Youthspeak

Do you know how the Gen Z-ers talk? And who their new heroes are? Tatler does a deep dive and fishes out a few samples

Conversations nowadays, especially with teenagers, can be a struggle if you are not well-versed with their generation’s terminology. Find out, too, who their heroes are

There’s no doubt the pandemic has affected our daily routines deeply. Majority of workingclass professionals continue to adjust to life in the online space and young adults are no different. A recent article in Forbes by Jeff Fromm, an expert on millennials and Generation Z, talks about how these generations’ interactions with social media have changed in the past year and a half.

Born between 1997 to 2010, Gen Zers are feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic perhaps more than any other generation as the defining period of their lives has seemingly been stalled. From notes that unlike other generations who distrust the self-perpetuating algorithms of social media, Gen Z prefers a curated feed tailor-fit to their interests; they also mistrust large institutions and admire those who take a stand. They’re all about supporting individuality and uniqueness, and there’s no better place to celebrate that than in the realm of social media.

These digital natives have pushed trends especially during the pandemic as most of us adapt to virtual realities. In fact, TikTok which saw a dip in user interaction just before lockdowns has thrived in the past year. Global publication The Drum did a study on this and noted that the spike in TikTok users may have also come from millennials (born 1981 to 1996) who have begun using the platform in the past year as well.

Millennials and Gen Zers have also contributed to what many consider the golden age of Hallyu (Korean Wave), with South Korean culture and entertainment dominating platforms across the globe. Trends come and go but the way we interact with them has now changed as we all become more dependent and aware of the power of the digital space.

But don’t feel left out. Here are a few terms made popular by millennials and Gen Zers that may help you navigate through a conversation with them one of these days. Maybe not enough to make you an expert but definitely not to keep you clueless.

KEEPING IT PC

PC – short for ‘politically-correct’.

Sexual orientation vs Gender – Yes, they are different. Sexual orientation is defined by whom you are attracted to (ie heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, etcetera, while Gender is understood as socially-constructed roles and presentations of one’s identity).

Pronouns – Nowadays, it’s important to be aware of what pronoun another prefers to be identified with rather than assume gender identity based on looks. Some may prefer the she/her label (female-identifying), he/him (male-identifying), they/their (non-binary).

Pride –It began as a protest for equal rights under the gay liberation movements of the Seventies in the United States. Eventually, it grew overseas and across the globe and now stands for a call to action for equality for all sexual expressions and gender identities.

ALL ABOUT GEN Z

No Cap – means ‘no lie’ or ‘for real’. It was popularised by Atlanta-based rappers Young Thug and Future with their song No Cap.

Drip – similar to ‘swag’; when you’re so ‘blinged out’ that your ‘ice’ (bling) starts to melt.

Trends come and go but the way we interact with them has now changed as we all become more dependent and aware of the power of the digital space