New York City’s TikTok Takeover: Generations Collide in Slang Showdown
New York City has become a vibrant battleground for generations as older folks playfully engage with the latest trends in Gen Z slang on TikTok. As amusing as it sounds, these videos are more than just cute moments; they showcase a fascinating clash of cultures, and let’s face it, they have us all chuckling a bit.
Understanding the Slang Surge
Scroll through TikTok long enough and you’ll inevitably stumble across clips of older people—often labeled as boomers—using slick Gen Z phrases like “Northumberland Zoo hits different” or “It’s giving literate”. With nearly 4,000 of these videos circulating around and garnering millions of views, one can’t help but feel like a part of our beloved slang is being gently buried. The wholesome energy and earnest intentions behind these videos are what make them endearing. They’re charming yet cringeworthy, and we can’t seem to look away.
But hold your horses; it turns out a lot of this slang isn’t originally from Gen Z! Terms such as “It’s giving,” “slay,” and “serving” actually trace their roots back decades, primarily filtering through Black and Latinx ball culture, ultimately making their way into mainstream chats thanks to shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. The word “rizz,” which became the Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year in 2023, is newer but is often seen in contexts far removed from its Twitch stream origins.
Generational Grievances and Humor
Many might remember the meme-worthy phrase “OK boomer” that shot to fame back in 2019, summarizing how Gen Z felt about the dismissive attitudes of older generations. Fast forward to today, and we see a different twist as Gen Z lays the smackdown on Gen X, bringing age-old themes of intergenerational razzing back into the spotlight. Alas, Gen X isn’t the one to be trifled with, thanks to their rich history of overcoming challenges and wanting to protect their turf on social media.
The Marketing Quirk
But it’s not just friendly banter. The rise of videos showcasing boomers and Gen Xers using Gen Z slang for marketing purposes has become a real trend on TikTok, prompting laughs and eye-rolls in equal measure. It all feels a little ticklishly amusing, especially knowing that past generations are now trying to ride the coattails of modern youth lingo—flipping the script, so to say!
Not too long ago, we also witnessed another TikTok trend where users asked their Gen Z friends to edit their videos, leading to compilations filled with adorable blunders and unexpected quirks. The TikTok community is evolving, showing how all generations can collide in the name of art and self-expression, but, honestly, it feels different this time.
Linguistic Playground
The linguistic playground that is TikTok continues to impress, and it’s clear that if everyone wants to keep their in-group chatter under wraps, they might have to look elsewhere; perhaps Gen Alpha will swoop in with their own fresh vernacular. Language tends to flourish and twist in ways that can be both delightful and puzzling, especially online.
What’s Next?
As older generations hop onto TikTok for a taste of the young folks’ language, the lines are blurred on who’s really cracking the jokes. Language evolves, memories of bygone phrases resurface, and it seems like we’re all partaking in a cultural blend, mixed with nostalgia and a sprinkle of humor.
Only time will tell how these trends evolve as we navigate slang, memes, and the wild, wonderful world of social media. So, grab your favorite beverage and dive into this linguistic playground where everyone, yes everyone, has a voice and a laugh to share!
