Why Gen Z’s latest Tik Tok trend are censoring words like job and work
It’s the three-letter word triggering Gen Z online. But the latest trend to censor certain terms might be masking real life anxiety for young people.
Gen Z are treating the word “job” like a slur and even censoring the term online.
But is it really a serious take on employment? Or just a modern version of millennials ‘I Hate Mondays’ meme.
The tongue-in-cheek trend has been doing the rounds on Tik Tok for the past few months with videos using the term “j*b” racking up thousands of views.
According to a post on Reddit, the “meme” plays on the concept that “the word job often evokes negative feelings, reminding people that their free time is ending and they have to return to work”.
On Tik Tok, some users even thanked those who censored words like “job” and “employment” as it “triggers” them.
Angela Chen, 18, said that the craze is “more like a joke” that aims to point fun at a real-life issue.
“Tik Tok is a form of de-stress and it’s just a joke around all this seriousness,” Mrs Chen said.
“I guess right now the job market is not too good and everyone is struggling to find a job so they’re just joking about it to cope with it.”
Her friend, Ava Turnbull, agreed that the viral censorship is a “coping mechanism” for younger generations.
Ms Turnbull said she was aware of the trend and had recently shared a picture to her Instagram page with the caption “w*rking”.
“I would say there is a bit of truth to it like you go on Seek and it is really hard to find a job,” she said.
“We feel like it’s a bit of a joke to have fun with our friends. I feel like we can connect through it.”
Middle management expert Rebecca Houghton said that while the trend was “hilarious” it does speak to the reality of Gen Z job hunters.
“I think they’re making a joke of something they’re quite serious about,” Ms Houghton said.
“I think the serious underlying theme is really around job insecurity which for humans in the corporate jungle is life or death – it’s quite a big fear.”
However, Ms Houghton said that movement was not a sign of “laziness” in young workers but a rite of passage.
“Society has been bagging out young professionals since time began, we have been complaining about the youth of today – they’re lazy, their unmotivated … for 150 years,” she said.
“This is not a new attitude that we’ve got and I don’t think it’s about a generation, it’s about a stage in your life.”
Before casting judgement, the Melbourne-based founder of BoldHR said onlookers should consider their own attitudes towards work.
“That whole ‘I wish I didn’t really have a job’ does not just apply to the youngsters, it applies to everybody at all ages and stages,” Ms Houghton.
“I think (Gen Z) are just owning it and saying what everyone else thinks.”
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Originally published as Why Gen Z’s latest Tik Tok trend are censoring words like job and work
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