TL;DR: "Ohio" is Gen Alpha slang for anything weird, chaotic, or "cursed." It has nothing to do with the actual state and everything to do with a viral meme that portrays Ohio as a surreal wasteland filled with monsters. It’s mostly harmless, but it’s often tied to "brain rot" content like Skibidi Toilet and certain Roblox trends.
Learn how to talk to your kids about "brain rot" content
Check out our guide on Gen Alpha slang
If you’ve heard your ten-year-old look at a slightly burnt piece of toast or a glitchy video and mutter, "Only in Ohio," you might be wondering what the Buckeye State did to deserve such a reputation. Rest assured, your child isn't suddenly interested in Midwestern geography or the Cleveland Browns.
In the world of Gen Alpha (kids born roughly 2010–2024), "Ohio" has become a shorthand for chaos, weirdness, and "cursed" energy. It’s the place where the laws of physics don't apply and where monsters lurk behind every corner.
The "Only in Ohio" meme started gaining traction around 2022 and exploded on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. It essentially treats the state of Ohio as a fictionalized, dystopian setting—think Stranger Things meets a fever dream.
In these videos, creators use CGI or clever editing to show "normal" things in Ohio: a giant spider crawling over a skyscraper, a toilet that talks, or a sky that’s permanently purple. The joke is that Ohio is so inherently weird that these occurrences are just a Tuesday for residents.
Common phrases include:
- "Only in Ohio" (Used when something goes wrong or looks weird)
- "Can't even have [blank] in Ohio" (Used when something is stolen or destroyed)
- "Down in Ohio" (Often accompanied by the song "Swag Like Ohio")
Kids, especially those in the 8-12 age range, are drawn to absurdist humor. The Ohio meme is the digital version of the "inside joke." It’s a way for them to signal that they are "online" and understand the current culture.
It’s also incredibly versatile. Because "Ohio" just means "weird," they can apply it to almost anything. It’s a low-effort way to be funny. If a character in Minecraft glitches through a wall? "Only in Ohio." If the school cafeteria serves something unrecognizable? "Ohio lunch."
From a digital wellness perspective, the Ohio meme itself is relatively benign. It’s not inherently sexual, violent (in a realistic way), or hateful. However, it is a gateway to what many parents call "brain rot"—low-quality, high-stimulation content designed to keep kids scrolling.
The "Ohio" meme is often bundled with other viral trends like:
- Skibidi Toilet: A surreal YouTube series about heads coming out of toilets. It’s loud, weird, and often features "Ohio" references.
- LankyBox: A high-energy YouTube channel that caters to younger kids by leaning heavily into these memes. Honestly? It’s a lot. If you find it unwatchable, you’re not alone—it’s designed to be sensory overload.
- Roblox "Ohio" simulators: There are literally hundreds of user-generated games on Roblox where you "survive" in Ohio.
If your kid is obsessed with the "weird internet" vibe, not all of it is mindless. Here’s how to navigate the content they’re likely seeing:
Ages 7+ If your kid likes the "chaos" of Ohio memes, they will love this movie. It captures that frantic, internet-literate energy but combines it with a genuinely touching story about family and tech boundaries. It’s a "Yes" from us.
Ages 8+ This is the "prestige" version of the Ohio meme. It’s a show about a town where everything is weird and supernatural. It’s smart, well-written, and miles ahead of the "brain rot" they’ll find on YouTube Shorts.
Ages 9+ (with caution) Look, I’ll be real: this is the definition of "unwatchable" for most adults. It’s a series of shorts featuring heads in toilets fighting camera-headed men. It’s bizarre and violent in a cartoonish way. While it’s not "dangerous," it is the primary source of the "Ohio" energy your kid is absorbing. If they’re spending hours on this, it might be time for a screen time audit.
Ages 7+ Roblox is where the Ohio meme lives and breathes. Kids play "Ohio" roleplay games where they pretend to be "sigmas" or survive "Ohio monsters." Most of these games are harmless, but keep an eye on the in-game chat and the predatory monetization (those "Buy a Super Sword for 500 Robux" pop-ups are relentless).
- Ages 5-7: They might hear older siblings say it. At this age, they don't really get the joke; they're just mimicking. You can ignore it, or just say, "Ohio is actually a place where people live, but the internet likes to make jokes about it."
- Ages 8-12: This is the "Ohio" sweet spot. They are likely seeing this on YouTube or Roblox. This is a good time to talk about media literacy—why do creators make these videos? (Answer: Views and money).
- Ages 13+: By this age, the meme is usually considered "cringe" or "dead." If they’re still saying it unironically, they might be a bit behind the digital curve, or they’re doing it to annoy you.
The "Ohio" meme itself is safe. However, the ecosystem it lives in can be tricky.
- Algorithm Rabbit Holes: A kid searching for "Only in Ohio" might start with a funny video and end up watching something much more intense, violent, or inappropriate because the YouTube algorithm prioritizes "engagement" over "appropriateness."
- User-Generated Content: Since most Ohio memes are made by random people, there’s no ESRB rating. A "funny" Ohio video might suddenly feature jump scares or inappropriate language.
Don't try to ban the word "Ohio." It’ll just make you the "cringe" parent and won't actually stop them from seeing the content. Instead, try a "curiosity-first" approach:
- "I keep hearing you say 'Only in Ohio.' What’s the weirdest Ohio video you’ve seen lately?" (This gets them talking about the content they're consuming without feeling judged).
- "Do you think the person who made that video actually thinks Ohio is like that, or are they just trying to get likes?" (This introduces the concept of the "attention economy").
- "That video is pretty loud/chaotic. How does your brain feel after watching ten of those in a row?" (This helps them build self-awareness about digital overstimulation).
"Only in Ohio" is just the 2024 version of saying "That's random!" or "Epic fail!" It’s a linguistic fad that will eventually be replaced by something equally nonsensical (we're already seeing "Sticking out your gyatt for the rizzler," which is a whole other conversation).
As long as your child is balancing their "Ohio" consumption with high-quality media—like reading a great book or playing cozy games for kids—there’s no need to panic.
- Watch a video together: Ask them to show you their favorite "Ohio" meme. It’ll probably be 15 seconds long and mildly confusing. Laugh, roll your eyes, and move on.
- Check their YouTube history: If you see a wall of "Ohio" and "Skibidi" content, consider introducing some higher-quality creators.
- Use the Screenwise Survey: If you're worried about how much "brain rot" content is entering your home, take our survey to see how your family's habits compare to your community.
Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate alternatives to YouTube Shorts