So I think I’m kind of cool (maybe not). I try to keep up with new terms and trends (I fail every time). I also try to interact with different people from each generation to learn their language and non-language. But it’s hard to keep up (impossible, also fail). Things change a lot. And there are so many social media and entertainment platforms out there that we stay in our own field even though each one has new trends.
In most cases, platforms don’t overlap or have very little overlap. So in the social media realm, audiences on TikTok, Facebook, IG, Snapchat, YouTube, WhatsApp, X can usually be very separate with no big interconnections. In entertainment platforms, people use local TV, cable, Apple TV, Netflix, Paramount, or Amazon Prime with minimal overlap. So, new trends may happen alone along one platform or they may become popular and crossover. Because I’m so cool (no, nothing close to it) I’m going to tell you about some cool trending terms and concepts that have crossed over across different platforms and are now temporary urban slang.
The term “basic” for example means unoriginal or ordinary. “Altered my brain chemistry” means it has made me rethink my outlook on life. “I’m dead” or “I’m weakness” or “sending me” means you have found something interesting. “Extra” means to go too far. “Ghosted” means you haven’t heard back from someone and there is no explanation. “Slay” means to do something very well. “Sus” is suspicious. “Rizz” is short for charisma. “Bussin” means something is really good.
We all already know the word situationship. Sometimes we add “-ing” to a word. For example, “the maths not mathsing”, “the brain not braining”, etc. The most interesting is “touch grass”. This refers to someone who spends too much time online and needs to go out and do something different. “Rent free” means to be memorable, memorable or very entertaining. “Vibe check” means to check how someone is doing. To act “like a hero” means to act self-centered and self-indulgently. “Pookie” is the name you call your best friend or loved one. “No cap” means reliability and truthfulness. One interesting term is “Ick”. This is when you go on a date and things are going well, but the other person does something that makes you immediately dislike them and you don’t want to be romantically involved with them. After that “Ick”, there’s no going back. That date is a no-go.
Then there are the “baby girls.” Not to be confused with “baby sharks.” The newer usage of the term refers to guys, not girls. “Baby girl” guys are guys who are attractive, cute, vulnerable, a little submissive, over 25, have a badass streak but aren’t overbearing, and have a softness and confidence in their masculinity. Harry Styles is one. Nicholas Galitzine is another. They seem to have beautiful eyes, they’ve cried on screen, and they show a badass streak.
Another popular term seems to be the “soft girl era.” Especially since the COVID pandemic, women are rejecting the hardcore career-driven lifestyle and moving towards a “soft girl” lifestyle. They have seen the burnout of the “girl boss,” the late nights, stomach ulcers, stress fractures, egg freezing, and finally honing their careers to get the pen. These new women don’t want to be “girl bosses.” They dream of achieving nothing and just taking it easy. Instead, they are choosing a slow life with less hassle and a focus on self-care and taking care of their families.
In terms of new trends, there is a growing distrust of government and big corporations. In terms of fashion, flare jeans are back and skinny jeans are out. Pickleball is definitely the new fad, surpassing tennis in popularity. Gender fluid looks are the new trend. There is a big overall focus on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Mental health issues are definitely on the rise. At least 50% of young people feel stressed or anxious most or all of the time.
But what’s more interesting about new trends isn’t the words, but what they’re communicating. Younger generations are overwhelmed by social media, the daily threat of war, and the inevitability of extreme weather patterns due to global warming and climate change. Individuals and groups are isolated in different realities, and algorithms are feeding people the same information. Young people are online more and have fewer opportunities to socialize in person. We are inherently social creatures, so not being able to socialize has a huge impact on us. So with all this going on, it’s creating stress, anxiety, and a lot of mental health issues.
This is a “no box era” for me in terms of creating new words and trends. I want to not only think outside the box but also be creative and have no boxes at all, allowing for a variety of career options and paths. For the country, I want a “crime bus era”. For me, as a “girl boss” or “soft girl” wannabe, the stifling crime atmosphere causes stress, anxiety, fearful vulnerability. This crime is just that, a crime. If anyone checks the atmosphere, the reality is that we are struggling and not doing well at all, regardless of the language.
Dr Joan F. Paul is a lecturer in emergency medicine at The UWI.
