“LOL” could be an acronym of the past, as Gen Z are saying “IJBOL.” Standing for “I just burst out laughing,” the new acronym is the next in line of sayings, emojis, or phrases that make the one before them officially cringe. And while IJBOL is most popular on K-pop Twitter (or X), it’s only a matter of time before it hits the mainstream. As young people spend so much time online, they’re always finding ways to more accurately express their feelings and reactions; IJBOL might be a more real representation than LMAO, as it points to the surprise of actually letting out a laugh. YPulse data shows Gen Z is, on average, current users of six different platforms—meaning they’re largely responsible for spreading viral content or even phrases from one platform to the next until it catches on. (Axios)
