In a self-service scenario sparking widespread debate, former NFL star J.J. Watt asked on social media how people would handle tipping when ordering at a counter, filling their own coffee, and retrieving their food as an iPad prompts for a tip—preselecting 20% in many cases. The discussion went viral, drawing tens of thousands of comments and millions of views, and reflecting broader frustration over tipping culture, with a majority of Americans questioning its compatibility with self-serve transactions. Etiquette experts distinguish service-based tipping from mandatory prompts, arguing that gratuity should reflect provided service rather than a transactional prompt. Reactions ranged from support for tipping due to perceived low pay to calls for zero tipping in purely self-serve contexts, highlighting a growing tension between evolving consumer norms and traditional tipping expectations.
