we can never quite decide on is exactly where it originated.

The culture which I'm referring to is the fashion of wearing black puffer jackets and face coverings, and the riding of e-scooters and e-bikes.

It seems to have exploded from nowhere over the last couple of years. What's interesting is the brands of clothing they're wearing used to be respected walking and outdoor brands which a kid would never have been seen dead in. Unfortunately the reputation of these companies has massively diminished amongst walkers as a result of this. I know sports direct and JD sports and what have you sell these brands which will contribute but there still had to be some trigger as to why the youth started buying them, so what was that?

The face coverings it would seem they wear to look intimidating, but again, why do they want to? Where has that mindset come from? 

The scooters and bikes I know can be purchased very cheaply online and I would guess they buy these to have some form of motorised transport that they think you don't need a licence, insurance etc. for (even though you do in a lot of circumstances) and of course they don't have to wear helmets.

They don't seem to see a problem with this frightening and intimidating behaviour or the blatant law breaking, which is certainly quite worrying.

So I was wondering what your thoughts on where this all came from are? 

Just alter the brand names and you could have essentially written this at any point from, in the UK, around 1961. Earlier in America.

[JohnM]

I understand that when you buy the drugs distribution franchise for your area, included in the dealer pack you buy is the uniform - puffa, 'clava and Sur-Ron.

[HawkMan]

Yo, don't get your undies in a twist, fam, let's keep it on the low and ain't nobody gettin' it twisted, aight? We run our own shop with the fresh 'fit and ice, ain't botherin' nobody, not even the five-O.

Word is, Notting Hill's fixin' to get wild. We'll all get together, get our freak on, do some illicit stuff the sarge wouldn't approve, and get our groove on to them Island beats, you know what I'm sayin'?

 I'ma be chillin' this evenin', watchin' the Rovers take on da Dragons in some straight-up football action, ya hear me? I'ma be sittin' on da couch, crackin' open a cold one, and gettin' my watch on with da telly.

Edited August 13 by HawkMan

[Gerrumonside ref]

Getting your identity down when younger and your sense of individuality is important I guess.

We forget all this as we get older as other things become more pressing

I used to ride a scooter and so did a few of the lads from school pre getting a car.

[JohnM]

3 hours ago, HawkMan said:

Yo, don't get your undies in a twist, fam, let's keep it on the low and ain't nobody gettin' it twisted, aight? We run our own shop with the fresh 'fit and ice, ain't botherin' nobody, not even the five-O.

Word is, Notting Hill's fixin' to get wild. We'll all get together, get our freak on, do some illicit stuff the sarge wouldn't approve, and get our groove on to them Island beats, you know what I'm sayin'?

 I'ma be chillin' this evenin', watchin' the Rovers take on da Dragons in some straight-up football action, ya hear me? I'ma be sittin' on da couch, crackin' open a cold one, and gettin' my watch on with da telly.

 

Great! 

Please remain composed and refrain from becoming unduly agitated. Let us keep matters discreet and ensure that no one misinterprets our intentions. We manage our own affairs, present ourselves with care, and do not trouble anyone — including the police.

Reports suggest that Notting Hill is likely to become rather lively. We intend to gather, enjoy ourselves, partake in activities that the sergeant would certainly disapprove of, and dance to Caribbean rhythms.

As for me, I shall spend this evening in a relaxed manner, watching the Rovers face the Dragons in a proper football match. I will be seated on the sofa, opening a cold drink, and following the game on television.

[ivans82]

Times have certainly changed back in the day when i was a teenager 16 to 19 say all i wanted was a job , money in my pocket , following live music around the pubs and clubs 7 nights a week , rugby league on Saturdays , Speedway Friday , bet on the nags , was never much of a follower of any type of culture of the time . Music was my thing anything from singer songwriter stuff , folk , rock , heavy metal , prog , reggae , pretty much gave everything a go .  Nowadays i find regardless really of age people tend to listen to one type of music only  , in other words they class themselves as akin to whatever they listen to , most of whom the Goose is talking about listen to nothing but rap and hip hop probably constricting themselves to whatever messages are put out there .

[JohnM]

Oops, wrong topic.

Edited August 14 by JohnM

[Futtocks]

10 hours ago, HawkMan said:

Yo, don't get your undies in a twist, fam, let's keep it on the low and ain't nobody gettin' it twisted, aight? We run our own shop with the fresh 'fit and ice, ain't botherin' nobody, not even the five-O.

Word is, Notting Hill's fixin' to get wild. We'll all get together, get our freak on, do some illicit stuff the sarge wouldn't approve, and get our groove on to them Island beats, you know what I'm sayin'?

 I'ma be chillin' this evenin', watchin' the Rovers take on da Dragons in some straight-up football action, ya hear me? I'ma be sittin' on da couch, crackin' open a cold one, and gettin' my watch on with da telly.

Ali G first appeared on screen in the last century.

