Big tech has ruined everything, even the word “chic”
I think I learned too much. Now I hate everything.
Image by Cybernews
- Social media recasts words like "chic," "whimsy," and "coquette," often changing their original meanings.
- The author argues tech companies use softer feminine branding to make risky products feel less threatening.
- Meta’s branded glasses raise concerns because users have reported privacy risks and harassment involving teens.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The world is burning, tech companies are greedier than ever, but don’t worry. It’s kinda chic.
The internet can make or break just about anything.
Whether it’s a once-popular fashion brand or an emerging artist, once it’s on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, it’s on the proverbial chopping block – whether you like it or not.
But what about language?
Language is no different.
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The internet chews up words and spits them out in a new context, changing the meaning almost entirely.
We’ve seen a lot of cores, from cottagecore to cannibalcore, with some being a bit more niche than others.
But the logic is always the same: take a word or phrase long forgotten, beat the life out of it until there’s nothing left. Then rinse and repeat.
No wonder this is the most used emoji worldwide.
The latest trends swimming through our algorithms are related to words such as whimsy, chic, and coquette.
What’s interesting about these words is that they’re all largely attributed to women, with whismy being behavior perceived as lighthearted and playful, while coquette is literally defined as a traditionally flirtatious woman.
But why are we seeing hyperfeminized language used on social media more and more?
Don’t reflect, rebrand
I have a hunch that words like chic are being misappropriated for a very specific reason.
The tech and social media world, while being exposed as a place where children’s privacy is violated, is a place created by men.
Similar to the AI bubble, which even Microsoft’s co-founder, Bill Gates, is warning us about, social media is another product made by tech bros.
Tech, hardware, and software tend to be relatively sterile, uniform, and logical. This doesn’t appeal to everyone, and if it doesn’t appeal to the masses, it’s going to be harder to overlook big tech negligence.
So, tech CEOs and the Mark Zuckbergs of the world must do what they do best: rebrand.
(Gwyneth Paltrow allegedly hosting an alfresco dinner in honor of Sam Altman might make a little more sense now.)
To feminize tech is like putting pink bubble wrap on a spiky mace. Making it pink and girly won’t make it safe.
So, while Meta creates Kylie Jenner Meta glasses that align the brand more with a female audience, Instagram pushes reels showing teen boys harassing girls while wearing Meta glasses. Fantastic.
If the rebranded, softer, more feminine, “please let your guard down” approach doesn’t work, there’s always a distraction.
Before big tech can admit that it might be ahead of itself, and it can no longer control the technology it's created, there’s a new, brain-rotting trend to be a part of.
We may even describe these miserable displays of utter insanity as “chic.”
It’s kinda chic that the world is controlled by a few white men who are actively destroying our lives…
We’ve seen some nations try at least. Countries can ban teens from using social media all they want, but will it make any difference?
What might seem innocuous on the surface feels like a mind virus.
Well, at least Charlie Brooker’s got a lot of material for Black Mirror season 8.
Be safe, and try to stay sane.
