For the past 30+ years, the internet has had its own language, jokes and cast of characters. For those who are always online, it’s easy to keep up … but we can’t always be logged into TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and so on.
As TikTok and its 689 million global monthly users gain influence over young people, it can be exceptionally hard to understand where slang terms and other references are coming from, because the app’s interface makes it difficult to link out to external information. Curious users are often left digging through the comments for an explanation for something living rent-free in their heads, and one isn’t always available.
In addition to keeping up with all the definitions and backstories that make up Gen Z pop culture, we also need to keep in mind that much of “Gen Z culture” has been borrowed from and inspired by other cultures. Those communities deserve credit for their influence.
To help decode and demystify the lingo used by young people online, we put together the In The Know Glossary to be your guide through all the latest trends, memes and influencers you need to know to be a part of the conversation. As a new craze pops up every day, this page will stay updated with links out to explainers.
Have at it, besties.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | #
A
Accountant
ACE Family
Adam Faze
Addison Goes Home Snapchat show
Addison Rae
Addison Rae and Bryce Hall’s relationship
Adrian’s Kickback
Adult Swim TikTok trend
Aesthetics
Aging TikTok filter
Album cover TikTok challenge
Alejandro Rosario
Alev Aydin
“Alors on Danse” TikTok trend
ALR
Alt TikTok
Amelia Hamlin
American Girl doll teeth TikTok trend
Amish TikTok
Amourath
Angelic yields
Anna Sitar
Annie movie memes
Anti-MLM creators
Antworten
“Anything can happen in The Bronx” TikTok trend
Ari Aguirre
Ari Fournier
“As the World Caves in” TikTok trend
“Astronaut in the Ocean” TikTok trend
ATP
Attractiveness scale TikTok trend
Aura color TIkTok trend
Ava Louise
Ava Max
Avant-basic
Avani
Axel Webber
Aya Tanjali
B
Baby Ariel
Backpack Kid
Backyardigans TikTok trend
“Bad Romance” TikTok trend
Baka
Bama Rush TikTok trend
Barbara Palvin
BBL behavior meme
Beaning
Bella Dose
Bella Fitz and Max Balegde
Bella Poarch
Bella Thorne
“Berries and cream” TikTok trend
Bestie
Big Baby TikTok meme
Big head TikTok filter
“Billy on the Street” TikTok resurgence
Bing Bong
Blinking game TikTok filter
BMS
Bo Burnham’s Inside TikTok trend
Bomb Moms
Bone Guy
Bones Day
“Bongo cha cha cha” TikTok trend
“Boo! I’m a ghost” TikTok trend
Boys World
Brad Mondo
Bretman Rock
Bridgerton
Brittany Broski
Broke Bobby
Brooke Monk
Brooklynne Webb (@xobrooklynne)
Brussels sprouts cancellation
Bryce Hall
Bum Bailey
Bunny the “talking” TikTok dog
“Buss It” challenge
Buttered Jorts
Butterfly effect
C
Cain’s Jawbone
“Call Me By Your Name” TikTok trend
Carl Bismarck
Cartoon TikTok filter
Cartoonify TikTok filter
Caught in 4K
CC
Chair emoji
Chance of rain TikTok trend
Charli D’Amelio
Charlie Puth’s feud with Benny Blanco
Charly Jordan and Tayler Holder’s relationship
Chase Hudson
Chase Rutherford
Cheugy
Chip clip TikTok trend
Chloe Ting
Chlorophyll drink TikTok trend
Chris Miles
Celebrities on TikTok
Celebrity doppelgängers
Celebrity kids on TikTok
Celebrity house TikTok trend
Center of gravity challenge
Chopping dance TikTok trend
Chug Jug with you TikTok trend
Cindy Kimberly
Ciusism
Coco Quinn
“Coconuts” TikTok trend
Cole Carrigan
Color personality quiz TikTok trend
Conan Gray
Controversial TikTok stars
Cori Gabrielle
