TL;DR: "Roast culture" is the digital-native version of playful ribbing, but on TikTok and Discord, it can move from "just a joke" to "genuine harassment" in milliseconds. The key is teaching your kids the difference between punching up (funny), punching sideways (banter), and punching down (bullying). If they’re watching Packgod or The Sidemen, they’re being exposed to high-speed, aggressive verbal sparring that requires a high level of emotional intelligence to navigate safely.
If you’ve walked past your kid’s room lately and heard them shout, "You’re literally so Ohio," or "Bro is cooked," followed by a string of insults that sounded surprisingly creative, you’ve officially entered the world of Digital Roast Culture.
To us, "making fun" used to happen on the playground or in the back of the bus. It was ephemeral. Today, making fun is a sport, a content genre, and a primary social currency on apps like Snapchat and Instagram.
It’s fast, it’s public, and for a lot of parents, it’s deeply confusing. Is your kid being a jerk, or are they just participating in a "vibes based" friendship where roasting is the love language? Let's break it down.
At its core, a "roast" is a structured or semi-structured session of insults. But in 2026, it’s less about a Comedy Central special and more about the "comment section energy."
Kids use roasting to:
- Establish Social Hierarchy: Being the funniest person in the Discord group chat is a massive flex.
- Test Boundaries: It’s a way to see what their friends will tolerate.
- Perform for an Audience: On TikTok, roasting isn't just between two people; it's for the thousands of people watching the "stitch" or reading the comments.
When a kid says someone is "cooked," they mean that person has been so thoroughly insulted or embarrassed that there’s no coming back. When they call something "Ohio," they’re saying it’s weird, cringey, or substandard (sorry, Buckeye State, the internet decided this years ago).
Learn more about the latest teen slang and what it actually means
We tend to jump straight to "that’s mean," but for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, roasting is often a sign of closeness. It’s counter-intuitive, but being able to "take a roast" is a badge of honor. It shows you’re part of the inner circle.
If you’ve ever seen the show Ted Lasso, you’ve seen "the greyhounds" in the locker room. They roast each other constantly, but the foundation is deep respect. That’s what kids think they’re doing. The problem is that kids lack the emotional nuance of a 35-year-old professional athlete.
Your kids aren't coming up with these insults in a vacuum. They are consuming "Roast Content" daily. Here’s what’s currently on their screens:
Ages: 13+ Packgod is the current king of "speed roasting." He gets on Discord calls and delivers a literal machine-gun spray of insults at people. It’s technically impressive in its speed, but it’s incredibly aggressive. If your kid is watching this, they are learning that "winning" a conversation means shouting the most creative insults the fastest.
Ages: 12+ This UK-based creator group is massive. Their "20 vs 1" or "Roast of..." videos get tens of millions of views. While they are generally friends, the humor is often based on physical appearance, wealth, or "cringe" behavior. It’s high-energy and can be funny, but it sets a standard for "banter" that is hard for middle schoolers to replicate without hurting feelings.
Ages: 8+ In-game chat is the Wild West of roasting. In Fortnite, "emoting" (doing a dance) after killing an opponent is a form of a visual roast. In Roblox, "mic up" rooms are specifically designed for people to argue and roast each other. Note: Screenwise data shows that 65% of middle schoolers have witnessed or participated in a "roast" within a gaming lobby.
The difference between "roasting" and "bullying" usually comes down to three things: Consent, Power Balance, and Persistence.
- Consent: Does the person being roasted think it’s funny? Are they roasting back?
- Power Balance: Is a group of five kids roasting one kid? (That’s not a roast, that’s a mob). Is a popular kid roasting a kid with fewer social connections? (That’s punching down).
- Persistence: Does the "joke" end when the game ends, or does it follow the kid into the next day, the next app, and the school hallway?
Elementary School (Ages 6-10)
At this age, kids don't have the "theory of mind" to understand that an insult can be "just a joke." If they see Skibidi Toilet characters mocking each other, they might mimic it without realizing it actually hurts their friend's feelings.
- Recommendation: Focus on "Kindness First." Use shows like Bluey to show how friends play together without needing to put each other down. If they want to be funny, point them toward The Mitchells vs. the Machines for examples of quirky, self-deprecating humor.
Middle School (Ages 11-13)
This is the "Roast Peak." Identity is fragile, and the need to belong is desperate. This is when Discord group chats become toxic "roast pits."
- Recommendation: Talk about the "Ouch Rule." If someone says "ouch" (or the digital equivalent), the roast is over. No "you're too sensitive," no "it was just a joke." Over.
High School (Ages 14-18)
By now, they’ve seen it all. They might be watching Comedy Central Roasts or following edgy meme accounts on Instagram.
- Recommendation: Focus on Digital Footprint. A "roast" in a group chat can be screenshotted and sent to a college admissions officer or a future employer. The "joke" doesn't disappear just because the chat moves up.
Ask our chatbot about how to monitor your teen's Discord safely
The most common phrase you’ll hear is: "Mom, chill, it’s just a joke. They’re fine with it."
Don't dismiss this immediately, but don't accept it blindly either. Often, kids (especially boys) feel intense social pressure not to be offended. If they say "that hurt my feelings," they risk being labeled "soft" or "a snowflake."
The Screenwise approach: Ask your child, "If your friend wanted you to stop, do they feel safe enough to tell you?" If the answer is "probably not," then it’s not a roast—it’s a hostile environment.
Instead of a lecture, try a "vibe check."
Roasting isn't going away. It’s the native language of the internet. Our job isn't to police every "L" or "Ratio" our kids post, but to ensure they aren't using humor as a shield for cruelty.
If they can learn to be funny without being mean, they’re developing a high-level social skill. If they’re just repeating Packgod insults to feel powerful, it’s time to intervene.
Next Steps:
- Check your kid’s Discord or Snapchat for "roast" groups.
- Watch five minutes of a Sidemen Roast with them and ask what they think is actually funny vs. just mean.
- Take our Screenwise Survey to see how your family's digital boundaries compare to your community
Check out our guide to the best 'kindness-centered' YouTube channels