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Magoo: Legendary Virginia Rapper Melvin “Magoo” Barcliff has passed away at 50. The artist was half of Rap duo Timbaland and Magoo.
Harden: James Harden slammed 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey during an Adidas press event in China.
IJBOL (“I just burst out laughing”)
What it is: Move over LMAO, it's time for IJBOL - IJBOL (pronounced “eej-bowl”), short for "I just burst out laughing," has established itself among Gen Z. After they did away with the laugh-crying emoji deemed overused, cringe, and thus 'millennial,' there continues to be a trend of popular expressions becoming passé. Longtime LOL (“laugh out loud”), an acronym that first appeared in the 1980s, has seen many iterations. LOL became ROFL (“rolling on the floor laughing”), LMAO (“laughing my ass off”), & nonverbal emojis like 😂💀🤡. "I just burst out laughing" is not necessarily novel, but it is internet speak that applies to a literal action in response to something funny or uncomfortably inappropriate. IJBOL has been linked to figures like Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, & Kamala Harris as well as the K-pop community. Let it be known that it's not a Korean word or new boy band - just 2023 internet slang fam.
What brands can learn: Brands, this new lexicon for digital laughter is a sign of the times. While we don't recommend picking up language that will feel "how do you do, fellow kids" or inauthentic to your social tone-of-voice, be on the lookout for this term in your comment sections. The move to IJBOL comes as users want to more accurately reflect what happens “behind the screen” while scrolling through social media, which reflects a larger desire for authenticity in a world filled with smoke screens & facades. The key to winning with this audience is to keep it real. So, maybe don't use IJBOL unless it makes sense for you.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
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