It's giving incel: The evolution of internet slang

Podcast: Code Switch (LS 76 · TOP 0.01% what is this?)Episode: It's giving incel: The evolution of internet slangPub date: 2026-05-27Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationHow have recommendation algorithms affected language? Linguist Adam Aleksic — aka the Etymology Nerd — says most “Gen-Z slang” is either appropriated from Black people or incels. This week, we trace how -maxxing went from the eugenicist looksmaxxing subculture to trending TikToks to the Pentagon tweeting about “lethality maxxing.” And we ask what’s actually at stake when we use words without knowing where they come from.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy PolicyThe podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.