The ‘TikTok Tongue’ of GenZ
No cap, but language is changing for real.
That was our attempt at a Gen Z intro to the blog. Let’s get real; language has always been a living, breathing thing. It adapts to the cultural shifts of the time. But with the mass migration of a dominant population to the internet sphere, the change is rapid and fast. Fresh wave of new slang every week. Emoji is a language on its own. Casual email sign-offs. Take your pick!
So, what does all of this mean for the future of language?
In this blog, we discuss how Gen Z Internet lingo is impacting spoken language to the extent of even influencing the Oxford Dictionary. After all, “brain rot” was Oxford’s word of the year for 2024!
Social Media & Gen Z’s New Lingo
Social media’s been around for a while, but now short-form videos (15 to 60 sec clips) are the new wave. Think TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, YouTube Shorts, and Snapchat. What it offers: visual stimulation, to-the-point content, and authenticity. These platforms give rise to new slang terms, memes, and challenges that quickly manifest in everyday spoken language. However, with the nature of these platforms, when trends die, so does the usage or relevance of the particular term. Yes, I am looking at you, the “Skibidi” gang.
When the millennials pioneered spaces like Twitter and Facebook, their linguistic style blended between formal and informal English. Though they did use emojis and memes, Gen Zs have taken it to a new level. Gen Z, the scrolling and click-friendly generation, often consumes short, concise messages in the form of images and videos. Thus, there seems to be a lingual shift towards a more universal, pictorial form of communication that can transcend language barriers.
Workplace Communication
Not saying ‘Thank you for your input’ has turned into ‘Mind your business,’ but there’s definitely been a shift in workplace language—going from formal and detached to casual and authentic.
Gen Z’s value driven politics and demand for authenticity are definitely showing up in the workplace. From embracing non-binary pronouns to calling out corporate speak, their linguistic style is inclusive and bullshit-free.
A growing trend of professional communication through emails and instant messaging, where a more conversational tone is preferred, has become the norm.
What It All Means: The Future of Language
When phrases become mainstream, they lose their exclusivity- aka, their ‘aura’ in Gen Z terms. Regional dialects and slang aren’t as distinct as they used to be. With the digital nativity of the Gen Z population, you may have noticed how similar our language is, no matter where we’re from? Social media has created this shared linguistic experience among young people globally.
Many new words have emerged and entered mainstream usage. Expressions like ‘bet’ instead of ‘yep’ and ‘woke’ for the politically aware are AAVE (African American Vernacular English) terms. They are inspired by Black and Latino LGBT cultures in the US and have significantly influenced contemporary slang.
There has been an increase in the phenomenon of “verbing,” where nouns are turned into verbs, like “DMing” and “Googling”. While grammatical changes in language are slower, more people are adopting the American way of pronouncing some words.
CTRL+Z TAKEAWAYS
Young people have always driven language change as a way to set themselves apart from older generations. What we can agree on is the pace at which language changes today is unprecedented compared to pre-internet times, when linguistic shifts occurred much more slowly.
As we ride this wave of change, it’s important to embrace it, but also keep in mind how much diversity matters in language. What’s your favorite Gen Z slang?
About the Author
I’m Laxmi, a content writer who turns caffeine into words and ideas into stories. If creativity had a speed limit, I’d be breaking it daily. Juggling words, dodging writer’s block, and occasionally questioning my life choices—one sentence at a time. Always typing, always snacking, never not thinking!
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About the Author
I’m Laxmi, a content writer who turns caffeine into words and ideas into stories. If creativity had a speed limit, I’d be breaking it daily. Juggling words, dodging writer’s block, and occasionally questioning my life choices—one sentence at a time. Always typing, always snacking, never not thinking!