GEN Z SPEAK
Katie Nye (She/Her) & Linda Karbo (She/Her)
Residence Education and Housing Services Communications
WHO IS GEN Z
Gen Z Birth Years: 1995 to 2019
Currently Aged: 1 to 24
Other Nicknames: iGeneration, Post-millennials, Homeland Generation, Centenials
Generation Size: Roughly 25% of the population
Media Consumption: The average Gen Zer received their first mobile phone at age 10.3
years. Many of them grew up playing with their parents' mobile phones or tablets. They
have grown up in a hyper-connected world and the smartphone is their preferred method
of communication. On average, they spend 3 hours a day on their mobile device.
WHY DOES THIS PRESENTATION MATTER
What students are saying
How we as professionals interact with students on a day to day basis
How we market to students in print and digitally
How we are adapting to fit this change in generations
Awareness
GENERATION WARS
GEN Z ON SOCIAL MEDIA
TikTok
TikTok has seen massive growth over the
past two years, and is projected to
reach 1.2 billion users in 2021.
Spawns many popular trends and
challenges
DISCLAIMER
This list is an overview of common terms we see students using on social media
and with their peers
Some terms may have alternate meanings not covered here
We acknowledge that a number of slang terms used today originated in Black
and LGBTQIA+ culture and are adopted into wider use
This is for awareness not necessarily use
EMOJIS
LAUGHING
!" #
STRANGE BUT FASCINATING or
I CANT BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT
!"!
SOMETHING CUTE/ADORABLE or MISS YOU
!
AWESOME/LOVE IT/SUPER COOL/LIT
!
WATCHING THE DRAMA OR CHECK IT OUT
!
EXPRESS AN AESTHETIC OR SARCASM
FAMOUS/LOOK AT YOU
!
GEN Z SLANG
SUS
Suspicious; giving the impression that
something is questionable dishonest
Made popular by the mobile game
Among Us
Use it in a sentence: They are
acting sus
SZN
Season
Use it in a sentence: It’s football
szn
GLOW UP
Positive Transformation
Use it in a sentence: “Sparty had an epic
glow up”
BET
For sure, ok, you bet
Use it in a sentence:
“Meet you at the dining hall?”
‘bet’
FLEX
Showing off your valuables in a
non-humble way
Alternate use: Weird flex but ok
Strange thing to brag about but
you do you
CEO or President of the Company
What you are known for, being good at
something
Use it in a sentence:
Charli is the CEO of TikTok
Fit
Outfit
Use it in a sentence: Check my fit
POPULAR TERMS YOU MAY KNOW
Tea Shook
Karen Basic
GOAT Extra
Stan Slaps
Lit
WHAT NOW?
FOLLOW US!
Katie Nye Linda Karbo
Work: @MSULiveOn Work: @MSUUnion
Personal: @Katie_Nye Personal: @lindy_916
