A Semiotic Meaning on "OK Boomer" Generation Z Slang

Abstract

This study explores the semiotic meaning of the slang expression “OK Boomer” as used by Generation Z in digital communication, analyzed through Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotic theory. The phrase, which originated as a sarcastic response to older generations, especially the Baby Boomers, serves as a linguistic sign of generational resistance, identity, and critique. Using a qualitative descriptive method, this research examines ten selected memes containing the phrase “OK Boomer” from four major digital platforms TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit. Each meme is analyzed based on Saussure’s concepts of signifier, signified, arbitrariness, and synchronic linguistics. The findings reveal that “OK Boomer” functions as a dynamic sign whose meaning shifts across platforms, depending on visual, textual, and contextual factors. The signifier (the phrase itself) carries multiple signified meanings, including sarcasm, irony, frustration, and social commentary. The arbitrariness of the sign demonstrates how digital users collectively construct meaning through shared cultural understanding. Moreover, a synchronic analysis shows that the phrase reflects the linguistic and ideological conditions of contemporary internet culture rather than historical development. Overall, “OK Boomer” operates not merely as slang, but as a semiotic artifact of digital resistance, illustrating how Generation Z redefines meaning, challenges authority, and negotiates identity through online discourse.