Decoding 2023 Gen Z Trends: AI, Taylor Swift, and More - Insights from Oxford's Word of the Year

Remember last year's Oxford Word of the Year, "goblin mode" and "metaverse"? In contrast to the passive aggressive "lying flat" atmosphere of the post-pandemic era last year, this year everyone is back on track, and the ambition of the metaverse, symbolizing human transcendence of time and space, is also back. Gen Z Zoomers have also grown up and entered the workforce. From TikTok, social media, idol fandom, and dating apps, new cultural milestones and terms have emerged. The AI craze that was kicked into full throttle at the end of last year has continued at breakneck pace to this day, and the thrilling OpenAI saga has just ended. Therefore, it is not surprising to see AI-related terms in the Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year. This year, Oxford Dictionary also held the 2023 Word of the Year vote. So, let's take a look at the list of keywords that made it to the top this year!

2023 Word of the Year List

Last year, 340,000 people voted for "goblin mode" as their 2022 Oxford Word of the Year. This year, Oxford Dictionary selected 8 keywords from their database of 22 billion words in a head-to-head vote. The public has voted and shortlisted for 4 of the terms to be considered by a panel of language experts. Now, let me introduce the 8 keywords.

BEIGE FLAG

In social and dating contexts, "red flag" usually refers to someone or a specific behavior that may signal some underlying "problematic" trait. But what about "beige flag"? After browsing TikTok, I found that "beige flag" might actually be a new type of red flag. While red flags mostly signify someone who may be bad or unreliable, a beige flag indicates that someone is too ordinary, boring, or lacks uniqueness. For Zoomers, being boring is definitely a sin, and these people are best avoided as they are a waste of time.
Beige flag filter on TikTok

DE-INFLUENCING

Have you also grown tired of influencer's sponsored content videos that only say good things? Now, whether on Instagram or TikTok, "de-influencing" is becoming a trend. This term is the opposite of "influencing." In influencer marketing, influencers usually recommend products or services and encourage their fans to purchase or use them, known as "product placement." On the other hand, de-influencing is when influencers actively discourage their fans, usually because these products are considered too expensive, impractical, or have low value for money. Initially, this may make these influencers appear relatively authentic and trustworthy, but as this trend becomes more mainstream, people start to question whether these activities are just counter-programming tactics employed by professional marketers.

HEAT DOME

This is not a trendy social term, but a climate phenomenon. The climate changes in 2023 has caused record-level global heatwaves. The main reason is the "heat dome" phenomenon. This phenomenon usually occurs in the summer when a powerful high-pressure system lingers over a specific area, forming a dome-like structure that traps hot air near the surface by preventing air circulation and convection. (This sounds like what the Taipei Basin area experiences every day!)

PARASOCIAL

At first glance, this term may seem academic, but it's not that complicated once you understand it. This concept was introduced when television first appeared. The definition on Wikipedia is: "Viewers perceive the hosts of a program as familiar friends, using the media as if meeting or talking with them, and this sense of intimacy generates trust and dependence on the media." By 2023, this phenomenon has intensified. Fans watch internet celebrities and idols posting updates, live streaming, or hosting podcasts every single day, which creates a one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy. It can eventually even lead to fans crossing social boundaries and acting inappropriately.


This horror game called parasocial allows you to become a VTuber and experience the discomfort of being followed by a fan. (Source: Chilla’s Art)

PROMPT

For those using Midjourney or ChatGPT, this term is probably very familiar. As AI continues to advance, we all inevitably become "AI communicators". AI is not invincible, and only when you become more skilled at using prompts can you get the precise results you want.

RIZZ

The Oxford explanation is a bit more serious, stating that "rizz" means someone is very charming and disarming, allowing them to easily attract people around them. But if we really think about it, "rizz" simply means "charismatic" but what does having charisma actually mean? It could be having great social tactics, or just exhibiting an indescribable charm in words and actions. In short, it depends on the context.

What is rizz? You can freely substitute in.

SITUATIONSHIP (Situation-Based Relationship)

"Situationship" refers to a new type of romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered official or defined. This open-ended relationship is not exclusive but not completely casual either, and it has been around before 2023. Sociologist Zygmunt Bauman discussed this type of relationship in his book "Liquid Love: On the Frailty of Human Bonds" when discussing liquid modernity. Using a footnote from this book to explain situationship seems fitting: "Yearning for attachment but fearing being tied down. Afraid of loneliness, so finding someone to accompany, but new anxieties arise. In liquid love, we gather and separate time and time again." However, it has also resulted in many confusing situations.

SWIFTIE

Don't think that only K-pop fans have exclusive fan names; Taylor Swift fans have them too. With Taylor Swift's ongoing "The Eras Tour," the pop star has reached new heights of fame, even inspiring cities worldwide to pay tribute by changing street names to "Swift Street," designating concert dates as "Swift Day," and, most notably, renaming Pittsburgh to "Swiftsburgh" during her concert. Surely, no one is unfamiliar with Taylor Swift?


Is there anyone who doesn’t know Taylor Swift? (Source: Taylor Swift)

This year's Oxford Word of the Year reflects the diverse cultural progress of society, from the rapid development of AI to Taylor Swift's immense influence and the impact of Gen Z on social media. These keywords not only represent linguistic trends but also serve as a snapshot of the era. What do you think the Word of the Year for 2023 should be?