Sincerely, Your Favorite Slang Might Be Low-Key Dangerous
Yeah, let’s cut the fluff. I’ve spent years studying how language shapes culture, especially the sneaky power of slang. And let me tell you: internet lingo isn’t just about memes and vibes.
Some of these slang phrases? They’re Trojan horses for hate. You might toss around terms like “sigma male” or “NPC” thinking they’re harmless jokes, but behind the screen, they’re weaponizing ideas faster than a TikTok trend.
Buckle up, we’re diving into the case studies of 7 Innocent-Sounding slang terms that went from quirky to toxic, and why you should care.
- Case 1: “Sigma Male”: From Lone Wolf to Far-Right Propaganda
- Case 2: “NPC”: When Trolls Turn People Into Bots
- 200 Most Popular Internet Slangs of 2025
- Case 3: “Delulu”: When Mental Health Becomes a Punchline
- Case 4: “Based” – From Hip-Hop to Hate Groups
- How to Master Internet Slang Like a Pro
- Case 5: “It’s Just a Joke, Bro”, The Ultimate Gaslighting Phrase
- Case 6: “Red Pill”, From Sci-Fi Metaphor to Misogynist Mantra
- Case 7: “Woke”: From Black Empowerment to Right-Wing Punchline
- How to Spot Toxic Slang Easily
Case 1: “Sigma Male”: From Lone Wolf to Far-Right Propaganda
What You Think It Means:
Picture this: a cool, mysterious guy who plays by his own rules. Think Tyler Durden from Fight Club vibes, no bosses, no drama, just raw independence. That’s the “sigma male” fantasy sold to you.
The Problem:
Turns out, this “lone wolf” narrative got hijacked faster than a Twitter bot farm. Reddit forums like r/MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way) and incel communities rebranded “sigma” as code for “women are the problem.”
Suddenly, it’s not about self-reliance, it’s about blaming feminism for loneliness and promoting toxic ideologies.
Dr. Amanda Montell, linguist and author of Cultish, stated and I quote: “Terms like ‘sigma’ or ‘alpha’ repackage bigotry as self-help. They make hate sound aspirational, like you’re leveling up by hating others.”
Real-World Damage:
In 2021, the Anti-Defamation League traced a spike in misogynistic threats back to “sigma grindset” TikToks.
One viral video urged men to “go sigma” by cutting off female friends and embracing “male supremacy.” Yikes.
Slangwise Take:
I’ve watched this term mutate from a niche meme to a gateway drug for extremism. If your “self-improvement” advice includes degrading others, you’re not a sigma, you’re just a bully with a thesaurus.
Case 2: “NPC”: When Trolls Turn People Into Bots
The “Joke”:
Calling someone an NPC (Non-Playable Character) is like saying they’re a mindless robot in a video game. You’ve seen it in comments: “LOL, that Karen’s such an NPC repeating woke scripts.”
The Ugly Truth:
Far-right groups weaponized this meme to dehumanize marginalized folks. Example: LGBTQ+ allies are dismissed as “NPCs parroting the gay agenda.”
It’s a slick way to say: “Your voice doesn’t matter because you’re not even real.”
Linguist Dr. Robin Queen doesn’t hold back, he says: “Calling humans ‘NPCs’ isn’t edgy humor, it’s a verbal grenade. Once you decide someone isn’t fully human, justifying cruelty gets way easier.”
Real-World Damage:
During the 2023 Trans Day of Visibility, trolls flooded hashtags with “NPC” memes to silence activists. A study by the Southern Poverty Law Center linked NPC rhetoric to a 40% rise in online harassment against trans creators.
Slangwise Take:
I’ve tracked how “NPC” went from gamers roasting bad AI to a tool for erasing empathy. Next time you call someone an NPC, ask yourself: Who gains if we stop seeing each other as human?
Case 3: “Delulu”: When Mental Health Becomes a Punchline
The Meme:
Gen Z loves joking, “I’m delulu for thinking I’ll pass this exam!” or “My delulu is the solulu!” (translation: My delusion is the solution!). It’s self-deprecating humor, right?
The Problem:
Overusing “delulu” trivializes actual mental illness. Imagine saying, “I’m so OCD about my Spotify playlists!”, it’s the same energy.
Mental health pros warn that conflating anxiety or delusions with jokes muddies the line between coping and harm.
Jessica Clemons, psychiatrist and mental health advocate, put it rightly when she says: “Slang like ‘delulu’ risks normalizing serious conditions. When everyone’s ‘a little bipolar’ because they changed their mind, real struggles get erased.”
The Fix?
Communities are flipping the script. Terms like “neurospicy” (playful slang for neurodivergent) let folks reclaim identity without stigma. Example: “I’m neurospicy, my ADHD brain needs extra hot sauce to focus.”
Slang Take:
As someone who’s navigated ADHD diagnosis, I get the appeal of dark humor. But words matter. Joking about being “delulu” for clout? Not it, fam.
Case 4: “Based” – From Hip-Hop to Hate Groups
The Glow-Up:
“Based” started in 2007 with rapper Lil B (“Thank You Based God”). It meant being unapologetically yourself, a celebration of authenticity.
