Gen Z Redefines Emotional Breakdown with Viral Trend “Crashing Out”
ROME – A new term is rapidly entering the lexicon of young people to describe moments of overwhelming frustration and emotional release: “crashing out.” The phrase, popularized through short-form videos on platforms like TikTok with hashtags #crashingout and #icrashed, has exploded in popularity, racking up millions of views as Gen Z users share raw, frequently enough ironic, accounts of losing control.The trend involves succinct confessions of impulsive actions – abruptly ending relationships with a brief text, abandoning work without notice, or, as demonstrated in viral videos, even confronting authority figures.A typical “crashing out” video is a mere 15 seconds long, foregoing lengthy explanations for a direct portrayal of a breaking point.
The impact of “crashing out” has been meaningful enough to earn it a place in the American Speech magazine’s Dictionary of New Terms,ranking as the second most relevant neologism of 2024,following “rawdog” – another term denoting unfiltered impulsivity.
Linguists like Kelly Elizabeth Wright note that the term exemplifies the increasingly global and rapid evolution of language through social networks.While its origins are debated,with some linking it to African American Vernacular English and the rap scene,particularly rapper Youngboy Never broke Again,its spread has been undeniably accelerated by digital platforms.
Beyond simply labeling moments of breakdown, “crashing out” is becoming a form of self-identification, a miniature emotional language that allows young people to articulate their feelings using shared codes. Educators in the US are even reporting students using the phrase “I’m going to crash” not as a joke, but as a genuine indicator of mental distress.
The appeal of the term, according to creators, lies in its ability to give a name to previously undefined feelings. Rather of saying “I’m going crazy,” individuals are opting for “I’m crashing,” framing emotional overwhelm as a system failure – “as if you were a software that goes on tilt.” This reframing, experts suggest, can offer a sense of validation and reduce feelings of isolation in the face of intense emotional discomfort.