[Futtocks]

2 hours ago, ivans82 said:

Times have certainly changed back in the day when i was a teenager 16 to 19 say all i wanted was a job , money in my pocket , following live music around the pubs and clubs 7 nights a week , rugby league on Saturdays , Speedway Friday , bet on the nags , was never much of a follower of any type of culture of the time . Music was my thing anything from singer songwriter stuff , folk , rock , heavy metal , prog , reggae , pretty much gave everything a go .  Nowadays i find regardless really of age people tend to listen to one type of music only  , in other words they class themselves as akin to whatever they listen to , most of whom the Goose is talking about listen to nothing but rap and hip hop probably constricting themselves to whatever messages are put out there .

I've found that younger people are far less cliquey and more open-minded about music than when I was their age. When I was at school, there were musical tribes and they were very narrow-minded and exclusive.

[Dunbar]

2 hours ago, ivans82 said:

Nowadays i find regardless really of age people tend to listen to one type of music only

Is that really a modern phenomenon, people used music to help construct and present their identity for as long as I can remember... mods, rockers, punk, goth etc all had a unique identity that was hardly interchangeable. 

Edited August 13 by Dunbar

[The Hallucinating Goose]

3 hours ago, ivans82 said:

Times have certainly changed back in the day when i was a teenager 16 to 19 say all i wanted was a job , money in my pocket , following live music around the pubs and clubs 7 nights a week , rugby league on Saturdays , Speedway Friday , bet on the nags , was never much of a follower of any type of culture of the time . Music was my thing anything from singer songwriter stuff , folk , rock , heavy metal , prog , reggae , pretty much gave everything a go .  Nowadays i find regardless really of age people tend to listen to one type of music only  , in other words they class themselves as akin to whatever they listen to , most of whom the Goose is talking about listen to nothing but rap and hip hop probably constricting themselves to whatever messages are put out there .

Music certainly is one of the main factors for constructing a culture and as you say the youth I refer to listen to music that very much themes itself around rebelling against the establishment. 

But what is it with the fashion? Do these rappers wear puffer jackets and balaclavas? 

[HawkMan]

37 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

Music certainly is one of the main factors for constructing a culture and as you say the youth I refer to listen to music that very much themes itself around rebelling against the establishment. 

But what is it with the fashion? Do these rappers wear puffer jackets and balaclavas? 

Rebelling against  the establishment ? As Rick  of the Young Ones would say, that's gotta be Cliff Richard.

 

 

Edited August 13 by HawkMan

[Wolford6]

In Bradford, this scene is virtually exclusive to young (Pakistani / Bangladeshi) Muslims. There is a large sector of teens/twenties who reject "British" culture and class themselves alongside Black American gangs and gangster rap etc blaring out of car speakers at 90dB. The balaclavas and/or masks are generally only worn on electric scooters and  electric bikes . . . for many of them, that's  whilst doing their "job" of delivering drugs. 

Car / scooter / electric bike riding  ignores much of traffic law and convention. The council has put speed humps down dozens of city streets to protect pedestrians and everyday drivers. The Police?  Don't make me laugh.

[gingerjon]

10 hours ago, HawkMan said:

As Rick  of the Young Ones would say, that's gotta be Cliff Richard.

 

 

53 minutes ago, Wolford6 said:

There is a large sector of teens/twenties who reject "British" culture and class themselves alongside Black American gangs

So, at a conservative reckoning, that is 66 years of British teens following America?

[JohnM]

Blues Brithers.  Bobs Country Bunkhouse. "We like both kinds of music; country AND western." 

But culture built around music genres? What about classical music?  Whatever happened to young  Nicola Benedetti? 

[gingerjon]

31 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Whatever happened to young  Nicola Benedetti? 

Last I heard, she was something senior at the Edinburgh Festival.

[JohnM]

She's Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival.

Yoof culture not confined to rebellious lovers of noise. Thump thump thump thump...

 

Edited August 14 by JohnM

[Gerrumonside ref]

The sheer luxury of today’s youth…

Well, of course, we had it tough. We used to have to get up out of a shoebox in the middle of the night, and lick road clean with tongues! 

We had to eat half a handful of freezing-cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at that mill for fourpence every six years, and when we got home... our dad would slice us in two with a bread knife!”

[JohnM]

On 15/08/2026 at 15:29, Gerrumonside ref said:

The sheer luxury of today’s youth…

Well, of course, we had it tough. We used to have to get up out of a shoebox in the middle of the night, and lick road clean with tongues! 

We had to eat half a handful of freezing-cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at that mill for fourpence every six years, and when we got home... our dad would slice us in two with a bread knife!”

Really? Yorkshire, I guess. It certainly wasn't like that in Manchester. We had bathrooms inside, AC mains, horseless carriages,  wireless, Broughton Rangers......

[Shadow]

On 14/08/2026 at 08:08, JohnM said:

Blues Brithers.  Bobs Country Bunkhouse. "We like both kinds of music; country AND western." 

But culture built around music genres? What about classical music?  Whatever happened to young  Nicola Benedetti? 

How about a bit of the old Ludwig Van?
Malenky. 

 

[gingerjon]

12 minutes ago, Shadow said:

How about a bit of the old Ludwig Van?
Malenky. 

 

Burgess wrote A Clockwork Orange having been in Brighton when the mods and rockers kicked off.

[Phil]

Youth culture or whatever you want to call it isn’t a new thing, my elder sister was a Mod in the mid 60s, in 69/70 my mates and I were Skinheads and looking tough and menacing was very much part of the image