SayWhatNow? Trending Terms and Popculture Slang for 2025

by Alex Questly

1. What does Bed Rotting mean?

Bed rotting is more than just staying in bed—it’s a rebellion. In a world that demands endless productivity, bed rotting is the art of doing absolutely nothing and unapologetically loving it. It’s about retreating into the comfort of your bed, shutting out the noise of the world, and allowing yourself to exist without performing. It’s a sensory sanctuary—a place to decompress and recharge.

2. What does Doomscrolling mean?

Doomscrolling is the masochistic ritual of endlessly scrolling through bad news, feeding your anxiety one headline at a time. It’s the digital equivalent of picking at a scab: painful, but you just can’t stop. For many, it’s a coping mechanism for feeling powerless in a chaotic world. Breaking the cycle requires intentional disconnection, but sometimes doomscrolling feels like staying informed—even when it’s not.

3. What does Goblin Mode mean?

Goblin mode is an ode to unfiltered self-indulgence. It’s wearing pajamas all day, eating snacks out of the bag, and not caring what anyone thinks. For some, it’s a familiar state of being—embracing low-effort, sensory-friendly routines to survive a world that demands too much. Goblin mode isn’t laziness; it’s liberation.

4. What does Quiet Quitting mean?

Quiet quitting isn’t quitting your job—it’s quitting the rat race. It’s about setting boundaries, doing your job without letting it consume your soul, and refusing to overwork for the sake of someone else’s profit. It’s a revolutionary act against burnout and a way to reclaim mental health in a system that doesn’t prioritize it.

5. What does The Algorithm mean?

The algorithm is the invisible hand guiding our online lives. It knows what we like (or thinks it does) and tailors our feeds accordingly. The algorithm can feel like both a lifeline and a trap—feeding our hyperfixations one moment and drowning us in irrelevant noise the next.

6. What does Delulu mean?

“Delulu,” short for delusional, is Gen Z’s way of celebrating unshakable belief in your own dreams. It’s about living in your fantasy world, ignoring naysayers, and embracing your imagination. It’s a nod to the joy of escapism and the creativity that thrives in our inner worlds.

7. What does Soft Life mean?

The soft life rejects hustle culture in favor of ease and comfort. It’s about choosing joy over grind, indulging in self-care, and redefining success. For many, it’s aspirational—a privilege not everyone can afford—but it can also be a reminder to prioritize rest and sensory-friendly environments.

8. What does Parasocial Relationships mean?

Parasocial relationships are one-sided connections with influencers, celebrities, or fictional characters. For some people, they can feel safer than real-life relationships, offering comfort and connection without the complexities of social interaction. But they can also blur boundaries, leading to unrealistic expectations or emotional dependence.

9. What does Mask Fishing mean?

Mask fishing started as a term for makeup that hides flaws, but it’s a perfect metaphor for what autists call masking. It’s the exhausting act of pretending to be neurotypical, hiding your true self to fit in. While it can help navigate social situations, it often comes at the cost of mental and emotional well-being.

10. What does Rage Quitting mean?

Rage quitting isn’t just for video games—it’s storming out of a toxic job, relationship, or situation when you’ve had enough. It can be tied to sensory overload or frustration from being misunderstood. Sometimes, it’s not impulsive; it’s necessary self-preservation.

11. What does Girl Math/Boy Math mean?

This playful trend is about the quirky, emotional logic people use to justify decisions. For autistic minds, “autist math” might involve hyper-logical reasoning or obsessing over details others overlook, proving there’s no one-size-fits-all way to make sense of the world.

12. What does Shadow Work mean?

Shadow work is the introspective practice of confronting your hidden self—your fears, insecurities, and traumas. For autistic individuals, it often involves unmasking, grappling with internalized ableism, and learning to embrace the parts of ourselves society taught us to hide.

13. What does Chronically Online mean?

Being chronically online means living so deeply in internet culture that it becomes your reality. For neurodivergent people, it’s a double-edged sword: an endless escape into hyperfixations, but also a trap that can amplify isolation.

14. What does NPC Energy mean?

Non-Player Character (NPC) energy describes feeling like a background character in other people’s stories. For autistic individuals, it resonates deeply—navigating a neurotypical world often feels like being an outsider in someone else’s narrative.

15. What does Toxic Productivity mean?

Toxic productivity glorifies overwork, pushing people to measure their worth by their output. For neurodivergent people, it’s a cruel trap, as burnout often hits harder and longer. The antidote? Rest, sensory downtime, and redefining success.

16. What does Hyperfixation mean?

Hyperfixation is the intense focus on a specific interest or activity, often to the exclusion of everything else. For neurodivergent people, it’s not just a quirk—it’s a source of deep joy and creativity, though it can sometimes veer into obsession.

17. What does Decision Fatigue mean?

Decision fatigue is the mental exhaustion from making too many choices. For autistic people, it’s compounded by executive dysfunction, making even simple decisions feel insurmountable. Streamlining routines and limiting options can help.

18. What does Internalized Ableism mean?

Internalized ableism is the self-directed shame neurodivergent people feel from absorbing societal messages that they’re “broken” or “less than.” It’s a painful cycle but also one that can be unlearned through self-compassion and community.

19. What does Adulting mean?

Adulting is the endless grind of managing bills, chores, and life admin. For autistic individuals, executive dysfunction and sensory sensitivities can make “adulting” feel like an overwhelming, never-ending checklist.

20. What does Social Battery mean?

The social battery is a metaphor for how much energy you have for interactions before needing to recharge. For autistic people, it’s a short-lived resource, making rest and alone time crucial for survival.

21. What does Romanticize Your Life mean?

Romanticizing your life is about finding joy in small, mundane moments—like a perfectly brewed cup of tea. For neurodivergent people, it’s both a challenge and a strength, as hyperfixation can turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

22. What does Neurospicy mean?

“Neurospicy” is a playful term for neurodivergence, celebrating differences with humor. While it risks oversimplification, it’s also a fun, lighthearted way to talk about brains that work a little differently.

23. What does Digital Guilt mean?

Digital guilt is the anxiety of feeling “always on” but never truly present. It’s the nagging pressure to reply instantly to messages, emails, and notifications—exhausting but hard to escape.

24. What does Therapy Speak Everywhere mean?

Therapy speak has gone mainstream, with terms like “boundaries” and “toxic” becoming part of everyday language. While it raises awareness, overuse risks turning meaningful concepts into buzzwords.

25. What does Vibe Shifts mean?

Vibe shifts are cultural pivots—from aesthetics to attitudes—that reflect deeper societal changes. They’re exciting but also exhausting, especially when keeping up feels like running a cultural marathon.

Read this next: 180 Haikus for 2025: Trends and Feelings

Alex Trivia
Alex Questly

Hi, I’m Alex—your trivia-obsessed, fact-hoarding host of this little corner of the internet. Picture me in my tiny home office, walls lined with shelves buckling under the weight of old trivia books, science magazines, and a stack of half-filled notebooks. My desk is a chaotic mess—a chipped coffee mug holding an army of pens, my laptop precariously perched atop an outdated encyclopedia, and post-it notes with scribbled reminders stuck to everything in sight (including, somehow, the cat). Welcome to the madness!

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