“Skibidi toilet rizz” may sound like a secret code or gibberish to some, but for Generation Alpha, this is part of their everyday vocabulary.
Gen Alpha, the generation born between 2010 and 2024, has created its own unique slang, widely known as "Gen Alpha slang," which has rapidly gained attention across social media.
Social researcher, futurist, and creator of the term “Gen Alpha,” Mark McCrindle, said in an interview with The New York Times in 2015 that this generation has been around technology since birth.
"They began being born in 2010, the year the iPad was introduced, Instagram was created, and 'app' was the word of the year, so they have been raised as 'screenagers' to a greater extent than the fixed screens of the past could facilitate," McCrindle said.
Generation Z refers to these “screenagers” as “sticky iPad kids.” So how has Gen Alpha altered people’s brain chemistry to what some may now call, “brain rot?”
Gen Alpha slang words became popular through the use of TikTok and Instagram. The more notable slang words are: “fanum tax,” “rizz,” “gyatt,” “sigma,” “Ohio,” “aura,” “looksmaxxing,” “mewing” and “skibidi”.
“Skibidi” is arguably the most popular and head-turning word out of the bunch. According to People Magazine, “skibidi” refers to something dumb, cool, or bad. The word can be seen next to “toilet” or “Ohio,” which has a negative connotation about something weird, or “rizz” which is typically positive in association with flirting.
Examples include:
My brother said I had immaculate skibidi toilet rizz for asking my crush out.
That prank we pulled on your sister was so skibidi toilet Ohio. I can’t believe she thought we were making a TikTok about her for the Hype House.
Andrew Hanna, a senior biochemistry major, said he hears the words “skibidi” and “brain rot” through social media, but rarely hears these words in real life.
“I see some slang pop up on social media, but I wouldn't say that I'm very familiar with the slang,” Hanna said.
Similarly, Grace Buckley, a freshman biology major, said she sees a lot of Gen Alpha slang on TikTok. However, Lisa Rana, a senior biochemistry major, said that she often hears Gen Alpha slang from her younger brother.
“I’ve adopted some of their slang,” Rana said.
Similar to his peers, Michael LaViola, a junior visual and sound media major, said he hears Gen Alpha slang often both through word of mouth and online.
LaViola added that he has heard this slang in classrooms while teaching kids, through younger family members, and mostly on social media.
Love it or Hate it?
For LaViola, “skibidi" is a word that he sees a lot and claims is his least favorite word. He said the word makes no sense and gets annoying.
Paul Brignola, a junior creative writing major, also mentioned that “skibidi” was the first word that came to mind when thinking about Gen Alpha slang. He said that he hears these slang words a lot and described how painful it is to listen to them.
“I find most of it very irritating like nails on a chalkboard,” Brignola said. “Hearing kids and adults say ‘skibidi, rizz, gyatt, and Ohio’ makes me want to puke.”
Other than using slang words like “bet” or “bruh,” Brignola said he hates the other words.
“They sound like immature garbage, like something a newborn baby would make up,” Brignola said.
Caroline Garcia, a senior biology and psychology major, said she does not hate any specific words, except for one phrase.
“I think it's just when I hear the ‘skibidi toilet rizz Ohio,’ when it's all together, then I hate it too much,” Garcia said.
Garcia also expanded on the idea of whether Gen Alpha slang is funny or annoying.
“I think it's hit or miss,” Garcia said. “Because, I think some of it's really funny, but then it's just overused, and that's the problem.”
Steven Sinche, a junior nursing major, added to Garcia’s ideas noting that “some of it doesn't have meaning.”
According to Hanna, Gen Alpha slang is annoying and the words are all cringe. However, Hanna expanded on what makes him evoke these feelings.
“But like, because of that annoyance, it makes me laugh,” Hanna said. “It is like a little, I guess, enraging or like upsetting to hear.”
Similar to Hanna, LaViola said that these words can be funny and annoying but for different reasons.
“I find it to be both annoying and funny,” LaViola said. “Funny because it’s just the way the kids say it and they think it’s so funny when they say it. Annoying because sometimes that’s all that is being said, so most times it’s just kids saying it nonstop.”
Hanna said he has used Gen Alpha slang but not in an annoying way.
“I use it in a cringy way to kind of like cause a reaction of laughter because it's just like comical to me and my friends,” Hanna said. “But I don't use it in the way that [Gen Alpha] use it.”
The Future of Slang
With Generation Beta next in line to shape trends, the future of slang could take a familiar path or evolve into something entirely new.
Garcia admitted to adopting some Gen Alpha slang and reflected on whether the future of slang will get better or worse, saying that she was unsure since the fate of the slang terms relies on the fate of social media.
“It depends if TikTok lives,” Garcia said. “It's probably going to get worse because of the brain rot.”
Sinche replied to Garcia’s uncertainty with his opinion, saying that the future of slang will “definitely be worse” and that generations will “be making new words.”
Hanna agreed with the continuation of slang but mentioned the perspective of other generations.
“I feel like, based off of our older generations, they have such a distaste for the words that we used to use,” Hanna said. “And I feel like it's just going to continue being like that generation after generation. I don't think it's ever going to change.”
LaViola said he believes the future slang will get worse and talked about the generation differences in understanding.
“We are in such a weird time in the world where if something doesn’t make sense to us, it makes the most sense to the kids,” LaViola said. “Plus, all it takes is for someone famous to say it and it’ll stick sadly.”
Brignola said he hopes that Gen Alpha slang does not carry on to the next generation.
“With social media and technology dominating the world, I highly doubt these words will go away,” Brignola said. “Children will learn these words at a young age because of how young they’re given access to technology. Adults will say it to try and connect with children, teenagers, and even college students, which feels incredibly awkward for a grown-up to say these slang words to me.”
Brignola also said he hopes society can divert away from these slang words.
LaViola said he believes Gen Alpha slang words might not be continued in the future.
“The words they use will most likely stop being said in like a couple [of] years when they grow up, so it’s kinda just like a trend,” LaViola said.
Sofia Kasbo is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at sofia.kasbo@student.shu.edu.