The Co-Opt:
By 2016, alt-right trolls hijacked “based” to praise far-right takes. Example: “Saying immigrants are ruining Europe? So based.” The term became a dog whistle, turning hate speech into “brave truth-telling.”
Journalist Donovan X. Ramsey, who’s covered slang’s racial evolution, explains: “White supremacists steal Black slang to sanitize racism. They want ‘based’ to sound cool, not cruel.”
Real-World Damage:
The 2022 Buffalo shooter’s manifesto used “based” 27 times to describe his extremist ideology.
My Take:
I’ve seen Black culture’s slang looted for decades. But turning “based” into a hate badge? That’s cultural theft with a side of violence.
Case 5: “It’s Just a Joke, Bro”, The Ultimate Gaslighting Phrase
The Defense:
Whenever someone gets called out for offensive slang, they deflect with “Relax, it’s just a joke!” Classic examples: racist memes labeled “dark humor” or transphobic trolling “for the lulz.”
The Trap:
This phrase shames critics into silence. It’s linguistic gaslighting, making you feel chaotic for caring.
“‘Just a joke’ is the Swiss Army knife of online harm. It lets bigots test boundaries and radicalize audiences under the cover of irony.” Whitney Phillips, author of You Are Here,
Real-World Damage:
A 2023 report by the ADL found that 68% of Gen Z users exposed to extremist content first encountered it through “jokes” on platforms like Discord or TikTok.
Slangwise Take:
I’ve debunked this excuse for years. Newsflash: Nazis weren’t “just kidding.” Neither are you.
Case 6: “Red Pill”, From Sci-Fi Metaphor to Misogynist Mantra
The Original Vibe:
Remember The Matrix? Taking the “red pill” meant waking up to reality, a cool metaphor for questioning societal norms. For years, it was just a geeky fandom reference.
The Hijack:
Fast-forward to 2014: Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs) and incel forums stole the term. Now, “taking the red pill” means “realizing women are oppressors” or “feminism is a scam.”
It’s a badge of honor for guys who blame systemic sexism for their loneliness.
Dr. Julia Serano, biologist and gender theorist, breaks it down: “The ‘red pill’ narrative frames misogyny as a brave awakening. It’s not enlightenment, it’s embitterment dressed as philosophy.”
Real-World Damage:
In 2022, the New York Times traced connections between “red pill” influencers and real-world violence.
The Toronto van attacker, who killed 10 people in 2018, frequented incel forums where “redpilling” was glorified as a path to “male liberation.”
Slangwise Take:
I’velllIf your “truth” requires dehumanizing half the population, you’re not Neo, you’re just lost in the sauce.
Case 7: “Woke”: From Black Empowerment to Right-Wing Punchline
The Roots:
“Stay woke” started in Black communities in the 1930s as a warning against racial injustice. By the 2010s, it became a celebration of social awareness, think Erykah Badu singing, “I stay woke.”
The Co-Opt:
Conservatives flipped the script. Now, “woke” is a sneer for anything progressive. Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act” bans teaching about systemic racism, framing it as “anti-American indoctrination.”
TikTok trolls dismiss climate activists as “woke snowflakes.” The word’s been hollowed out into a lazy insult.
André Brock, author of Distributed Blackness, isn’t having it: “Mocking ‘woke’ erases its Black radical origins. It’s linguistic gentrification, taking a term rooted in survival and selling it as a joke.”
Real-World Damage:
A 2023 report by Media Matters found that Fox News used “woke” over 1,800 times in six months to attack LGBTQ+ rights, DEI programs, and even military readiness.
Meanwhile, schools in Texas removed books by Black authors to avoid being “too woke.”
Slangwise Take:
As a Black linguist, this one stings. “Woke” was armor for my ancestors. Now it’s a meme for folks who think acknowledging racism is worse than racism itself. Nah.
We’re keeping our history, reclaim the word or retire it, but don’t let haters define it.
How to Spot Toxic Slang Easily
- Ask: “Who’s Laughing?”
If a term punches down (targets marginalized groups), it’s not comedy, it’s cruelty in a meme format. - Google the Origins
Example: “Blood libel” isn’t just edgy slang, it’s an antisemitic conspiracy theory. - Call It Out (Without Canceling)
Try: “Hey, that term actually means . Maybe use instead?” - Track the TimelineAsk: “When did this term start trending? Who used it first?” Example: “Red pill” spiked in 2016 alongside alt-right YouTubers.
- Listen to Marginalized VoicesIf Black, queer, or neurodivergent folks say a term harms them, believe them.
Final Word: Language Isn’t Neutral, You Choose Your Impact
Look, I’m not the slang police. I still laugh at memes and cuss like a sailor. But after years in this field, I know this: words shape reality.
When next time you type “NPC” or “based,” pause. Ask yourself: Am I building connection or spreading poison?
The internet’s a battlefield of ideas. Arm yourself with awareness, and maybe a better vocabulary.
For More, refer to: EnglishClub’s insult list or CBC’s guide to problematic phrases . Always prioritize respectful communication.