Corpse Husband
Crop
Crucible TikTok trend
“Cry if I want to” TikTok trend
Cullen
Cult TikTok trend
D
Da Vinki meme
“Daisy, Daisy” song TikTok trend
Dalton Gomez
“Dancey Dance” TikTok trend
Dance Moms cast
D’Angelo Wallace
Dangerous TikTok trends
Danielle Cohn
Dave Team
DC
“Dear Maria, Count Me In” TikTok challenge
Def Noodles
Devil girl TikTok sticker
Deuxmoi
Devious licks
Dice roll walk TikTok trend
Disney copycat recipes
Diss tracks by TikTok stars
Dixie D’Amelio
DNF
“Don’t ask me the color of anything”
Down bad
Dowsing rod TikTok trend
“Dramatic story” TikTok trend
Dream
Drew Afualo
DTB
Duggars
Dynamic photo TikTok trend
E
Easy TikTok dances
“Eat your vegetables” TikTok trend
Elite
Elle Zeller
Emily Dobson
Emily Mariko
Emily Zugay
Emma Chamberlain
Emoji secret meanings
Emzotic
Epcot Ball TikTok trend
Eva Cudmore
“Even the paparazzi team Bryce” meme
Ex destroyer TikTok trend
F
Fact or cap
Fake people on TikTok
Fake screaming TikTok trend
Fake Snapchat Photos
Fanfiction
Fast-food secret menu items
“Fax no printer” TikTok trend
Felix Mallard
Fergie cartwheel trend
Fire cider
Flip Day
Floating broom TikTok
Flowers for guys TikTok trend
Francesca Scorsese
Frankie Jonas
FYP
G
Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss
Ghost Ship TikTok
Gilmher Croes
Glizzy
Glow look TikTok filter
“Go best friend” TikTok trend
Goblincore
“Good soup” TikTok trend
“Goodbye Connie” meme
Google Form challenge
“Gorgeous gorgeous girls love soup” TikTok trend
Gossip Girl reboot
Goth CVS
Green flags
Griffin Johnson
Gua sha
Gunshot TikTok trend
H
Haley Sharpe, aka @yodelinghaley
Hannah Stocking
Happy Kelli
Harry Jowsey
“Have you ever been in love” TikTok trend
Head bobbing TikTok trend
Heart background TikTok trend
Helicopter TikTok trend
“Here comes the boy” TikTok trend
Hero Fiennes Tiffin
He’s All That movie
Hidden emojis on TikTok
Hive app
/hj and /j
“Hold my milk” TikTok trend
“Holy Spirit activate” TikTok trend
“Hopeful for today” TikTok trend
Hot girl walk
“How Bizarre” TikTok trend
“How far would you drive for the girl of your dreams” TikTok trend
Hoya
Hype House
I
“I am woman” TikTok trend
“I guess we’ll never know” TikTok trend
“I hate people who work at the bank” TikTok trend
“I hate all men, but when he…” TikTok trend
“I know it ain’t the stallion” TikTok trend
“I like you, have a cupcake” TikTok trend
“I live inside you forever” TikTok trend
“I remember when I lost my mind” TikTok trend
“I want waffle fries” TikTok trend
IBFS
iCarly reboot
“Ice in my veins” pose
“If you wonder if I hate you, I do” TikTok trend
IG
“I’m a mother” TikTok trend
“I’m a survivor” TikTok trend
“I’m going in tonight” TikTok trend
Immortal snail
“I’m really looking forward to cracking up” TikTok trend
“I’m so happy … I’m so sad” TikTok trend
“I’m so lucky lucky” TikTok trend
“In Bando we trust” meme
Infinity challenge
“International Super Spy” TikTok trend
Isabella Brazhnikova
Issy Oakley
“It was real to me” TikTok trend
“It’s called the midwest because everything is mid” TikTok trend
“It’s enough slices” TikTok trend
“It’s not the vibe, stop” TikTok trend
“It’s so bad I want to give you a zero” TikTok trend
“It’s the pinky” TikTok trend
“It’s under the sauce” TikTok trend
“I’ve never felt so alone” TikTok trend
IYKYK
J
J Team musical
Jack Wright
Jackie James
Jackson Mahomes
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Sartorius
Jaden Michael
Jake Paul
Jay Alvarrez
Jazzmyn Forrest
“Jenny darlin’ you’re my best friend” TikTok trend
Jeff Wittek
Jeffree Star
Jimmy Woo
“Johnny don’t leave me” TikTok trend
