Trust Me, I Know Ball: The Internet’s Favourite Way to Say “I’m Right”
I’m 45 years old — way past giving a shit about trendy slang, to be honest. But working in media means I actually do have to try and understand what these whippersnapper trailblazers are talking about on TikTok and Lemon8.
I hear you — what the helli is Lemon8? Well, my friends — I. Know. Ball.
(We’ll come back to Lemon8 later…)
For context, I’m Gen X. I grew up in a time when “rad,” “bogus,” and “wicked” were the height of cool. Now, I’m watching a generation that speaks almost entirely in ironic catchphrases — “vibe check,” “it hits different,” “lowkey,” “that slaps.” They churn out new slang faster than we can finish a cup of tea.
And while part of me wants to roll my eyes and mutter “OK boomer” at myself, another part realises that understanding this ever-changing digital dialect is basically part of my job.
From Meme to Mainstream
Once upon a time, slang evolved slowly. You picked it up from mates, music videos, or maybe Clueless if you were paying attention.
Now? A phrase can be born, blow up, and die before you’ve finished scrolling your For You Page.
Take “I know ball.” It started in sports circles — football and basketball fans flexing their supposed expertise. But within a couple of years, it became an all-purpose way of saying “I get it” or “I understand this better than you.”
It’s the same cycle we’ve seen with “vibe check,” “lowkey,” “flex,” “delulu,” “hits different,” and “that slaps.” They appear from nowhere, live rent-free in our brains, and suddenly become part of our everyday language — whether we meant to adopt them or not.
The Internet’s Language Factory
The internet has turned slang into a global production line. TikTok, Reddit, and (fine) X are like conveyor belts for new expressions — a constant churn of bite-sized cultural shorthand.
A kid in LA says something funny on camera. A meme account in London reposts it. By the weekend, someone’s aunt is using it in a WhatsApp group without the faintest clue what it means.
And because everything online is immediate, slang doesn’t have time to settle. It mutates, merges, and spreads. “Flex” doesn’t just mean showing off your muscles anymore — it means showing off anything. “Hits different” doesn’t just describe music; it’s a feeling. A mood. A shortcut for emotional nuance we don’t have time to explain.
The Appeal of Knowing the Language
I’ll admit it — there’s something addictive about understanding the code. To know what “it’s giving” or “no cap” means is to feel like you’re still in on the joke.
Using new slang isn’t just about sounding young; it’s about proving you’re still tuned in. That you get the culture as it’s happening. That you, too, “know ball.”
It’s the digital equivalent of having good taste — a badge of cultural literacy. And yes, I hate that I just said that, but it’s true.
When Words Stop Being Words
The thing about slang now is that it doesn’t just describe things — it shapes how we experience them.
“Hits different” doesn’t mean “better”; it means something beyond words. “That slaps” doesn’t mean “good”; it means undeniably good. These phrases work because they say exactly what they mean without really saying it.
Eventually, every phrase loses its original edge. Brands start using them. Politicians try to sound “relatable.” By that point, the internet’s already moved on to the next one.
Still, the language lives on — reshaped, recycled, reinterpreted. Because that’s what culture does.
So, Do You Know Ball?
You don’t need to actually “know ball.” Or vibe check anyone. Or lowkey flex about your playlist.
But if you’ve ever said “that hits different” about a song that made you cry, or “OK boomer” to someone refusing to update their phone, congratulations — you’re speaking fluent internet.
Slang isn’t just youth culture anymore; it’s the global tongue of digital life. I might be Gen X, but I still know ball. (And occasionally, I even slap.)
And About Lemon8…
Since I promised — Lemon8 is basically TikTok’s calmer, prettier sibling. Think Pinterest meets Instagram, but with captions long enough to qualify as essays.
It’s owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and it’s full of “soft life” posts — skincare routines, capsule wardrobes, pastel smoothies.
If TikTok is chaos, Lemon8 is serenity. It’s where Gen Z goes to look organised, even if they’re spiralling inside.
So yes — I know ball. And apparently, I know Lemon8 too.
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Words – Joanne Brook-Smith