TL;DR: Your kid isn’t losing their mind; they’re just speaking the language of 2025. Modern slang—often dismissed as "brainrot"—is a mix of gaming culture, TikTok memes, and a desire for community. If you want the quick version: Rizz is charisma, Aura is your "cool" points, and if something is Ohio, it’s just weird.
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If you’ve spent five minutes near a middle schooler lately, you’ve probably heard the term "brainrot." It’s the self-aware umbrella term kids use for the hyper-fast, absurd, and often nonsensical content they consume on YouTube and TikTok.
Think of it like the "Garbage Pail Kids" or the weird MTV edits of our youth, but on 5x speed and fueled by an algorithm. While it looks like a chaotic mess of Skibidi Toilet clips and Minecraft parkour, it’s actually the foundation of how they communicate. When they use this slang, they aren't just being "random"—they’re signaling that they are part of the "in-group."
Here is a breakdown of the terms you are most likely to hear at the dinner table or see in a Discord chat.
Short for "charisma." If someone has "rizz," they’re smooth, usually in a romantic or social sense. "Unspoken rizz" is the highest compliment—it means they’re so cool they don't even have to try.
Aura
This is the 2026 version of "clout" or "vibes." It’s a literal points system in their heads. If you do something cool, you get "+1,000 aura." If you trip in front of your crush? That’s "-50,000 aura." It’s a way of measuring social standing in real-time.
Sigma
This one is tricky. Originally derived from "alpha/beta" nonsense, it now mostly refers to someone who is independent, stoic, or "cool" in a lone-wolf way. However, it’s often used ironically. If your kid calls you a "Sigma," they might be complimenting your boundaries—or they might be making fun of you. Context is everything.
Ohio
Thanks to a viral meme from a few years ago, "Ohio" has become shorthand for anything weird, cringey, or subpar. If a movie is bad, it’s "Only in Ohio."
Fanum Tax
Named after the streamer Fanum, who is part of Kai Cenat’s crew. It refers to the "tax" you take when a friend is eating something and you steal a bite. If you grab a fry off your kid's plate, you are officially Fanum Taxing them.
Delulu
Short for "delusional." Often used in the context of "delulu is the solulu" (delusion is the solution). It’s about having a wildly optimistic or unrealistic belief about something, like thinking a celebrity is going to respond to your DM.
Pookie
A term of endearment for a best friend. It’s the "bestie" of 2025. If they call someone their "pookie," it’s high-tier friendship.
It’s not just the words; it’s how they are typed. If you’re still using full sentences with proper punctuation in a text to your teen, you’re probably stressing them out.
- The Period is Aggressive: In 2026 texting culture, ending a short text with a period isn't "proper grammar"—it’s a sign of anger. "Okay" is fine. "Okay." means "We are fighting and I am about to block you."
- Lowercase is the Vibe: Many kids intentionally turn off "Auto-Capitalization" in their iPhone settings. Lowercase feels casual and "aesthetic." Uppercase feels like you’re shouting or being a "boomer."
- The Skull Emoji (💀): This does not mean death. It means "I am dead from laughing." If you say something funny and they respond with three skulls, you’ve won.
- The Loudly Crying Emoji (😭): Similar to the skull, this is rarely used for actual sadness. It’s used for something that is overwhelmingly funny or "too much."
It’s easy to roll our eyes at "Skibidi" or "Gyatt" (which, FYI, is a truncated exclamation for "God damn" usually referring to someone’s physical appearance—definitely one to keep an eye on regarding body image). But this language serves a purpose.
- Identity: Every generation needs a language their parents don't understand. It’s a way of carving out a space that is theirs.
- Efficiency: "No cap" is faster than saying "I am being completely honest and not exaggerating in the slightest."
- Community: When kids play Roblox or Fortnite, they are interacting with people from all over the world. This slang is the "lingua franca" of the internet. It allows a kid in New York and a kid in Tokyo to share a joke instantly.
While most slang is harmless, there are different tiers of "digital fluency" you should expect based on age:
Elementary (Ages 6-10)
At this age, they are mostly parroting what they see on YouTube Kids or Minecraft chats. They might say "sus" (suspicious) or "bet" (I agree/let's do it). They likely don't understand the origins of the words, they just like the sound of them. The Move: Keep it light. Ask them what the words mean. It shows you’re interested in their world without being the "word police."
Middle School (Ages 11-13)
This is the peak of "brainrot" culture. This is where Skibidi Toilet and "looksmaxxing" (the obsession with improving one's physical appearance) live. The Move: This is the time to talk about "brainrot" content. Is the content they are watching actually entertaining, or are they just scrolling because the algorithm is feeding it to them?
High School (Ages 14-18)
By now, the slang is more about social posturing and irony. They use the words to be funny or to fit into specific subcultures on Instagram or Snapchat. The Move: Focus on the "why." If they are using terms like "low-key" or "mid," it’s just conversation. If they are using terms that feel exclusionary or derogatory, that’s where you step in.
Most slang is just noise, but there are a few things to watch for:
- Looksmaxxing / Mewing: While "mewing" (a tongue exercise to define the jawline) is mostly a meme, "looksmaxxing" can lead down a rabbit hole of body dysmorphia and toxic "incel" culture. If your kid is obsessed with their "canthal tilt" or other obscure physical traits, it’s time for a real talk.
- The "Sigma" Pipeline: While often a joke, "Sigma" culture can sometimes overlap with creators who promote misogyny. If your kid is watching Andrew Tate style content, that’s a different conversation than just using funny words.
- Secrecy: Slang is fine. Using slang to hide bullying or drug use is not. If the "shorthand" feels like a code you aren't allowed to break, pay attention to the vibe of the conversation, not just the words.
Check out our guide on toxic masculinity and digital creators
The quickest way to make your kid stop using a word is for you to start using it. But if you want to actually maintain a connection, try these steps:
- Be the Student: "Hey, I saw someone mention 'Aura' on a post. Is that like 'clout'? How do you actually get aura points?"
- Don't Judge the Absurdity: Yes, Skibidi Toilet is objectively weird. But so were the cartoons we watched. If you judge the media they like, they’ll stop sharing it with you.
- Translate Your Own History: Tell them what your "brainrot" was. Explain what "talk to the hand" or "radical" meant back in the day. It helps them see that language evolution is normal.
Slang is the heartbeat of youth culture. In 2026, it’s faster and weirder than ever because of the internet, but the core motivation is the same: kids want to belong. Unless the language is becoming hateful or obsessive, let them have their "rizz" and their "pookies."
The goal isn't for you to speak the language fluently—it's for you to understand the "why" behind it so you can stay connected to their world.
- Audit the Feed: Spend 10 minutes looking at their TikTok "For You" page with them. Don't comment, just watch.
- Check the Stats: Use Screenwise to see what percentage of kids in your child's grade are using Discord or Snapchat. Context is everything.
- Keep a "Slang Jar": If they use a word you don't know, have them "charge" you a definition. It’s a low-stakes way to stay educated.
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