These are new words or phrases that have caught my eye. My definition of a new word is one which is not in the Macquarie Dictionary online.
Some words seem to have more significance than others in terms of reflecting changes in the Australian culture, so I will give each word a Zeitgeist rating (ZG) within a range of 1-10.
If you disagree with the rating that I give, please argue your case in the comment field provided.
I would love you to contact me if you have made any new word discoveries of your own.
This is a TikTok trend which has attracted a number of enthusiastic followers. The idea is that you go for a walk but first you unplug yourself from whatever devices are occupying your time and attention. Remove the earbuds and headphones so that you can observe your surroundings and listen to the sounds made in the environment.
ZG: 5
It is a thing of the moment. Whether it will last is another matter.
Read MoreSometimes white people think that black people are better at expressing their feelings in ways that are confident and cool. So they borrow these expressions in social media to fill the gap in their own communicative abilities. But this is considered most inappropriate.
ZG: 6
This has emerged as part of an ongoing debate about the appropriateness of this style of expression in social media.
Read MoreFirst we had FOMO — the fear of missing out, which kept us in a constant state of anxiety in case there was something big going on and we weren’t part of it. Now there is JOMO — the joy of missing out.
ZG: 7
JOMO sounds highly desirable but old habits die hard so I think it will always be the lesser acronym.
Read MorePeople who use dating sites have acquired a certain amount of wisdom in how to navigate them. They recognise red flags, and green flags. But in 2022 a new flag appeared — the beige flag, one which indicated terminal boredom.
ZG: 7
I like this one so I am tempted to push it up the rankings but it is limited by its online use.
Read MoreYou can find online support groups for people suffering from various illnesses. This has been of great benefit to the sufferers, but they now have to watch out for cuckoos in the nest, people who are perfectly well but fake their symptoms so as to garner support for themselves. If they are good online performers they can attract quite a following and that brings with it certain benefits.
ZG: 4
This one may gain in frequency as people become more wary.
Read MoreKim Kardashian is an influencer with 341.9 million followers. A micro-influencer typically has between 3,000 and 10,000 followers BUT they are serious followers who share a niche interest and are convinced of the integrity of the micro-influencer and the value of the information provided.
ZG: 8
With pretty well everyone aspiring to be an influencer, but failing that, a micro-influencer, this word has high frequency. That was before we started discussing how to regulate them.
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