I go to a high school where social media slang is thrown around in hallways, classrooms, and even outside of school. Teachers, staff, parents, and even some chronically offline students are confused as to what we mean when saying these abbreviations, phrases, and terms. That’s why I put together a short guide for you to answer all your questions on these unfamiliar phrases!

5. “Crashing out” 

This term originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and was found in tweets dating back to 2013. However, it didn’t start picking up traction until 2017 when La. rapper, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released his track “Stepped On,” using the term in one of his verses. The expression later blew up all over social media and became a common phrase to represent frustration or distress.

4. “67”

As the most popular social media trend, “67” was coined in rapper Skrilla’s song, “Doot Doot,” in 2025 and is also associated with basketball player LaMelo Ball, who stands at 6 feet 7 inches. The phrase is also associated with a hand gesture signaling either/or.

3. “Unc”

This term also originated in AAVE, referring to an older, respected figure, short for uncle. “Unc” later picked up popularity when rappers J. Cole and Gucci Mane used it in the early 2010s. The term didn’t soar until 2021, when social media took hold of it, and has recently surged in popularity among Gen Z.

2. “Lock in”

In the military, the term “lock in” is commonly used when fixing on a precise location; the phrase has also been used by many athletes during the 2010s and 2020s while getting “into the zone” before a game. However, social media only magnified its use, now heard all around the classroom and the workplace.

1. “Rage bait”

First appearing online in 2002 to describe deliberate agitation, the use of “rage bait” has only amplified. Oxford Dictionary named the phrase “Word of the Year,” further mixing year-old traditions with the common Gen Z slang heard today.