Great, another over-30 holding forth on what the "real problem" with teens is. It's really not that different from how people act in person. If you say something in a group conversation and get no reaction, maybe change the subject.

Yes change the subject. That's "leaving the post up"

If instead you immediately demand that everyone forget that you ever mentioned an uncool or not intensely popular thing, that seems more in line with "deleting the comment"

Of course, I'm over 30 so what do I know?

You don't have to make demands, people naturally forget little things said in conversations. Facebook remembers verbatim, in a searchable format. It even pushes your post into other people's "timelines" so you don't know who sees it or when. It's no wonder people get skittish, when Facebook gives them so little control over their content.

No it's not. That's bringing even attention to it. You example is more similar to deleting an unliked post, and then posting "Everyone please forget my last post. Just pretend it never happened."

Deleting a post from Facebook/Instagram/etc doesn't delete it from the memory of the people who did see it. It just prevents more people from seeing it, or those people from seeing it again. So it's almost exactly like making an unpopular statement in conversation, and then abruptly changing the subject.

Great, but I'm not so embarrassed and afraid of what others think that I need to remove it from the world less I become embarrassed (and thus less cool).

Young people now are way too concerned at impressing others and that is nothing new, but now they are able to do it 24/7 and it is an issue. They are not living their lives but have their phones shoved in their face every second vs actually interacting with others.

I am enjoying a few resturants etc enforcing a no phone policy, I wish it would become more prevalent in places where you are supposed to socially interact, with actual, real people in front of you.