On with Kara Swisher TikTok Is Changing How We Talk & How We Vote
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Jul 21, 2025 
Adam Aleksic, a Harvard-educated linguist and author of Algospeak, dives into the fascinating ways social media is reshaping our language and identities. He discusses the emergence of euphemisms and new vocabularies designed to navigate censorship, like 'unalive' for sensitive topics. The impact of TikTok on political communication is also explored, highlighting how it connects voters to modern figures more effectively than traditional politicians. Aleksic emphasizes the role of humor and relatability in political discourse while examining the ownership of language in the digital realm.
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Influencer Accents Develop Strategically
- Influencer accents develop to maximize viewer engagement via stressing words and tone.
- These accents reflect deliberate strategies to capture and retain algorithmic attention.
Algorithms Favor Extreme Content
- Algorithms reward extreme, confidently delivered content, increasing spread of often misleading ideas.
- Engagement metrics unintentionally promote rage bait and polarizing material.
Trump's Algorithmic Meme Mastery
- Donald Trump's language mastery suits algorithmic media, with remixable and extreme phrases boosting his visibility.
- Memeability became a key factor in modern political communication success.
