Gen Z Social Media Terms and What They Mean
If it sounds like a different language, well, it’s because it kind of is. ♡
Hey! It’s Julia, Scott Social’s summer intern.
Here we will dive deep as we talk about the ever changing social media terms brought upon by Gen Z. As a proud member of this generation, I’m here to spill all the tea on what terms slay, versus what terms are completely cringy. These new terms aren’t just fun to use, but they light up our feeds and are shaping the way we communicate online.
#1 Slayyyy
Do you ever see someone walking on the street and you are just obsessed with their outfit? That would be the definition of a slay.
The term “slay” is often associated with fashion, performance, music, looks, and can be used in such a variety of contexts.
✨ How can my small business use “slay”? Comment slay on the latest post by your gen z followers.
#2 Okay Queen!
“Queen” is trending everywhere. Oftentimes, slay and queen are put together by saying “slay queen” to describe anything that might be fetch. I personally love the “slay queen” trend as a form of female empowerment. Whenever I’m getting ready with my girl friends to go out, I love hyping them up by saying “slay queen”.
Influencers all over social media such as Tik Tok and Instagram are using these terms to hype others up, creating girlhood even behind a screen.
✨ How can my small business use “queen”? Comment queen or slay queen on the posts of your gen z followers, especially if your products are for the girls.
#3 Now that ate!
Do you wish your instagram account “ate” like other brands or companies that you follow? Then let Scott Social revamp your small business accounts to slay away! Being told you “ate” is another form of saying that looks amazzzzing or that it totally slays! Being in the know on Gen Z social media terms when it comes to using them for your small business, will allow your accounts to eat without leaving any crumbs!
✨ How can my small business use “ate”? Comment “she ate” or “he ate” to show your support. And if they really killed it, comment something like “ate. slayed. served. left no crumbs”.
#4 Are You Hip?
And then there’s “hip.” Saying “I’m hip to the new social media trends'' is like declaring that you are totally in the know and up to date on what's happening. It’s important you read this article til the very end to be hip on what Gen Z social media terms to use verses not!
✨ How can my small business use “hip”? This term is fairly newer, with people still learning its definition and fitting it into their vocab.
#5 Lets Not Be Cheugy
What is cheugy? You’ll know when you see it. Another one of my favorite Gen Z social media terms that is being used everywhere would be “cheugy.” This term became Tik-Tok, popularized by Gen Z in 2021, with influencers using it to describe anything that is out of style/ date.
Do you ever see someone wearing something that was just soooo five summers ago? This is where cheugy comes into play. Describing something as cheugy is like saying it's out of style or cringey.
✨ How can my small business avoid being cheugy? Let’s Scott Social help you out.
Outdated terms
#1 That’s Lit
Saying “lit” is just not it.
“Lit” was a word used to describe things that were cool, hype, and exciting. Now, it’s a bit outdated, including other words like “fire” and “yolo”.
Staying up to date and rebranding your vocabulary every so often will keep you hip and in the know.
Why You Gotta Stay Relevant ↓
These terms are not just cute and trendy, but they also make our posts pop and feel more relevant to today. As a boutique social media marketing agency, it is important that Scott Social uses these gen z social media terms to make our content, and our clients content, feel fresh and relatable. When we are able to speak the same language as our readers even with blogging, it totally helps us connect with them on a deeper level. Plus, brands love it because it shows that we’re tapped into the latest trends, or as we would say it shows we’re “hip.” It’s always fun to keep our vocab as stylish as our wardrobes!
But just as we wouldn’t hold onto certain items of clothing for more than a couple of years, we need to be conscious of phasing out terms that are so outdated. Staying ahead of the curve and continually updating our language keeps out content vibrant and engaging for all. Think of it as a digital wardrobe refresh! Incorporating the latest lingo not only makes our content more appealing but also demonstrates our agility and awareness of the ever-evolving social media landscape.
WE’LL KEEP YOU COOL.
If you're ready to make your brand the talk of the town, then let Scott Social infuse your content with the freshest , trendiest terms that resonate with today’s audience. Let your new content connect with Gen Z social media terms and slay away!
WRITTEN BY:
Julia Cramer
Social Media Intern