Maddie Washburn

English 101

Dr. Ooi

September 5, 2019

Sayings from memes on social media include: “SKSKSKSKSK”, “And I oop-”, “That

ain’t it chief”, and even “Yee Haw!” All of these sayings come from popular funny videos and

pictures. For example, “SKSKSK” came from the whole meme surrounding how people express

when something is absolutely hilarious. Instead of “LOL”, we say “SKSKSKSKSK”. Language

that teenagers use nowadays has changed drastically. As society as a whole progresses,

technology also becomes more advanced. The generation of kids born in the 2000s and later are

experts at using the internet and devices that allow us to navigate the web. Smartphones

nowadays are equipped with Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and literally every other big social

media site imaginable. The “meme culture” we have developed in this time period has expanded

so great that it affects our own daily lives. Today, teens are bringing the social media world to

real life especially with how we speak. I know it has greatly affected the way I behave and speak

altogether. Not only social media makes a big impact but who I hang around has a lot to do with

the words I say as well.

I know when I see something very humorous to me I repeat it over and over to friends to

get attention. It allows me to seem likable to others because they know the sayings and think it’s

funny as well. As dark as it sounds, conforming with the mainstream group of people allows me

to wear a mask. It lets me hide my insecurities and anxiety of talking to others. It lets me feel
more comfortable. The language I use definitely doesn’t really represent me ​fully​ as a person but

it lets me make a lot of friends.

Along with the meme language that I use, I also use swear words a lot. It started when I

hung out with the wrong crowd in middle school. I had people around me that just carelessly said

“fuck”, “shit”, and worse. Even though I have found myself and my real friends I still have the

bad habit of cussing. I don’t really realize when I cuss but I think I do it to represent my strong

inner emotions. When I’m frustrated or mad I say things like “fuck” and when I’m mad at

someone I will use “bitch”. It honestly makes everything a little more casual which is something

people need in the kind of world we live in. It allows me to calm down when I’m frustrated.

The language I use is very heavily influenced by my current friends as well. I have one

friend who always speaks like she’s commenting on a youtube post. She would say things like

“Oof the power!” and “UWU”. “Oof the power!” is just a saying that some people use to express

how impressed they are with someone. “UWU” is something some people say to express how

cute and precious something is. Even the look of “UWU” is a cute baby face. Though I now

know these particular sayings, I didn’t understand all the things she said. I would still say it and

still do say it anyway. I wouldn’t even mean to say it sometimes, it just automatically comes out

of my mouth. It becomes a habit but it’s so fun to say these words.

The one thing I like about how I use language is that it does let me connect with people

who have the same humor as me. Laughing is my number one outlet in life. I love funny things

and laughing until my sides hurt. As a person who struggles with depression, I think I speak the

way I do to distract myself but to also remind me that I am allowed to be happy. I like how we

understand others now more than ever by using the same outlets. Language is important for
understanding even if it doesn’t make sense. Especially in the corrupt society that we live in

now, we need to not be so serious all the time. We need to make others feel more comfortable.

We need to spread the fun and joy in the world and forget about problems for a little bit, even if

that is only shown in a single word.