Living Life in Fast Forward: Decoding the Bizarre Language of Gen Z
Guide for Out-of-Touch Adults Navigating Youth Slang: The Evolution of Vernacular Language Among Youngsters
Youth culture is a rollercoaster ride, constantly evolving at lightning speed. New slang pops up and vanishes in a flash, entire communities grow around viral images, jokes transform into memes, and trendy rituals emerge - all before you can even catch up. It's like chasing a snowflake downhill: by the time you've pinned it down, it's already melted.
So, buckle up as we dive into the fascinating world of contemporary slang, meme formats, and more!
What's the Scoop on "Kevin", "Gurt", and "IKIAB"?
I've been tracking Gen Z and Gen Alpha words for this column, but I find myself puzzled by the emergence of "Kevin", "gurt", "IKIAB" (imma keep it a buck), and countless other terms flooding the internet in just a couple of weeks. To many young people, anything mediocre or problematic can be referred to as "Kevin", while "gurt" means "smart but dangerous", and "IKIAB" is an honest, straightforward acronym.
But are these terms truly slang, or are they just another step in the brain-rot meme craze? The lines between self-aware parody of slang and actual slang are blurred. The trend was started by TikTok user @xznthos, who declared "IKIAB" as the new slang that everyone would now use. Soon after, users began creating slang words as a meme format in brain-rot videos, leading to a seemingly endless list of words with supposed meanings. However, does widespread visibility and huge social media numbers necessarily deem a word slang? It's a question only a total stork smoother would ask (and I'm not one of them!).
The "I'm so Hungry, I Could Eat..." Trend: Prank Videos Galore!
The "I'm so hungry I could eat..." trend is thankfully much simpler to understand than brain-rot slang. It involves recording other people's reactions to you saying, "I'm so hungry I could eat X," with X being whatever is meant to provoke a strong response. It all began with parents teasing their kids about eating them, and quickly escalated to threatening to eat pets, friends, and even strangers from their victims' past on TikTok. Though bizarre, this trend offers a humorous and relatable twist on the classic prank format.
The Unusual Charms of The Hiccup Cult: A TikTok Fad Without a Purpose
If your child has recently changed their profile picture to an image of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, they've just joined The Hiccup Cult. Don't worry, it's not your typical, harmful cult like The People's Temple; it's just a random TikTok thing with no real meaning. A few weeks ago, TikToker @annesstinkysock pointed out Hiccup's funny looks, and thousands of TikTok users followed suit, changing their profile pictures to Hiccup and following each other. The cult thrives on this simple rule: change your profile picture to Hiccup, and you're in. TikTok has seen many similar cults in the past, revolving around animals, characters, and even minions. Each one may not last, but they provide a sense of belonging, even if only temporary.
Rejection Cakes: A Dose of Relatability in a Sea of Success Stories
As acceptance and rejection letters from colleges pour in, social media is flooded with videos of students celebrating their admissions to elite institutions. But what about the students who didn't get accepted? This year, the trend for those who won't be attending Yale or Dartmouth this fall is rejection cakes. Videos like these let the internet know that rejection, though painful, is a shared experience and an opportunity for growth. If you're interested in a dose of realism instead of glamorous college acceptances, you can check out this collection of rejection cakes.
Viral Video of the Week: "A Video About Digging a Hole"
Brain-rot isn't all bad. This week's viral video, "A Video About Digging a Hole," encapsulates the potential for good in youth culture. In this YouTube video, creator Jacob Geller examines the cultural and symbolic significance of holes in art, video games, literature, and media. From Holes by Louis Sachar to Minecraft and even a game about digging a hole, this video explores hole-based media while also delving into the deepest hole humans have ever dug: the Kola Superdeep Borehole. This video is a refreshing reminder that there is value in thoughtful, intellectual content within the world of online trends.
- By 2025, the "new generation alpha slang" is predicted to organize and evolve the entertainment and lifestyle landscapes, as seen in the current trends of Gen Z, on various home-and-garden, social media, and entertainment platforms.
- In the realm of slang, Jacon Geller, the creator of the viral video "A Video About Digging a Hole," has posted enlightening content that delves into the meanings behind holes in pop-culture, providing a breath of fresh intellectual air in the ever-changing world of slang.
- Lifestyle trends continue as a growing number of Gen Z and Gen Alpha members, in an attempt to create a sense of belonging, are organizing themselves into temporary "cults" based on shared interests, exemplified by the recent surge in Hiccup profile picture changes on TikTok.
- In the wake of the glamorous college acceptances being showcased on social media, a counter-trend known as rejection cakes has emerged, offering a dose of relatability and a sense of shared experience for those who have faced rejection in the college application process.
- Brain-rot slang, characterized by its spontaneous emergence and often confusing nature, continues to be a constant part of the Gen Z and Gen Alpha lexicon, with terms like "Kevin", "gurt", "IKIAB" (imma keep it a buck) currently dominating internet culture.
- Amid the flood of viral content and trendy rituals, the entertainment industry grapples with decoding and adapting to the bizarre language of this new generation alpha, creating opportunities for humor, connection, and meaningful discussions on various topics, including social media, politics, and pop-culture.
