Ohio, also referred to as Only in Ohio or Ohio vs. the World,[1][2][3] is an Internet slang and meme first popularized in 2016. The term refers to obviously surreal and random phenomena that supposedly occur in the U.S. state with the same name.[1][2][3][4][5] The term is one of many slangs associated with Generation Z and Generation Alpha.[6][7][8][9]
History
editIn 2016, a Tumblr user posted a photo of a Chicago Transit Authority bus stop with the announcement displaying "Ohio will be eliminated."[10] The message was intended to inform riders about a bus stop removal at the intersection of Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue;[10] however, the photo became viral over the message being misconstrued to refer to the state instead of the street.[2][5][7] In the years after the photo was published, absurdist memes related to Ohio were published on social media.
Starting in 2022, videos that attribute Ohio with bizarre and sometimes disturbing situations ("Only in Ohio" videos) became viral. They were often coupled with a song "Swag Like Ohio" by Lil B.[1][2][6] The term Ohio was later coupled with newly popular Internet slang terms like "rizz" and "skibidi".[6][8][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Stanford, Kaitlin (7 December 2023). "Ohio is a huge joke on TikTok — again. Why does the state keep getting memed". Yahoo News. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Spearman, Kahron (28 December 2023). "What's the deal with 'Only in Ohio' memes?". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ a b Robinson, Breanna (9 January 2023). "The 'Ohio' TikTok meme explained | indy100". www.indy100.com. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Pellot, Emerald (14 November 2022). "Why is everyone joking about Ohio on TikTok?". Yahoo. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ a b Shotwell, Alyssa (12 January 2023). "This State Has Overtaken Florida & New Jersey as America's Favorite Punching Bag". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "Why Gen Z and Alpha are calling everything 'Ohio'—And it's not a compliment!". The Times of India. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ a b Perry, Alex. "Are 'Ohio' memes the source of 'brainrot' among Gen Alpha? Here's what we know". The Enquirer. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ a b Sjöberg, Alice (11 July 2024). "What does 'Skibidi Ohio Rizz' mean? Gen Alpha insult explained". Dexerto. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^
- "'Ohio' Is The Latest Gen Z Slang, Here's What It Means". Outlook US. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- Mitchell, Alex (24 August 2024). "Ohio is Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang for 'weird' or 'cringe'". New York Post. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- Alcántara, Ann-Marie (21 August 2024). "Everyone's Talking About Ohio. It Has Nothing to Do With Ohio". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ a b Matthews, David. "Michigan Ave. Bus Stop Says Nation's 7th Largest State Will Be Destroyed". DNAinfo Chicago. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Arianna. "The Meaning Behind The 'Ohio' Meme And Why It's Taken Off In Popularity This Summer". Forbes. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
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