That Time Generation Alpha Schooled Generation Z

AND the definition of preppy has changed?!

Laughing out loud thinking back to a time when Emily and I thought millennials were the “youths.” Aahhahhahha AHAHHAHAHA! The game moves fast people!

In the TikTok below: a young lady who is Generation Z got absolutely owned by her Generation Alpha little sister and her little sister’s Generation Alpha friend. Let’s review!

@nicolepellegrin0Why did noone tell me slay is out #genalpha #genalphatok #genalphaslang

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I’m going to break this TikTok down beat by beat and ask myself a few clarifying questions to determine where I stand.

Question 1: Are you Deanna Marie Veronica Cheng currently using the term/emoji in question?

Question 2: Does it track for you that it is indeed OUT?

Question 3: How do you plan to adjust your lifestyle around this newfound knowledge?

THAT’S A SLAY

When Gen Z floated the phrase “that’s a slay” the Gen Alpha gals were aghast! They cried, “It’s not even funny how out - that’s a slay is.”   

Q1. Am I currently using the phrase “that’s a slay”?

“That’s a slay” has floated above me and below me but has never landed directly on me. I don’t believe I have ever uttered the words “that’s a slay.” Slay has always felt fashion related to me and I would personally opt for a “werk bitch” or a “she did that.”  I might think about saying “she ate” but I wouldn’t have the nerve to say it out loud.

Q2. Does it track that “that’s a slay” is out?

Absolutely. Nothing has ever felt more done and over.

Q3. How do I plan to adjust?

Nothing changes for me except that I will look at other’s sideways if I hear them using the phrase.

On to the next phrase…

BET

Gen Z floated the term “bet” and the girls simply released a humming sound that indicated that you could probably get away with using this term but proceed with caution.

THE LAUGHING EMOJI 😂

When Gen Z asked about the laughing emoji, the Alpha girls got all shook up. They quickly glanced at each other and then whipped back around to The Z asking if she seriously still uses the laughing emoji.  They explained that if something is funny you use the crying emoji because no one laughs by using the laughing emoji.

Q1. Am I currently using the laughing emoji?

Everyday. In fact many times I will roll it out in a row like so: 😂😂😂

Now I am assuming that the laughing emoji in question is this guy: 😂 but it could very well be him:🤣 or even her: 😄.

Q2. Does it track that the laughing emoji is out?

It does not. I do see how the crying 😭 emoji is great to express uproarious laughter but it’s certainly not for a light chuckle. Shocked that we would drop this guy 😭 for a basic lol.

Q3. How do I plan to adjust?

I will personally still be using the laughing emoji. No further questions at this time.

SKULL EMOJI and GYAT

Next was a two-parter. The older sister asked about the skull emoji 💀 and the younger sister said that you would only use the skull if you were insulting someone as joke, for example “I have a bigger GYAT than you….” The elder sister pumped the brakes and demanded an explanation of GYAT. Now we already covered GYAT in the “Who is Generation Alpha?” post a few weeks back. Did it feel good to know more than a “Z” — yes it did. When asked to define GYAT the Gen Alpha actually got a little tripped up and tried to break it down as an acronym. Our HTBLO research determined that GYAT MOST LIKELY represents GOD DAYUM slurring the gd-damn into GYAT. Normally used to express appreciation of a thick booty.

Q1. Am I currently using skull emoji and GYAT?

Yes, no.

Q2. Does it track that skull emoji 💀 should only be used when you are insulting someone as a joke?

Seems like a very narrow avenue of usage. The specifics of this feel hard to navigate in real time. Obviously we olds are using it to emphasize how crazy slash funny a text or post is.

Q3. How do I plan to adjust?

Still just basking in the afterglow of knowing more about GYAT than the Gen Z and the Gen Alpha.

PREPPY

Generation Z asked “What is preppy?” It seemed like a trick question. I grew up in a predominately Irish, middle to upper middle class town on Long Island. I know from preppy. Preppy is penny loafers, polo and rugby shirts, corduroy trousers, nautical stripes, plaid skirts, all white sneakers, etc.

The young Gen Alpha was having a hard time explaining preppy. She held up a Summer Friday’s lip balm and declared that it was preppy. Strange. Confused I ran over to Googelina to see if she had any insight. She did!

This article helped clarify things — The Definition of Preppy Has Changed

Based on what’s being shared, Gen Z is redefining the preppy look as less “New England country club” and more “relaxed and beachy Southern charm.” The outfits are colorful, the patterns and prints are bold and the dresses are frilly.

Well, I’ll be damned. The youths just up and changed an established aesthetic.

Q1. Am I currently using the phrase preppy?

Yes but only the vintage definition.

Q2. Does it track that the definition has changed?

It’s very confusing. Based on this new definition of colorful patterns and frilly dresses, I’m wondering if they meant to call it peppy and took a wrong turn into preppy.

Q3. How do I plan to adjust?

It will be my life’s mission to roll up on the youths waving ripped out pages of JCrew and Lands' End catalogues in their faces. I’ll gather them around a fire and teach them the true meaning of preppy.

VANILLA GIRL

Last but not least was Vanilla Girl. Gen Z was trying to get to the bottom of preppy and motioned to the hat on her head that had a big Polo emblem on it. The Gen Alpha’s said, “No that’s Vanilla Girl.” They also said that you want to be a Vanilla Girl which is shocking because it definitely sounds like a slam and also possibly problematic. They threw out the word BEIGE and then the video got cut off. We’ll have to do a deeper dive into Vanilla Girl at a later time and place.

All in I would love to have these three girls on the HTBLO payroll. Absolutely loved the dynamic and need more content from them! They really blew the lid off a few things.

I reached out to Emma W. (13) and asked “Do you and your friends say “that’s a slay” or is that out?” She promptly wrote back, “ahaha no.” The Alphas have spoken.