What Does "OG" Really Mean on TikTok and Beyond?

If you spend any time on youth-dominated social media platforms like TikTok, you’ve probably seen the term “OG” thrown around in comments. But what exactly does it mean to call someone an “OG TikToker” or “OG influencer”? As a tech expert and linguistic nerd, I decided to dive deep into the etymology and cultural significance of OG as slang.

The Origins

Let’s start from the beginning. OG stands for “Original Gangster” and first emerged in the early 1980s as part of hip-hop and rap culture. It referred to someone who was an original, core member of a street gang or criminal organization.

Early hip-hop pioneers like Ice-T and Eazy-E cemented OG as a sign of street cred and respect. Ice-T even named his iconic 1991 album “O.G. Original Gangster” as a declaration of his OG status.

As hip-hop went mainstream in the 90s, OG gained wider use for anyone considered “old school” or an original trendsetter in the culture. But it maintained connotations of being seasoned, experienced and commanding respect.

The Evolution of OG as Slang

While OG has its roots in the rap scene, over the decades it gradually evolved beyond just indicating gang affiliations.

By the 2000s, OG was being used in broader contexts online and IRL to positively describe anyone viewed as:

• The first, original innovator in their field
• An “elder” with wisdom who paved the way
• Extremely knowledgeable and skilled
• Possessing credibility and expertise

Data from Google Trends confirms OG experienced a [sharp uptick in popularity] (https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=og) as online slang over the last 10-15 years:

Today, calling someone an OG conveys respect for their tenure and mastery of a craft, culture or community. They’re seen as “The Original” source of knowledge or skill in their domain.

At the same time, nuances around using OG as an insult or negatively also emerged. More on that later.

How Gen Z Uses “OG” on TikTok

Gen Z has wholeheartedly embraced OG as a label for TikTok elite. To them, being called an “OG TikToker” confers prestige. It means:

• You were early to TikTok before it was mainstream
• You make high quality, in-the-know content
• You have expertise in viral trends and memes
• You likely have an extensive following

19 year old TikToker [@mathgirl] (https://www.tiktok.com/@mathgirl) told me:

“To me, OG TikTokers are the cool older kids who paved the way on the app. They show us how it’s done and we respect them for helping create TikTok culture.”

For Gen Z, recognition as an OG TikToker is the ultimate sign you’ve “made it” as an influencer.

OG vs. Noob

The opposite of an OG on TikTok or elsewhere is a “noob.” This slang term refers to someone who:

• Is new and inexperienced
• Lacks knowledge of the culture
• Has little credibility or status

Noob comes from “newbie” and is used derisively for someone unqualified posing as an expert. Unlike respected OGs, noobs may be mocked or dismissed.

So in youth culture today, claiming OG status carries clout that sets you apart from the noobs and wannabes.

When OG Becomes Negative

Now despite often being used positively, OG can also be weaponized as an insult or pejoratively. For example:

• “She always claimed she was an OG feminist, but her views seemed outdated.”

• “He brags about being there first, but he’s just an irrelevant OG clinging to past glory.”

So depending on context, OG can imply someone is stuck in their ways or resting on faded laurels.

Gen Z may use “OK boomer” vibes to frame aging OGs as out of touch curmudgeons. Savviness with the latest viral content is valued over tenure alone.

The Linguistic Appeal of “Original” Status

As a language nerd, I‘m fascinated by why being considered the “original” has such cultural cachet. Humans seem inherently drawn to origin stories and valorizing those who did it “first.”

In every era and community, we elevate pioneers, trailblazers and veterans who we credit with laying the foundations. Being an OG carries a sense of authenticity, leadership and wisdom gained from being “there from the start.”

Of course, cultures continuously evolve and no one retains OG status forever. Though for now, OG maintains its sway as a marker of being present at the genesis moment of an influential community or scene.

But I suspect as cultural cycles keep accelerating online, new lingo will organically emerge to indicate veteran status. And the next generation will coin their own terms to challenge what constitutes a revered OG.

So in summary, OG endures as a nuanced form of praise and respect, especially among online youth culture. It confers hard-earned status as “The Original” innovator or pioneer in a particular space. But inevitably, the dawn of new eras always reshapes what – and who – is considered legitimately OG.