[3zra]

What I find fairly strange in American academia is that professors are addressed by their last name, but students by their first name. In Austria, for example, there is no situation in which you address someone differently than they address you, except for addressing children. It would be very disrespectful for an adult to address another adult by their first name, but insist that they be addressed by their last name, as if you were a child.

[wink]

Same here in Germany (but I graduated a few years ago).

It's kind of the same as in any workplace (by default, with exclusion of the IT sector and maybe some more, also construction sites) - you'll always use Mr/Mrs (Ms not so much anymore, I think that went away in the 80s :P) until you or someone else offers you the possibility to be on a first name basis [0] (example link in case you've never heard of this particularity of German speaking countries).

[0]: http://www.dw.com/en/the-du-sie-dilemma-in-german/a-16494631

There are exceptions, of course, but in general (exceptions see above) I'd say using the first name in a formal/business setting is totally more uncommon than in the US.

In general I really do wonder about mentioning social media and text messages as a possible reason. We had text messages in high school in early 00s. We also had social media when I was still studying, I simply refuse to believe that everything has deteriorated this much in just 10 years. (Oh wait, I'm getting old and 'Get off my lawn', right?) :)

[analog31]

I taught college for a brief period, and would have had no problem addressing my students more informally. I actually let them use my first name, as I felt that a more informal atmosphere would somehow help form the impression that math is not just an ivory tower pursuit.

While my approach may be misguided, I did get an interesting comment from one student: "You are not like the professors. You explain things."

[tnecniv]

In my experience, this stems from a difference in comfort level between students and professors. Professors often begin class on the first day by inviting people to call them by their first name. Students, however, are normally intimidated and still call them Dr. whatever. Thus, the professor wants to be on a first name basis with the class, but the feeling is not reciprocated.