S1 C1-C2 TUMBLR GIRL JUST CALLED. SHE SAID 2025 IS THE NEW 2015

coming-of-age indie bangers

iconic indie songs about growing up

to dig back into sth

to revisit or re-examine sth

angst-ridden posts

social media content filled with emotional turmoil

self-deprecating

mocking or undervaluing oneself, often humorously

to stand still

to remain unchanged while time/the world moves forward

wistfulness

a bittersweet longing for the past

to yearn to do sth

to deeply desire to do sth

predisposed to feelings of nostalgia

naturally inclined to romanticize the past

pigtail buns

a hairstyle consisting of two buns positioned where pigtails would normally hang

chunky platforms

thick-soled shoes popular in alternative fashion

to long for sth

to ache for sth lost or unattainable

to contextualize the tween angst

to understand pre-teen emotions within their cultural moment

in lieu of friendships

replacing or compensating for lack of friendships

throwback

a nostalgic callback to the past

undisputed apogee of the genre

the unquestionable peak of the genre

to find one's tribe

to find a community that shares one's values

the heyday of/for sth

the golden era or peak period of sth

to pick up steam

to gain momentum or popularity

to move at warp speed

to progress extremely quickly

to amount to sth

to be the same as

mid-aughts revivalism

the resurgence of 2000s trends

to sift through one's old account

to search nostalgically and carefully through past social media posts

to evoke sth

to bring a feeling, memory, or era to mind

walls plastered in pictures

walls covered with photos

to tap a long-buried version of one's teenage self

to reconnect with an old, forgotten part of one's youth

across demographic groups

affecting or involving people of different ages, genders, or social backgrounds

prolific

producing a large amount of sth (e.g., content, art, posts)

to use a site in droves

to engage with a platform in large numbers

to deride sth

to mock or criticize sth as worthless

derivative

unoriginal, copying ideas from elsewhere

to weigh in

to share an opinion, often publicly

gratification

pleasure or satisfaction, often immediate

to craft an aesthetic identity

to carefully create a visual style that represents oneself

tween years

the ages between childhood and teens (roughly 9-12)

to project a carefully curated image online

to present an idealized version of oneself digitally

to recall sth

to remember sth

revelations of your identity

discoveries about who you truly are

fiercely protective of sth

extremely defensive or possessive about sth

to construct a new identity

to deliberately build a different persona

to thumb through the selfies

to scroll or look through selfies without paying much attention, as if flipping through a magazine

never-ending stream of images

a continuous flood of photos

to take a cue from sth

to be strongly influenced by sth or sb

frivolous

silly, shallow, or lacking seriousness

self-absorbed

overly focused on oneself, ignoring others

to reminisce about sth

to indulge in nostalgic recollection of the past

emblematic of sth

serving as a perfect example of sth

emblematic of sth

serving as a perfect symbol or representation of sth

to pass the threshold of adulthood

to transition officially into adult life

cemented in the cultural mind's eye

established in collective memory

to create fads

to create short-lived trends

insinuated into the fabric of sth

subtly and persistently embedded within the core structure or essence of sth

retail's most coveted demographic

the most targeted consumer group

to peel back the layers of sth

to critically dissect sth

alienated from peers

disconnected from one's social group

unadulterated freedom

pure, unrestricted liberty

substance use

consumption of drugs/alcohol

larger-than-life experiences

extraordinary, exaggerated, or highly idealized experiences that stand out as more exciting than everyday life

to leave out key portions of sth

to omit the essential parts of sth

to prey upon sth

to exploit vulnerabilities (e.g., insecurities, desires)

proclivity for individuality

a natural tendency to seek uniqueness

innate insecurities

deep-rooted self-doubt

to live vicariously through sth

to experience life indirectly through sth

to co-opt sth

to adopt and repurpose sth for profit

uncharted, debilitating stage in life

a difficult, unfamiliar life phase

to find solace in sth

to seek comfort or escape in sth

jaded by sth

emotionally exhausted from sth

encumbered by adult malaise

weighed down by the disillusionment of adulthood

cheated out of

robbed of sth

inconsequential years

unimportant years

discerning with sth

being selective and critical about sth

to take stock of sth

to carefully assess or evaluate sth

prone to sth

likely to experience or do sth (often negative)

littered with sth

filled excessively or chaotically with sth

to frequent a website

to visit a website regularly

unabashed about emotions

openly expressive, without shame

to lay bare sth

to openly reveal sth

to react with fervor

to respond with intense emotion or enthusiasm

a visceral crush

an intense, deeply emotional infatuation

to permeate the website

to spread throughout a platform

perceived constant availability

the (often false) expectation that sb is always accessible online

exacerbated by sth

made worse by sth

to mimic the joys of the old internet

to imitate simpler online culture

to sell out

to compromise integrity for profit or popularity

advent of social media

the rise or emergence of social platforms

to lament the death of sincerity

to mourn the loss of sincerity

inundated with content

overwhelmed by an excessive flow of content

ramifications

consequences (often unintended or complex)

fatigue towards sth

exhaustion caused by overexposure to sth

steeped in irony

saturated with irony

to churn out memes

to produce memes rapidly and mechanically

incessant

never-ending, relentless

onslaught of overstimulation

an overwhelming flood of sensory/mental input

algorithmic echo chambers

closed online spaces where algorithms reinforce users' existing beliefs

to regurgitate

to repeat mindlessly without original thought

to unplug

to disconnect from the internet intentionally