The Rise of Rizz: How the Rap Internet and Bollywood Characters Embrace Oxford's Word of the Year

Young rap-influenced streamers like Kai Cenat have become the vanguard of social media, popularizing slang terms like "Rizz" and "Gyat" on platforms like Twitch and TikTok. The confusion over these terms reflects the shifting dynamics of online culture, as Gen Alpha, born after 2010, navigates new social and linguistic terrain. Rap music remains at the center of online culture, with streamers gaining real influence and even causing public disturbances, such as the chaos that ensued when Cenat announced a video shoot location. While controversial at times, these streamers have become the dominant voices in popular culture, shaping the online landscape for young people, particularly hip-hop fans.