ReThinking: Demystifying Gen Alpha slang with Adam Aleksic

重新思考:与亚当·亚历克西克揭秘Z世代俚语

WorkLife with Adam Grant

2026-01-20

34 分钟
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If you’ve ever wondered what “skibidi rizz” means or why kids are so obsessed with the number 67, Adam Aleksic wrote a book on it. Aleksic, better known at @etymologynerd online, is a 24-year-old linguist known for his enlightening and entertaining videos on the origin of words. In this episode, the two Adams discuss Aleksic’s new book Algospeak and the ways in which the internet is shaping the way we communicate both on and offline. Aleksic sheds light on the origins of the seemingly meaningless “brainrot” memes popular with Gen Z and Gen Alpha internet users, and reveals the complex and (sometimes) profound insights they have to offer about culture, the transmission of ideas and information, and how our access to language can change the way we see the world. Host & Guest Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/) Adam Aleksic (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @etymologynerd | Website: https://www.etymologynerd.com/) Links Algospeak by Adam Aleksic (https://www.amazon.com/Algospeak-Social-Transforming-Future-Language/dp/0593804074) Follow TED!  X: https://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted Facebook: https://facebook.com/TED LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks  Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  • The idea is that brain rot is a semantic class that points back to the algorithm.

  • So, it started out with skibbity, riz, Ohio.

  • Skibbity doesn't mean anything, riz is charisma, Ohio doesn't mean anything either.

  • It's funny because these words are algorithmic trends and they're overused to death.

  • Creators use them because they're trending and that helps them go more viral.

  • And then we're in this positive feedback loop of the phrase becoming more of a meme and more creators using it

  • because the algorithm is pushing it and then it becomes even more of a thing.

  • Hey everyone, it's Adam Graham.

  • Welcome back to Rethinking, my podcast with Ted on the science of what makes us tick.

  • I'm an organizational psychologist,