By Hannah Lazarte & Zoe Tran
Skibidi rizz! Brainrot. Apparently, it’s an Internet term that can refer to language or memes found floating in social media. Half the time, we don’t even know what we’re saying when we go, “Erm, what the sigma” or “Bro is the rizzler of the century.”
Do we even know the definition of ‘sigma’ or ‘skibidi?’ If someone asked us to explain what ‘aura’ is to them, would we be able to? If not, why do people say it in every situation and sentence?
Whenever we go to school, people throw around the phrase “what the sigma” and people laugh. The phrase itself is repetitive and has no originality, yet everyone thinks it’s funny. What makes the random words or phrases on the internet so hilarious and why do we laugh at it? Brainrot isn’t that funny. It’s just unoriginal, repetitive and bothersome. We believe it would be better if people started thinking before they speak.
The other day, a friend sent a TikTok with a cat singing “skibidi skibidi . . . ” along the melody of “Jingle Bells.” The comments under the video were more brainrot terms phrased like a different Christmas song. While some people thought the reel was funny or “relatable” and commented “real,” referencing the video being ‘relatable,’ we didn’t skibidi with it.
What was so funny or relatable about the video? How has our humor changed to this?
So why do we think brainrot is funny? Why do we laugh when someone says “skibidi toilet?” What’s so special about these phrases?
One of the most popular words circulating is ‘skibidi.’ The word usually goes before the word ‘toilet,’ referencing the YouTube series ‘Skibidi Toilet.’ The series itself isn’t show-stopping or sparks interest- most people who use the phrase don’t even watch the show but it’s a part of people’s daily vocabulary now. Why end up using the word when you don’t watch the show? The repetitiveness and unoriginality of the word just ends up being annoying, not funny.
Not only is the word irritating, but it also has no “true” definition. The definition can range anywhere from “good” to “awesome” to “bad.” If we think this “word” is funny, what isn’t funny? If someone said a random word such as, “bajangly,” would that also be laughable? If not, why not? They’re both words without a true meaning.
Another popular word, sigma. Fortunately, this isn’t a random word with no definition. Unfortunately, it isn’t used as in the letter from the Greek alphabet- it’s used as in ‘sigma male.’ And what is a ‘sigma male?’ Dictionary.com states a ‘sigma male’ is a ‘popular, successful, but highly independent and self-reliant man.’ With such a denotation, there is no reason for it to be amusing and to be so repeated by all.
Those who are ‘chronically online’ come across these terms through short-form video platforms, such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. After finding these terms, they adopt them into their daily vocabulary. What’s so unique about these words or phrases that people take them and add them to their ‘everyday words’?
These days, we will laugh at the simplest phrases — and if someone asked us why we think this to be true, our first thought would be the usage of brainrot. As we continue to base our humor on the brain-rot phrases that circle the internet, we can see why the aliens don’t skibidi with us.
