For one reason or another, humans attach words or phrases to certain time periods. For example, if this was 1999 and someone thought they were fly but was actually a busta, you’d probably call them a scrub…Thanks, TLC. Instead, here are the five most popular words and phrases of 2022.
Metaverse
A popular word thanks to the blockchain technology explosion in 2021, people are more curious than ever about the metaverse. A metaverse is a digital world where people can spend their time and/or money via cryptocurrency to dress their avatar up in the latest digital drip. Even major financial institutions like JPMorgan have taken notice of the metaverse.
Non-binary
Essentially an umbrella term for those who don’t identify as male or female, also known as the gender binary. Non-binary folks generally go by they/them, but that isn’t always the case. There is discourse in the community about the interpretation of the term. Though non-binary is commonly defined this way.
UBI
Universal basic income, a no-strings-attached stipend from the government. California is launching a program in Los Angeles. The UBI test run will give over 3,000 families under the poverty line $1,000 every month to supplement income. UBI was a major part of former candidate Andrew Yang’s platform in the 2020 Democratic primaries, reigniting the conversation about universal basic income in the mainstream, making it a popular word in 2022.
Supply Chain Crisis
The reason everything is so damn expensive these days. Essentially, the process of turning raw materials into finished products and delivering those products to store shelves is broken at the moment. In March of 2021 the Ever Given, a massive cargo freighter blocked the Suez Canal, a major global shipping route for six days. Though this isn’t the only reason we’re in a supply chain crisis, it certainly kickstarted the conversation of one.
NFT
Non-fungible token, a digital file that people buy and sell based on blockchain technology. Usually art like the Bored Ape Yacht Club, a series of cartoon monkeys that bear a resemblance to the celebrities that buy them. Though an NFT can be anything from an audio file to a movie. The industry is still in its infancy and at the moment, you’re more likely to get scammed than become a millionaire.
By Matt Hirsch and David Grasso