Joe Alwyn
JoJo Siwa
Jordan Alexander
Josephine Langford
Josh Fight
Josh Morris
Josh Richards
Josie Canseco
Jules LeBlanc
Julia and Lauren Burch
Julia Rose
Junebug challenge TikTok trend
Juno sign TikTok trend
K
KallMeKris
Kardashian memes
Karen Hausman
Kat Stickler dating timeline
Katie Mills
Katie Thurston
Kayla Nicole Jones, aka Nicole Tv
Keke Palmer meme
Kelsey Kreppel
Kiernan Shipka
Kin
King Moxu
KJ Apa
Kohl’s Cash TikTok trend
KSI
Kyra Pollard
L
LaBrant family
Laci Mosley
Lamila Petschart
Larray
Last Survivor TikTok trend
Laundry stripping TikTok trend
Lawnmower Challenge TikTok trend
“Let’s Groove” TikTok trend
Light blue nail polish meme
Lightskin face meme
“Like I Can” TikTok trend
“Linda and Heather” TikTok trend
LinkedIn influencers
Lip reading TikTok trend
Lip shape chart TikTok trend
Lisa Stardust
Lit, crazy, movie
Liza Koshy
LH
Lofi Girl
Logan Paul
Lookalike TikTok filter
Looted
Loren Gray
Lori Harvey
Loyalty tests
Ludwig Ahgren
M
Maddie Ziegler
Madelyn Cline and Chase Stokes
Madison Beer
Mads Lewis
MAGCON
Magnet TikTok trend
Malibugoescrazy
Malu Trevejo
Marcus DiPaola
Mark Gaetano (@snarkymarky)
Mary Jo Young
“Material Girl” TikTok trend
Matthew Morrison hate TikTok trend
Max Ehrich
“Maybe I’m just not as interesting” TikTok trend
McDonald’s secret menu
Megan Is Missing movie challenge
Megan Knees
Menace cult
Michael Le
Mid
Milk crate challenge
Mike and Kat Stickler
“Mmm delightful” TikTok trend
Moldavite
“Mommy? Sorry” TikTok trend
Mooptopia
Moots
Mosaic TikTok trend
Motivational Warriors
MrBeast
MrFeast
Muñañyo
“My Mom” TikTok trend
N
“Nah he tweakin” Instagram trend
Nankles
National park feral people TikTok hoax
“Native New Yorker” Wendy Williams meme
Naur
Nessa Barrett
“Never forget you” TikTok trend
Nia Dennis
Nicholas Galatzine
Nick Austin
Nico Haraga
Nightmare TikTok trend
Nikita Dragun
NikkieTutorials, aka Nikkie de Jager
No cap
No. 7 football player TikTok trend
Noah Beck
“Nobody” TikTok trend
Noodle the pug
Nose beauty
Nutmeg Challenge TikTok trend
O
Offering to pay TikTok trend
Official TikTok Science
“Oh Lord” TikTok trend
“Oh no! Our table! It’s broken!” TikTok trend
“Oh No” TikTok trend
Olivia Ponton
Olivia Rodrigo
Omer Fedi
Ondreaz Lopez
Oneya D’Amelio
OnlyFans
P
/p
“Pass the Phone” TikTok challenge
Patrick Starrr
Pattie Ehsaei (@duchessofdecorum)
Paul Butcher
Peachy Bella
Pen in cup TikTok challenge
Perfume mask TikTok trend
Pete Davidson
Phone ya TikTok trend
Photo crop challenge
Pinterest lookalike trend
Piratecore
Plumbus
Plush toy trend
PMO
“Poker Face” TikTok trend
“Potential Breakup Song” TikTok trend
POV TikTok trend
Powerpuff Girls reboot
Psychic artist TikTok trend
Psychology love eye trick
Pudgywoke
Puffball mushrooms
Pumpkin heads
Purr
Pzoom
Q
Quannah Chasinghorse
Quenlin Blackwell
Quinton Griggs and Cynthia Parker
R
Rachel Sandy
Rae Dunn women
Rag Report
Rainforest Cafe TikTok trend
Rare aesthetics
Ratatouille the Musical
Ratio
Raya
Reality check personality quiz TikTok trend
Red and blue TikTok filter
Red flags
Regé Jean-Page
Reiña Silva
Renaissance painting TikTok trend
Retirement House
Rigatoni Pasta TikTok trend
Rickey Thompson
Riley Hubatka
Ririririri
Riyaz
RMP
Roblox TikTok filter
“Running through the six with my woes” TikTok trend
S
S Tier
Sabrina Carpenter
Santa profile pictures
Satire
Sauce dance TikTok trend
“Savage” TikTok dance
SB
Scalp popping TikTok trend
Scholarship challenge
Scientology personality test
Sea Shanty
Seagull girl
Sesame Street TikTok
SFS
Shadow work
“She Knows” TikTok trend
Sheesh
“She’s just not into you” song TikTok trend
