Millennial vs. Gen Z Slang on Instagram!
Every generation has its own slang and way of communication. This situation shows us that language can adapt to changing times and the cultural shifts in the society. The most common place where we can experience something like this is Instagram. Thanks to the popularity and the domination of Gen Z’s content on social media, we can easily compare and understand the difference in generational slang. In today’s article, we are going to take a look at the Millennials vs. Gen Z slang on Instagram.
Let’s not waste any more time and get right into it, shall we?
Contents
What Is Instagram Slang?
Slang is an informal way of expressing oneself with abbreviations and playful words. It is common in speech rather than writing however, with the Gen Z it is now used in many social media campaigns such as Instagram and TikTok trends. Instagram slang is getting quite popular because, with slang, you can express yourself in a more relatable, interesting, and engaging way.
For example, in Millennials times, the internet was on the rise, and their slang was adopted to this cultural and social change. That’s why they used slang rooted in internet culture such as “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out!) or “Adulting”, on the other hand, we can see that Gen Z slang is more vivid and dynamic than Millennials slang. It is because Gen Z slang is a meme and pop culture is driven such as “SUS” and “bet”. These differences show us the distinctive cultural and environmental differences of these two groups of people.
We are going to take a closer look at Millennial vs. Gen Z slang now, however, if you are after more comprehensive explanation, you can always check out Views4You’s Instagram slang page.
Popular Millennial Slang on Instagram
To start the very first battle of Millennial vs. Gen Z slang, let’s check out the Millennials and how they used their slang.
1. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Even though FOMO is quite popular now, Millennials brought it to the table. It emphasizes the anxiety and discomfort about missing out on life and fun as if you don’t have enough time to take the life all in.
For example, your friends are going to a festival on a Friday night, but you are too tired to tag along and decide to go to your place. However, you saw the perfect Instagram posts and it triggered your FOMO and you could find yourself saying: “Major FOMO seeing everyone at the festival this weekend!”
2. Adulting
Adulting means that you have to be responsible for your actions and handle tasks that is associated with adulthood such as “Just paid my bills and cooked dinner – adulting is real.”
3. Goals
“Goals” is an expression where you want to show support, admiration, or good-natured jealousy that is used quite often by Millennials when they see someone or something they think is brilliant such as “Their relationship is total goals!” or “That friend clique is goals, I wish I were friends with them.”
4. YOLO
The next slang in Millennial vs. Gen Z slang on Instagram is “YOLO” it refers to “You Only Live Once” and it has a similar meaning to FOMO because Millennials use it to enjoy every opportunity they can find. It means that you have only one life and you wouldn’t want to waste it with boring responsibilities and emotions. So, while still breathing, make something fun out of your life!
You can see that slang as Instagram hashtag on many posts on Instagram while users are doing something extremely foolish, wicked or irresponsible, in a good way though!
5. LOL
“LOL” might be one of the most popular Instagram slang ever. It means “Laughing out Loud” and it is used when users see something funny.
Gen Z Slang on Instagram
Gen Z slang is fresh, trendy and to be honest, quite catchy. Thanks to their young and free “vibe”, Gen Z memes and creative Instagram posts are creating a livelier and active environment for Instagram users. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular Gen Z slang.
1. SUS
“Sus” is the short version of suspicious or suspect. The starting point of the “sus” goes back to the game called “Among Us”. In this game, users are trying to find the imposter based on the evidence. After the hype, “sus” moved to daily life and social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. You can use it when you are underscoring a suspicious event. For example, “He didn’t show up last night… kinda sus if you ask me.”
2. Bet
“Bet” simply means “okay” in terms of agreeing a challenge with confidence. Such as “Can you finish that project by tonight?” – “Bet!”
3. Cap
“Cap” is my favorite Gen Z slang and to be fair, it could win the Millennial vs Gen Z slang battle on Instagram for me. The way they use it brilliantly is funny and it adds layers to the joke. You can use the “cap” when you think there is a lie or call out exaggerations. Like, “That party was the best one ever, no cap.”
4. Slaps
Gen Z often uses the “slaps” slang when they are impressed with someone or something. However, in general “slaps” is used when they find a good song that they enjoy. “Not gonna lie, your playlist slaps!”
5. Main Character
The slang “main character” gives giving main character energy. It’s unique, clever, and catchy. Gen Z uses it to describe something or someone that feels like the protagonist in a story, often implying confidence or uniqueness. Like, “Walking into the party like the main character vibe.”
As you can see these are the most used Millennial vs. Gen Z slang on Instagram and other social media platforms. For me, Millennials have no chance here, but who am I to decide?
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Instagram slang influence communication in real life?
While slang is primarily used on social media, it is getting quite popular in real life. Many students are using Gen Z slang among their friend groups. Besides, since it is getting popular, many marketing agencies are using Gen Z slang in their campaigns.
Can older generations understand and use Instagram slang effectively?
Yes, of course, slang is for everyone, and with a little bit of time anyone can understand and use them.
Why do slang terms change so quickly on Instagram?
Due to Instagram’s fast and vivid environment, things can go viral in no time and things can rapidly change.
