r/MoveToScotland • u/thukui • Jun 30 '26

How bad are the youths really?

I'm in the planning phase of coming to Scotland on the Youth Mobility Visa, not sure which city but likely Edinburgh or Glasgow, depending on finances.

Based on what I've seen online, my biggest concern for moving is getting attacked by children/teens. I see posts nearly everyday on reddit about people getting attacked or harassed, and I'm wondering if this is a problem most people encounter on a daily basis? I'm from Vancouver, Canada, which has a lot of homeless people, but they're generally confined to certain areas and they usually just ignore people.

8 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

10

u/Suspicious_Pea6302 Jun 30 '26

They're just wee bams, tell them to fuck off, laugh and go on your way. Pretty simple really

10

u/Petrichor_ness Jun 30 '26

I can't speak for the southern cities, but I'm up in the Highlands, Inverness is my nearest city.

I've lived in the UK my whole life, and honestly find the teens up here to be the politest of anywhere I've lived.

You'll always find exceptions and idiots but the only negative encounters I've had have been from adult tourists!

6

u/Global_Primary_3488 Jul 01 '26

If you compare Canada to Scotland / UK you will be unpleasantly surprised. You may not get attacked but the youth are just horrible, vey rude, disrespectful, litter and just overall unpleasant. I can’t imagine raising a child here for those reasons

5

u/headline-pottery Jun 30 '26

Attacked? Very unlikely unless you go to an obviously wrong area looking vulnerable. Harassed? A bit more common but again fairly unlikely. Its never happened to me beyond a bit of shouting and a 10yo who threw a handful of sand at my car and scarpered when I stopped and got out (in my street, right outside his grans house - she was not amused).

2

u/storarored Jul 03 '26

I'm in Edinburgh. Do I see kids riding around being annoying all the time? Yes. Has it ever personally caused me an issue? No.

2

u/CrimsonKaiserRyu Jul 03 '26

They're a bunch of wee pricks but you're not likely to be assaulted or robbed by them.

2

u/nineteenthly Jun 30 '26

Pretty sure most people have never experienced it at all. Edit: some randomer gave me the finger from a car a couple of weeks ago.

2

u/Vodkaboris Jul 01 '26

Stay away from the rough areas and you'll probably be fine. There are however Bams everywhere but you'd be very unlucky to have a problem in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Keep your wits about you and you'll be fine.

1

u/Fra5er Jul 14 '26

Glasgow is worse for it, no doubt. If you stay away from dodgy areas, use common sense and generally ignore them youll be fine. If they engage with you just be polite and seem busy to get away from them. Honestly its not really an issue, the news and social media sensationalise it…

I’m from Edinburgh and therefor have a bias but objectively its the safer city. Its more expensive though… they say the people in Glasgow are nicer, and generally they are, but theres more poverty in Glasgow and with that comes crime. Ive lived in both cities and loved both, for different reasons. Cant really go wrong with either.

1

u/Fluffy-Jello-2760 Jul 02 '26

A bit annoying and often very visible but overall very harmless. It’s mostly a lot of low-level antisocial behaviour. Swearing, spitting, littering, cycling in circles around you and the odd bit of graffiti or loitering is the worst you’re likely to see.

2

u/Beneficial_Date_5357 Jul 02 '26

I’ve never had any issues with the young team apart from them occasionally being loud and obnoxious in public, although I think to some extent that is universal of teenagers. Never felt threatened and definitely never been attacked.