LOL Is Dead: Gen Z’s Texting Revolt Against Their Elders

By S A Spencer -

 


From LOL to 💀: How texting became the new generational battlefield.

Story: S A Spencer

Author of Popular Fictions: The Pink Mutiny, The Black Waters, Dream In Shackles


When Three Letters Spark a Culture War

I sent a quick “LOL” to my niece last week. Her reply? A groan and an eye-roll emoji. Apparently, my three letters were enough to make her blood boil. That’s when I realized: texting isn’t just communication anymore—it’s culture, identity, and sometimes, a battlefield.

On TikTok, entire skits are dedicated to mocking older people’s texting habits. One viral video shows a Millennial typing “LOL” after a joke, only to be met with a Gen Z friend replying with the skull emoji 💀. The caption reads: “Nobody actually laughs out loud anymore.” It’s funny, but it also reveals something deeper: the way we text has become a generational marker, as telling as fashion or music.

This isn’t just about words. It’s about authenticity, belonging, and the eternal cycle of youth carving out their own linguistic territory. Let’s explore how “LOL” went from revolutionary shorthand to cultural cringe, why emojis have become a generational minefield, and what this all says about the way we communicate today.

 

The Rise and Fall of “LOL”

Back in the early days of the internet—think AOL (America Online) chatrooms, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo groups—typing “LOL” was revolutionary. It was shorthand for “laughing out loud,” a way to signal humour in a medium that lacked tone and facial expression. For Millennials and Gen X, “LOL” was the glue that held digital conversations together.

But language evolves. By the late 2000s, “LOL” had become so common that it lost its literal meaning. Few people were actually laughing out loud when they typed it. Instead, it became a polite filler, a way to soften a message or signal friendliness.

Gen Z, however, sees “LOL” differently. To them, it’s outdated, insincere, and even passive-aggressive. Why type “LOL” when you can use “lmao,” “rofl,” or the skull emoji 💀 to signal you’re “dead” from laughter? On TikTok, creators parody parents and older siblings who still cling to “LOL,” treating it like a digital dad joke.

Even celebrities reflect this divide. Elon Musk often tweets with “LOL,” which Gen Z users mock as “dad energy.” Meanwhile, Billie Eilish, a Gen Z icon, peppers her posts with lowercase text and ironic emojis instead, signalling a completely different digital tone.

“LOL” is simply the latest casualty in the endless cycle of linguistic evolution. Just as “groovy” died with the 1960s and “rad” with the 1990s, “LOL” is being buried by Gen Z’s memes.

 

Emoji Wars

If “LOL” is the fallen soldier of Millennial texting, emojis are the battlefield where the war rages on.

Older generations embraced emojis as emotional shorthand. A smiley face 🙂 softened a blunt message. A laughing face 😂 added humor. Emojis were seen as friendly, expressive, and fun.

Gen Z, however, has weaponized emojis in new ways. The skull emoji 💀 doesn’t mean death—it means “I’m dead from laughter.” The crying emoji 😭 isn’t sadness—it’s overwhelming hilarity. The clown 🤡 is used to mock someone’s foolishness.

Meanwhile, some emojis have become cringe markers. The crying-laughing face 😂, once the most popular emoji in the world, is now considered outdated by Gen Z. The thumbs-up 👍, meant as a polite affirmation, is seen as passive-aggressive. Even the humble smile 🙂 can be read as sarcastic or insincere.

Memes amplify these divides. Instagram is full of jokes about how Millennials still use 😂 while Gen Z insists 😭 is the new symbol for laughter. TikTok creators dramatise the horror of receiving a thumbs-up from a boss, treating it like a digital slap.

The contrast is stark: sincerity vs. irony, earnestness vs. detachment.

 

Voice Notes, Delays, and Digital Etiquette

Texting isn’t just about words and emojis—it’s about etiquette. And here, too, generational divides run deep.

Gen Z dislikes loud voice notes played in public. To them, it’s intrusive and inconsiderate. TikTok is full of skits where someone groans as their friend sends a three-minute voice note, complete with dramatic sighs and background noise. Older generations, however, see voice notes as efficient, personal, and easier than typing.

Response times are another flashpoint. Gen Z expects instant replies. A delay of hours—or worse, days—can feel like rejection. Older generations, accustomed to slower communication, see delayed replies as normal. Memes about “left on read” anxiety capture this perfectly, with Gen Z dramatizing the pain of seeing “seen at 2:14 PM” and no response.

Even celebrities aren’t immune. Screenshots of celebrity DMs often go viral, with fans analysing response times like tea leaves. Did they reply instantly? Hours later? The timing itself becomes part of the story.

These differences reflect deeper cultural shifts. Gen Z grew up in an always-on world, where communication is constant and immediate. Older generations adapted to digital communication later, bringing with them habits from slower, more deliberate forms of interaction.

 

Texting as Identity

At its core, the generational divide over texting isn’t about convenience—it’s about identity.

Language has always been a way for youth to carve out their own space. Slang, idioms, and even mispronunciations become markers of belonging. Texting habits are simply the digital version of this.

Gen Z’s rejection of “LOL” isn’t about the word itself. It’s about defining themselves against older generations. By discarding “LOL” and embracing new symbols like 💀, they’re creating a linguistic identity that belongs to them.

This is why TikTok trends like “texting red flags” resonate so strongly. They’re not just jokes—they’re boundary markers. Using too many emojis, sending long paragraphs, or typing “K” are all framed as signs you’re not part of the in-group.

Older generations, meanwhile, cling to familiar habits as markers of their own era. For them, “LOL” isn’t outdated—it’s nostalgic. Emojis aren’t cringe—they’re expressive. Their texting habits reflect the digital world they grew up in, one that was slower, more sincere, and less ironic.

Celebrities embody this too. Billie Eilish’s lowercase, emoji-laden texts scream Gen Z identity. Chrissy Teigen’s “LOL 😂” tweets scream Millennial. Both are authentic—but to different audiences.

 

The Bigger Picture

Texting habits may seem trivial, but they reveal deeper cultural divides.

  • Speed vs. Thoughtfulness: Gen Z values immediacy. Older generations value deliberation.
  • Irony vs. Sincerity: Gen Z communicates through irony and exaggeration. Older generations prefer sincerity and clarity.
  • Digital-native vs. Digital-adopter: Gen Z was born into smartphones. Older generations adapted later, bringing with them habits from pre-digital communication.

These differences mirror broader generational tensions. In the workplace, Gen Z prefers Slack messages and instant replies. Older generations prefer emails and scheduled meetings. In politics, Gen Z embraces memes and TikTok campaigns. Older generations rely on speeches and debates. In culture, Gen Z thrives on irony and detachment. Older generations value sincerity and authenticity.

The “LOL wars” are simply one manifestation of these broader divides. They’re not really about texting—they’re about how each generation defines authenticity, belonging, and identity in a digital world.

 

The Eternal Cycle of Language

Maybe the real joke is that every generation thinks it invented the perfect way to communicate. Today, Gen Z bans “LOL.” Tomorrow, their kids will ban whatever comes next.

Language is always evolving. What feels cringe today will feel nostalgic tomorrow. What feels authentic now will feel outdated in a decade. The cycle never ends.

So perhaps the best way to navigate the generational texting wars is with humour and humility. Laugh at the differences, embrace the change, and remember that communication is about connection, not perfection.

Because at the end of the day, whether we type “LOL,” “lmao,” or 💀, we’re all just trying to say the same thing: we’re laughing, we’re connecting, and we’re human.


S A Spencer- I will bring more stories for your entertainment. Please follow me  on Facebook and Twitter so that you know when a new story comes.

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