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What is the signal?
What is the signal?
In a recent interview, author and poet Ocean Vuong highlights an alarming trend among his students: increased self-consciousness and overcautiousness (ABC News In-depth, 2025). Vuong attributes this to ‘cringe culture’— a social phenomenon among Gen Zs where one is shamed for being ‘too much,’ whether it is being too earnest, too emotional, too passionate, or simply trying too hard.
The modern online meaning of “cringe” can be traced back to 2012 through a subreddit named r/cringe. The subreddit started as a space for capturing moments of vicarious embarrassment. Over the years, however, it has become a hub for more hostile and aggressive forms of shaming (Alfonso, 2021), expanding video posts of random individuals “being cringe” on YouTube and TikTok. In his research, Seebold (2025) claims that Gen Zs feel superior when they criticize and ridicule ‘cringeworthy’ individuals to boost their sense of being ‘cool’ and socially acceptable.
So what?
So what?
Gen Zs have employed defensive behaviors to counter their fears of online ridicule. Many “perform cynicism” misconstruing it as intelligence (Vuong, cited in ABC News In-depth, 2025). Others adopt chaotic styling trends to communicate that they are “already in on the joke” and thus protect themselves from critique (Thinkhouse, 2024).
This hypervigilant and defensive mode stifles not only authenticity but also the discovery of new passions and pursuits that are crucial to learning and development at this age. The consequences of cringe culture are evident beyond the classroom: In the workplace, it has led to stalled careers and stunted professional development (Reitmeier, 2025).
What if?
What if?
What if society’s allergy to cringe breeds a culture of conformity and safe choices?
How will bold thinkers and innovators thrive in this culture?
What is your What If?
References
References
ABC News In-depth. (2025, July 16). Author Ocean Vuong on his new book The Emperor of Gladness | 7.30 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1THOC_OAMo
Alfonso, F., III. (2021, May 31). The dark side of Reddit’s cringe culture. The Daily Dot. https://www.dailydot.com/irl/reddit-cringe-cringepics-bullying/
Reitmeier, R. O. (2025, September 3). How leaders can help Gen Z employees overcome cringe Culture. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthreitmeier/2025/09/03/how-leaders-can-help-gen-z-mployees-overcome-cringe-culture/
Seebold, M. (2025). From Embarrassment to Prejudice: Online “Cringe Culture” as an Affective and Social Phenomenon.
Thinkhouse. (2024). Cringe Culture and the Rise of Low-Key Marketing.
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