LOL (Laugh Out Loud) has been recently ditched by Gen Z and presented the more complicated term IJBOL (I just burst out laughing).
Distinct from the generally known abbreviation like LMAO (Laughing My A*s Off), ROFL (Rolling On The Floor Laughing), or LOL, which are usually associated with the Millennial generation, IJBOL, pronounced as “eej-bowl, doesn’t hold the same unique allure.
Just like new Gen Z-ers have now refused to use lon-lived marks of internet culture, such as skinny jeans, blonde hair, and the thumbs-up emoji, they’ve also ditched these commonly-used acronyms that have been around there for several decades.
According to NY Times, the unofficial poster celebrity for IJBOL is US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Highlighted by Mashable, IJBOL has become closely attached to well-known internet figures like Nicki Minaj, who fell in laughter during a live stream, and Taylor Swift, who burst into a hearty “ha-ha” on stage amidst an energetic crowd.
Famous for her unexpected laughs, Harris effortlessly presents humor or light stress in different conditions. In viral online videos, she’s often caught bending over in laughter during interviews, nearly letting go of her microphone, or playfully singing to the camera while sharing chuckles en route to her campaign bus.
