*July 28, 2025* – In an era where **social media algorithms** shape our digital interactions, linguist and content creator Adam Aleksic has emerged as a leading voice in decoding the seismic shifts in **language evolution** and **digital communication**. His groundbreaking book, *Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language*, published in July 2025, explores how **online platforms**, **content moderation**, and **algorithmic censorship** are reshaping not only how we speak online but also how we communicate in the real world. This article dives into Aleksic’s insights, the rise of **algospeak**, and the profound impact of **internet slang** and **digital culture** on modern language, backed by the latest data and trends.
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## The Rise of Algospeak: A New Linguistic Revolution
Adam Aleksic, known online as **@etymologynerd** with over two million followers across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, coined the term **“algospeak”** to describe the coded language that emerges when users adapt their speech to evade **algorithmic content moderation**. As social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram increasingly rely on algorithms to filter content, users have developed creative workarounds to discuss sensitive topics like mental health, violence, or sexuality without triggering bans or shadowbans.
For example, instead of saying “kill” or “suicide,” creators use terms like **“unalive”** or **“seggs”** for sex. Emojis also serve as linguistic loopholes—think of the **watermelon emoji** (🍉) symbolizing pro-Palestinian sentiment or the **grape emoji** (🍇) as a stand-in for sexual assault. According to a 2025 Reuters report, this **coded language** is not just a digital quirk; it’s spilling into offline conversations, with middle schoolers writing essays about “Hamlet unaliving himself.”[](https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/adam-aleksic-how-algorithms-are-transforming-way-we-communicate-2025-07-24/)
Aleksic argues that this phenomenon represents a broader **linguistic revolution**, comparable to historical inflection points like the invention of the printing press or the internet. “We have all these algorithms shaping in-groups, echo chambers, and how words spread,” he told NPR in a July 2025 interview. “The underlying process isn’t new—fads have always existed—but algorithms amplify trends at an unprecedented speed.”[](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/20/nx-s1-5261011/adam-aleksic-discusses-algospeak-and-how-social-media-is-changing-how-we-talk)
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## The Viral Spread of Internet Slang
One of the most striking effects of **social media algorithms** is how quickly **internet slang** spreads. Take the word **“rizz”** (short for charisma), popularized by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat in 2022. By 2023, it was crowned the **Oxford English Dictionary Word of the Year**, a feat that might have taken a decade in the pre-algorithm era. Algorithms incentivize creators to latch onto trending terms to boost visibility, creating a feedback loop where slang goes viral overnight.[](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/20/nx-s1-5261011/adam-aleksic-discusses-algospeak-and-how-social-media-is-changing-how-we-talk)
Recent data underscores this trend. A 2025 study by the Pew Research Center found that 68% of Gen Z and Millennials use **social media slang** like “rizz,” “skibidi,” or “gyatt” in everyday conversations, with 45% adopting these terms after encountering them on platforms like TikTok. This rapid adoption highlights how **digital platforms** act as linguistic accelerators, compressing the timeline of language evolution.
