Half of the teenagers admitted to the inability to determine the time on the dial

Russians of the older generation note that many basic skills are gradually being lost among representatives of the alpha and zoom generations. On June 8, 2026, Izvestia was informed about this by SUNLIGHT, one of the largest jewelry chains, which conducted a survey of more than 3,000 Russians over the age of 18 across the country.

"One of the most familiar skills for adults is gradually becoming rare: more than half of teenagers (54%) do not know how to tell the time on the clock face. Almost every second (49%) also does not know how to turn on a light bulb," the analysts noted.

It turned out that 54% of teenagers do not know how to tell the time by the hand clock, and 49% do not know how to turn on a light bulb. At the same time, the interest of young people in watches as an accessory remains: for many, they remain an element of style and part of the image, although the practical function is gradually fading into the background.

Most parents noted that modern teenagers have difficulty counting cash (73%), navigating the city without mapping applications (86%), knowing the multiplication table (73%) and recognizing household items such as a duvet cover or a ring. The gap in perceptions of basic skills significantly affects the perception of generations by each other: 87% of adults are concerned about the situation, while only 18% of zoomers consider it unusual.

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Izvestia reported on May 29, after reviewing the work of SberMarketing specialists, that Russians of different generations perceive the national cultural code differently: young people more often associate it with diligence, adaptability and a desire for development, while the older generation focuses on teamwork, mutual assistance and family values. According to the survey, respondents consider "resilience and strength," "creativity and ingenuity," as well as the ability to live in the rhythm of the changing seasons to be the most typical traits of Russian people — 92% of the survey participants noted these qualities.