#FellowKids
Brands desperately trying to be relatable to Gen Z became a 2019 meme goldmine.
Origin & Impact
While the “How do you do, fellow kids” 30 Rock meme existed earlier, 2019 saw an explosion of brands awkwardly trying to connect with younger audiences through memes, slang, and trends. The r/FellowKids subreddit documented cringe-worthy marketing attempts, from corporate TikToks to tweets using outdated slang.
The hashtag became shorthand for any out-of-touch attempt by institutions to seem cool. It highlighted the growing gap between authentic youth culture and corporate appropriation, with many brands becoming memes themselves in the process.
Related Hashtags
#BrandFails #CorporateCringe #MarketingFail #OutOfTouch