Meme words parents need to know

Parents have been offered a helpful guide to meme words and phrases that are used online in 2022 which they can learn to keep up with their kids.

Language experts at Busuu have revealed the meanings behind some phrases derived from meme culture to help parents decode their kids’ language.

With the internet slowly becoming a primary contributor to modern-day language the social sphere is inundated with new words every day.

Memes are an integral part of internet culture in 2022. Essentially, a meme is an idea, trend or behaviour represented by video, text or image, often of a humorous nature, which is shared via social platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.

To help parents decode what exactly their kids are talking about, the language experts at Busuu have put together a list of the 10 most popular, viral meme terms right now.

A spokesperson for Busuu said: “In recent years meme culture has transcended all the way through Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, right through to Boomers. People use them as a way of communicating, entertaining and connecting.

“The fast-paced nature of the thousands upon thousands of online communities that create and use memes means that phrases and slang words are constantly coming and going, as and when trends die out.

“This can make it difficult for older generations to understand the language their kids may be using. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, if you’re feeling out of touch, it’s a great starting point. why we’ve put together this list.”

10 most popular words and phrases of the moment that come from meme culture

Understand the assignment: When a person does an activity well or has done the right thing in a given social situation.

Pushin P: American rapper, Gunna, presented this phrase to the world on his 2022 hit single Pushin P featuring Drake. Gunna said in an interview that the P stands for player and that if you’re Pushin P then you’re keeping it real.

MID: The term mid is used to describe something that is average or of poor quality. Mid can degrade or insult someone or something in many contexts. For example, “We waited on that album for ages but it was mid!”.

Finsta: A finsta refers to a ‘fake Instagram’. It is not uncommon for users to have a main account and a private account (finsta), which is often reserved for close friends.

Material girl: Likely to have drawn inspiration from Madonna’s ’80s hit Material Girl, the term is very much what it says on the tin. Primarily users on TikTok will use this term when portraying a lavish lifestyle in which their main focus is material possessions.

Griddy: The Griddy refers to a viral dance trend on TikTok, created by Allen Davis and made famous by NFl star Justin Jefferson. The dance involves toe tapping whilst walking forwards. This is accompanied by swinging your arms back and then mimicking a person wearing glasses.

MajorbagAlert: A term used when you’re about to receive a lot of money from someone. The term ‘securing the bag’ can also be used interchangeably, the bag being money.

Are you new here?: Used to describe a person who has done something that makes them look like they’re new to that environment – often something awkward or embarrassing.

Just hayfever: This viral TikTok sound is an audio extract from long standing CBBC show Tracey Beaker. Users will often lip-dub the sound to describe something sad in their life, usually in a comical manner.