Alien

Within a blink of an eye, culture has evolved to an unrecognizable point. Mass psychosis over "brain rot". Inexplicable, random hand motions associated with numbers, some AI-generated monstrosity with a baseball bat, and questionable children's animations. Even in the most stale professional environment, I've seen someone pitch that their knowledge of "Rizz" makes them a better founder.

It's not even an issue of "kids these days". It is coming from my generation, and even people much older. My parents, and even grandparents have now become addicted to short form AI content. These were conspiracy theorists who used to decry the implementation of 5G out of cancer concerns and despised technology.

I do not remember these things existing before the COVID era.

Have I become an alien or have aliens replaced everyone I ever knew?

Side note: With how much of the content in this space being AI generated, I also wonder if this new trend is at all organic, or perhaps part of some wider influence campaign.