Youth Incorporated Magazine

Ah, Gen Z, the digital natives of our time, weaving through the tangled web of internet culture with the finesse of seasoned explorers in an uncharted territory. But what’s the deal with their humour? Do they really just laugh at anything these days? It’s like trying to unravel a Rubik’s Cube while riding a unicycle – confusing, yet strangely exhilarating. Here’s an attempt to decode the world of GenZ humour, where sarcasm is currency, memes are life, and existential crises are just another punchline. So buckle up, my fellow adventurers, as we get deep into the rabbit hole of internet absurdity and emerge with a newfound appreciation for the comedy stylings of the selfie generation.

1. Layers of Irony

At the heart of Gen Z humour lies a labyrinth of irony, where distinguishing between sincerity and satire becomes a formidable task. Memes and jokes often carry multiple layers of meaning, leaving observers unsure whether to laugh or ponder the deeper implications. This penchant for irony stems from a culture deeply entrenched in internet memes and viral trends, where absurdity reigns supreme.

2. Coping Mechanism

In the face of mounting societal pressures and existential uncertainties, Gen Z turns to humour as a coping mechanism. Jokes about declining mental health, climate change, and the meaninglessness of life serve as outlets for expressing shared anxieties and frustrations. By finding humour in the absurdity of everyday life, Gen Z bonds over universal experiences, forging connections through shared laughter amidst chaos.

3. Rise of Memes

Memes have become the lingua franca of the internet, permeating digital communication and shaping online identities. For Gen Z, memes serve as not only a form of entertainment but also a means of self-expression and cultural currency. From relatable reaction images to viral catchphrases, memes have infiltrated every corner of online discourse, blurring the line between humour and reality. I mean, have you seen the Mumbai Police’s Instagram account?

4. Absurdity as Comedy

In the realm of Gen Z humour, absurdity reigns supreme. The simplest of images or videos can evoke laughter through their sheer unexpectedness. How simple can an image be for it to be funny? A level of unexpectedness is what is humour for this generation. The more random it is, the funnier it is. From surreal memes to nonsensical humour, Gen Z delights in the absurd and the random, finding amusement in the unlikeliest of places. In a world saturated with information and stimuli, the element of surprise is key to capturing Gen Z’s attention and eliciting genuine laughter.

5. The Inside Joke Phenomenon

Everyone’s a part of this huge inside joke. And if you’re not GenZ, you’re probably thinking, “Oh, I love inside jokes, would love to be a part of one some day.” (Office fans rise?) Gen Z humour thrives on a sense of camaraderie and shared understanding, often manifested as one giant inside joke. Explaining jokes is considered passé, as humour is deeply rooted in cultural references and internet subcultures. Whether it’s a niche meme format (is this loss?) or a viral TikTok trend, Gen Z relishes in the collective experience of “getting” the joke, fostering a sense of community amidst the vast expanse of the internet. Basically, the girls who get it, get it; and the girls who don’t, don’t.

And there you have it, my fellow Gen Z comrades – a whirlwind tour through the depths of our own twisted, yet undeniably hilarious, sense of humor. As we bid adieu to this exploration of internet absurdity, remember this: the laughter never has to stop. Whether we’re scrolling through memes, cracking jokes about the end of the world, or bonding over the latest viral TikTok trend, humour is our superpower – a beacon of light in the darkness of our digital existence. (of course that was sarcastic) So keep on laughing, keep on creating, and above all, keep on being unapologetically, gloriously, beautifully Gen Z. The world may be a mess, but as long as we’re here to find the humor in it, we’ll always come out on top. Whether it’s sarcasm, a post written in Comic Sans, or a distorted video that looks like it was recorded on a Nokia, there is always something new and unexpected to laugh about on the internet. Stay weird, stay witty, and never stop LOL-ing. Peace out, my friends – until the next meme-filled adventure!

Finally, I leave you with this, so you can better understand the humour of this generation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHgt8giw1LY