The Conversation (0)
iStock
Millennials, it’s time to face a hard truth: our beloved "lol" is no longer landing the way we think it is.
Once the go-to phrase for softening a message, showing we’re chill, or pretending we’re not internally spiralling, "lol" has now been crowned a major texting ick by Gen Z. What we see as lighthearted or harmless, they see as awkward, outdated – and sometimes even emotionally confusing.
Whether you’re dropping a casual "ok lol" to end a convo or using "lol" to cushion every mildly uncomfortable message, Gen Z has one thing to say: please stop.
The quirky generational debate was sparked by one X/Twitter user, who pointed out: "Millennials use 'lol' like STOP at the end of a telegram lol."
The tweet quickly racked up nearly 4 million views and sparked hundreds of divisive replies.
"This is so accurate," one quipped. "I remember being at a bar once, when texting was just getting popular (because I’m a dinosaur millennial), and someone asked me if I was always really laughing out loud. I said no. He was like, 'Then why type lol?' And I never typed it again."
"Lol is doing the emotional labour autocorrect can’t," one joked, as another chimed in: "Hold steady lads, in a culture that has taken everything from you, never let them strip you of your lols."
Meanwhile, one millennial perfectly summed it up as: "It's the period that says 'please don’t take this the wrong way'".
A millennial pause feels appropriate right about now… lol.
You may also like...
- Gen Z's gaming habits could be the worst thing possible for industry's future
- Cost of living prompts Gen Z to take unconventional approach to dating - and it works
How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel
Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.