Shirley Tempeh
Shower orange meme
Sienna Mae Gomez
Silhouette challenge TikTok trend
“Silly goofy mood” TikTok trend
Simp
“Since we’re all gonna die” TikTok trend
Sink reviews TikTok trend
Sister Squad
Ski mask girl
Skinny TikTok filter controversy
Skinwalker legends
Skull breaker TikTok trend
Slap a teacher TikTok trend
Sleepytime chicken
“Slipping through my fingers” TikTok trend
“Small blue raspberry slushie “TikTok trend
“Small potato” TikTok trend
SMH
SMT
Smule app
Sneaky link
S/O/C
Soda can tabs
Sofia Richie
“Somebody sedate me” TikTok trend
@Someone TikTok account
“Sometimes all I think about is you” TikTok trend
Sommer Ray
“Space Girl” TikTok trend
Speaking in cursive meme
Squid Game TikTok trends
Squid Game parodies
STA
Stan
Starbucks copycat recipes
Starbucks cup adult
Starbucks drinks on TikTok
Straight TikTok
SuccessionTok
Sunflower head TikTok trend
Sunny Malouf
Sunscreen contouring TikTok trend
Sway House
Sway House game
Sydney Chase
T
“Talk to Me” TikTok trend
Tanner Buchanan
Tati Mitch
Tea bomb TikTok
TED Talk TikTok filter
Tefi Pessoa
Teleport filter TikTok trend
Thanos snap TikTok trend
That Girl aesthetic
“That is a scarecrow” TikTok trend
That Vegan Teacher
“That’s not my son” TikTok trend
“They don’t know I know this hack” TikTok trend
Thickened water TikTok trend
“This took me three hours to make” Instagram scam
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Thomas Petrou
Thrift cycling
TikTok accent
TikTok content houses
TikTok couples
TikTok dental trends
TikTok Effect House
TikTok follower growth tips
TikTok’s For You page
TikTok hair trends
TikTok post with the most comments
TikTok Q&A feature
TikTok Room
TikTok tip jar
TikTok verification
“Time in Oblivion” TikTok trend
Tinder’s Swipe Night
Tinx
“Tongue thing” TikTok trend
Tony Lopez
Tooth gems
“Top of the morning” TikTok trend
Towel challenge
Tramp Stamps band
Trey Lander
“Trill Will” TikTok trend
Trisha Paytas
Trixxie World
Twin flames
“Twinnem” TikTok trend
“Two pretty best friends” meme
“Two best friends in a room … they might kiss” TikTok trend
Ty Bridgwater’s TikTok coffee reviews
Tyler Gaca (@ghosthoney)
U
Uber duck voice generator TikTok trend
Understood the assignment
Unsent messages
Used car TikTok trend
V
Valkyrae
“Venom” TikTok trend
Versailles Run TikTok filter
W
Wackus Bonkus
Walk ball
“Walk like Annalise” TikTok trend
Watermelon and mustard TikTok trend
Watermelon rubber band guy meme
“What are you listening to?” TikTok trend
What Do You Meme TikTok filter
“What the dog doin'” meme
“What was that?” Wendy Williams TikTok trend
“What’s Gibby thinking about?” TikTok trend
“What’s Poppin? With Davis!” TikTok show
“When you” TikTok trend
“Where is the sky” TikTok series
White nails meme
“Who are you in love with” Instagram trend
“Who got you smiling like that” TikTok trend
William Knight
Willy Wonka TikTok account
Wine mom aesthetic
Wolf cut
Wom
Woodchuck revolution TikTok trend
“Written by a man” TikTok trend
WSG
X
Xyzbca
Y
Yai Ariza
Yawawe TikTok trend
YouTube drama channels
“You’re done” TikTok trend
“You’re gonna love this game” TikTok trend
Yungblud
Z
“Zanzibar” TikTok trend
Ziwe
Zoella
#
10-3-2-1 sleep method
12-3-30 workout TikTok trend
1437
15Minutes4Me test
2016 makeup TikTok trend
2020 best memes
343543 TikTok trend
369 manifestation TikTok trend
Editor’s Note: Last updated January 24, 2022
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If you enjoyed this guide, check out our coverage of TikTok aesthetics.
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