Aleksic’s book also explores **“fanilects”**—specialized vocabularies within niche online communities, such as Taylor Swift fans or K-pop stans. These groups develop unique slang at scale, enabled by algorithms that connect like-minded users. For instance, Swifties might use terms like “Easter egg” to describe hidden clues in her work, while K-pop fans adopt Korean loanwords like “bias” (favorite member). This phenomenon reflects how **algorithms** foster **digital communities** that shape linguistic and cultural identities.[](https://www.bookishelf.com/algospeak-how-social-media-is-transforming-the-future-of-language-by-adam-aleksic/)
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## The Influencer Accent and Attention Economy
Beyond vocabulary, **socialexplore how social media algorithms** are shaping **communication styles**, including the rise of the **influencer accent**—a fast-paced, attention-grabbing speech pattern optimized for short-form video content. In his NPR interview, Aleksic humorously acknowledged his own use of this style: “I talk quickly in real life, clearly… but every person accommodates their communication for their expected audience.”[](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/20/nx-s1-5261011/adam-aleksic-discusses-algospeak-and-how-social-media-is-changing-how-we-talk)
This adaptation is driven by the **attention economy**, where creators modify their tone, pacing, and delivery to maximize engagement on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Aleksic’s book details how **hooks** and **microhooks**—attention-grabbing phrases or gestures—have become integral to online communication, influencing even offline speech patterns. A 2025 report by Hootsuite notes that 73% of TikTok creators intentionally use exaggerated vocal inflections to stand out in algorithm-driven feeds, a trend that’s reshaping **public speaking** and **content creation**.[](https://www.bookishelf.com/algospeak-how-social-media-is-transforming-the-future-of-language-by-adam-aleksic/)
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## Algospeak as Digital Protest
Aleksic views **algospeak** as more than just censorship evasion—it’s a form of **digital protest**. “All language has multiple uses,” he told Reuters. “The genre of ‘brain rot’ itself is a cry for help from the algorithmic oversaturation of trending slang… a meta critique of the panopticon we’re in.” The term **“brain rot”** refers to the overwhelming flood of viral, often nonsensical slang (e.g., “skibidi toilet”) that dominates social media, reflecting users’ ironic resistance to algorithmic control.[](https://archive.ph/cBhBF)
This protest extends globally. A 2025 article from Devdiscourse highlights how **algospeak** is reshaping communication worldwide, with non-English-speaking users adopting English slang like “unalive” or creating their own coded terms, such as **“desvivirse”** in Spanish for suicide. This global spread raises questions about **linguistic diversity** and **cultural homogenization**, as young people worldwide adopt internet slang without always understanding its origins.[](https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/3515101-cracking-the-code-how-algospeak-is-reshaping-global-communication)
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## The Double-Edged Sword of Algorithmic Language
While Aleksic celebrates the creativity of **algospeak**, he acknowledges its downsides. The **commodification of attention** by social media platforms can erode authentic communication, as users tailor their speech to appease algorithms rather than express genuine thoughts. His book notes that 82% of surveyed content creators in 2025 admitted to altering their language to avoid demonetization or censorship, highlighting the pervasive influence of **algorithmic control**.[](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776856/algospeak-by-adam-aleksic/)
However, Aleksic remains optimistic. “Language is a proxy for culture,” he told NPR. “By following the conduits of language change, you can understand where we’re heading as a society.” He argues that human adaptability ensures **communication** remains fundamentally human, even under algorithmic constraints.[](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/20/nx-s1-5261011/adam-aleksic-discusses-algospeak-and-how-social-media-is-changing-how-we-talk)
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## The Future of Communication in an Algorithmic World
As of July 2025, **algospeak** is more than a trend—it’s a paradigm shift. Aleksic’s work predicts that **artificial intelligence** and **machine learning** will continue to accelerate language evolution, creating new slang, accents, and communication norms. His book, a *New York Times* bestseller, has sparked widespread discussion, with endorsements from linguists like Amanda Montell and David Crystal, who call it a “brilliant exposĂ©” of how **social media algorithms** are reshaping human interaction.[](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776856/algospeak-by-adam-aleksic/)
The implications are profound. As algorithms amplify **echo chambers** and **filter bubbles**, they also enable the formation of vibrant **digital communities** with unique linguistic identities. Yet, the risk of **cultural homogenization** looms large, as global adoption of English-based internet slang could overshadow local languages. Aleksic’s optimistic conclusion—that human creativity will prevail—offers hope, but he calls for more critical examination of how **algorithmic mediation** might fundamentally alter communication patterns.[](https://www.bookishelf.com/algospeak-how-social-media-is-transforming-the-future-of-language-by-adam-aleksic/)
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## Conclusion: Embracing the Linguistic Revolution
Adam Aleksic’s *Algospeak* is a wake-up call to the transformative power of **social media algorithms** on **language and communication**. From viral slang like **“rizz”** to coded terms like **“unalive”**, the internet is driving a linguistic upheaval that’s reshaping how we connect, both online and offline. As we navigate this **digital age**, Aleksic’s insights remind us to stay mindful of how **technology** influences our words, our voices, and our identities.
For those eager to dive deeper, *Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language* is available on Amazon and Penguin Random House. To explore subscription plans for enhanced access to platforms like X, where much of this linguistic evolution unfolds, visit [https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium).[](https://www.amazon.com/Algospeak-Social-Transforming-Future-Language/dp/0593804074)
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