With social media, do we gain more 'friends' but lose ourselves?

This is part of a series of primers on current affairs and issues in the news, and what they mean for Singapore.

- Sandra Davie

If you haven't heard the term "skibidi" mentioned recently, you must be living under a rock, bruh. Originating from a YouTube animated series, skibidi has become emblematic of the lingo of Generation Alpha, those born after 2010, and some younger members of Generation Z, which preceded them.

It is a nonsense term used by teenagers for humorous effect, to add emphasis - while baffling older generations seeking to decode their children's language. As 18-year-old Joy Tan, who "used to use" the word, explains: "There are many such words which are hard to decipher and leave adults befuddled. And I say "used", as usually with such slang words, once the adults figure it out, we stop using them and start using other words to confuse the older folks.

"It's fun really."

Aside from new slang, that social media has changed language and communication in fundamental ways is undeniable. It has expanded the English vocabulary with words such as "influencer" and "ghosted", made syntax and communication styles more informal through new texting conventions, and created the parallel language of emojis.

Digital natives Gen Alpha - weaned on a diet of screens and often raised by digital natives themselves - are introducing a new lexicon, such as "skibidi" and "ohio", inspired by internet influencers. "Ohio" refers to something that is weird, cringy, or odd. It's a term that has emerged from online memes that describe strange or awkward situations as "only in Ohio".

Gen Zs - aged 15 to 30, raised on Instagram or Reddit - are beginning to enter the workplace and stake their claim with phrases such as "slay" (to do something exceptionally well) and "lit", meaning awesome, exciting, or great.

The use of slang words or phrases, popularised through apps such as TikTok, Instagram or Reddit, is just one of the ways in which social media has cemented the generational divide.