[SeekAndFind]

Of all the English speaking countries out there... is this phenomenon of the overuse of the word ‘like’ purely an American thing? Or is it something that has caught on in the English-speaking world?

[Gaffer]

It is an affliction of those who don’t have the mental capacity to keep up with the ‘need for speed’ and continuity out of their mouth. I guess it stems from a perception by the speaker that their audience gets distracted and disinterested quickly.

[PoloSec]

I watch all my TV on Netflicks and really enjoy British, Canadian and Australian shows...from what I have observed YES.

They have some overused words like Brilliant and No Worries and others I can’t recall at the moment, I have heard “No Worries” slipping into America.

[dr_lew]

There's a famous remark in THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT ( 1968 ), which I found pretty handily "the old-fashioned way" on page 101-102:

(We youths say "like" all the time because we mistrust reality. It takes a certain commitment to say something is. Inserting "like" gives you a bit more running room.)

James Simon Kunen is a year older than me.