Across Generations: The Slang Showdown on TikTok
In the vibrant streets of New York City, a cultural battle is unfolding on TikTok that many are finding both entertaining and a tad cringeworthy. Imagine older folks, perhaps your parents or grandparents, using phrases like “slay” and “no cap” while trying to connect with the younger generation. It’s happening more often than you might think, and it’s taking social media by storm!
With almost 4,000 videos circulating this trend, viewers can’t help but chuckle as they witness an array of older people, primarily boomers, trying their best to hit the “Gen Z marketing script” just right. While all of this is delivered with a sense of glee, there’s a lurking suspicion that once slang creeps into the mouths of adults, it may just lose its cool factor.
Where Does It All Come From?
Interestingly, a lot of the slang that Gen Z is famous for isn’t entirely new. Phrases like “It’s giving” or “serving” have roots that dig back through Black and Latinx ball culture before filtering into mainstream usage via pop culture phenomena like RuPaul’s Drag Race. In fact, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “rizz” was named the word of the year in 2023. But here’s the catch: when older generations use it for things like the Royal Armouries or other promotions, it feels a tad out of touch, doesn’t it?
An Intergenerational Balancing Act
Social media has always been a playground for generational ribbing. Take the popular phrase “OK boomer”, which took off back in 2019 as a rallying cry for Gen Z against what they deemed condescending attitudes from the older cohorts. Meanwhile, Millennials, often caught in the middle, seemed too drained to engage in the battle, allowing Gen Z to flex their linguistic prowess on the internet. But as Gen Z began to take aim at Gen X, they learned the hard way that the latchkey kids from that generation are not a group to mess with.
It’s nostalgic, really. Those Gen Xers grew up having their share of challenges and are now crafting their responses in a way that makes it clear: they’re here for the banter—just not the incessant bickering. So, when boomers and Xers jump onto TikTok, using Gen Z slang for marketing purposes, it feels like we’re witnessing a full-circle moment: all generations converging on this platform and bringing their individual flavors to the table.
What’s the Real Agenda?
One must reflect, though, on the implications of this trend. While it’s amusing to see grandma trying to decode the meaning of “rizz,” there’s an underlying irony. The slang that young people have owned is being used to sell products, undermining the natural coolness associated with it. It’s a weird juxtaposition, seeing Gen Z’s self-proclaimed hipness getting adopted by those who often represent an anticapitalist bent.
In the larger TikTok universe, this is not the first time such a trend has surfaced. A recent viral trend involved Gen Z employees editing videos, showcasing their efficiency and humor—not to mention the hilariously awkward “ums” and pauses. However, the marketing script phenomenon seems more profound, a notable indicator of how connected but also disjointed we really are when it comes to language and identity.
The Muddied Waters of Online Communication
As we are learning, language is a living thing on the internet; it can flourish and be muddied at the same time. And in this TikTok context, while it’s clear there’s a funny gag at hand, the question lingers: who is the joke truly on? The generational humor could potentially build bridges, or it might just deepen the divide as each generation tries to redefine itself online.
As if the TikTok sphere couldn’t get any wilder, other storylines are developing, including the rumor mill surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs and surprisingly, the mystery of AI-generated songs that mimic stars like Justin Bieber. Meanwhile, the antics of NYC mayor Eric Adams, who has found himself tangled in a meme frenzy after various legal charges, have also taken a turn for the humorous.
So, keep scrolling and check in with TikTok. Whether you’re a member of Gen Z, a boomer, or somewhere in between, you might just stumble across the next viral video that has us all laughing at the chaos of language and intergenerational connections!
