Walking through the halls in high school you will have conversations of the widest range, but the one thing you may find in common is the language used. Slang terms truly define a generation, as it’s the way the most commonly will communicate to each other by. In 2008, you would most likely hear YOLO when doing something spontaneous, as it means “you only live once.” Other frequently used terms included chillax, breaking down to “chill out” and “relax”, along with sick/nasty to describe something cool. On the opposite side of the spectrum, 2026 has its own set of distinctive terms. One of the most frequently used is lowkey, meaning “kind of” or “slightly” when used as an adverb in a sentence. Commonly heard is also the over/misuse of genuinely along with chopped, either ugly or unattractive. The slang used by high schoolers in a given time period highlights the true culture within that age group.
The true definition of an era is fashion. The way in which people choose to dress themselves is a direct reflection of their self expression. Today, many things from the 2000s are trendy again, with many people calling this time “iconic” for fashion. Low rise jeans dominated this time period, specifically skinny or even boot cut. Low rise is currently in trend, but with a looser fit in the leg. In 2008 you would also find longer, tunic length tops with large statement belts. Many also owned And you can’t forget large necklaces with trendy shades. Comparatively, many people have very personal styles in high schools. But, you will definitely find many in matching sweatsets, lots of active wear and a rise in the style known as “quite luxury.” Style is circular, always coming back. So, certain times of fashion have their time for a comeback
One thing 2026 high schoolers have in common with students from 2008 is the obsession with pop culture. Though it may be on completely different platforms, the love for supporting celebrities is still strong. In 2008, people like Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and even the Jonas Brothers were the ones to watch. Today, many love the Kardashians and now influencers including Alix Earle and Jack Shane. The rise of influencers can partially take their credit from the popularity of Tik Tok and snapchat, While 18 years ago platforms like Myspace and Facebook were frequently used. Other big moments in 2008 included the Twilight franchise and picking your team, Edward or Jacob? Brittany Spears released “Circus” and it dominated the charts. Today, singers like Sabrina Carpenter and Tate Mcrae are fan favorites. Though different times, many celebrities from 2008 have lots of relevance today.
What many of us are addicted to was only on its first version in 2008. While we have iPhone 17’s, many had Nokias and flip phones. Having certain items can be seen as a status symbol in places like high school, so having things on trend can be important to some. Waterbottles like Owala can be found in every classroom. 18 years ago, Nalgene water bottles were seen with many though carry water bottles back then were not as popular. Drugstore makeup was very popular among teen girls, with Maybelline mascaras and Revlon eyeshadows. Now, you will find every girl in Sephora spending hundreds of dollars just on skincare products. 2008 there was a large recession so, it does play a large role in how much money people were spending on materialistic goods.
