“So,” I have noticed the phenomenon recently where people, particularly Millenials, begin almost EVERY sentence with “so.” It’s another “filler” of the sort of “like, ya know, well, ah and mmmmm.” Unintelligent drivel.
“So” I think they use “so” as a verbal tick that acts as an attention-getter, as if they’re summing up all of creation up to this point, to make their statement.
Yes, most common in Millenials, who of course feel entitled to immediate importance.
It may also be a DC-area thing, but that’s all I know.
“So...” = Fingernails on chalkboard