Exploring the Viral Collegiate Alphabet TikTok Trend

Exploring the Fun Collegiate Alphabet Trend

A new, lighthearted trend is sweeping college campuses and the Internet - the collegiate alphabet, sometimes called the university alphabet or #alphabetchallenge. This article explores the origins of this viral craze and why it resonates with students and young people.

The Basics of the Collegiate Alphabet

The concept behind the collegiate alphabet meme is simple. Participants come up with a word or short phrase starting with each letter of the alphabet that relates to college life. For example:

• A - Advising
• B - Burnt-out
• C - Cafeteria
• D - Dead week

And so on down the alphabet. The words and phrases are tongue-in-cheek and poke fun at the shared experiences - both good and bad - of university students. Short videos set to music show participants holding up cue cards with their alphabet contributions.

Where the Trend Started

Like many Gen Z trends, the collegiate alphabet challenge took off on TikTok in August 2022. Early adopters latched onto the meme as a way to build community and bond over the funny and frustrating aspects of college life. Top videos with the #alphabetchallenge hashtag have over 500,000 views and 1 million likes.

From TikTok, the trend spread rapidly to other social platforms like Instagram and Twitter. On Instagram, photos and Stories with alphabet contributions allow young people to put their own spin on the meme. Twitter offers the perfect forum for fast-paced alphabet thread jokes.

Why University Students Love It

There are several reasons why the collegiate alphabet resonates so strongly with the 18-22 demographic:

• Inside jokes - It's tailor-made for campus inside jokes and stale dorm references that only fellow students would appreciate.
• Relatability - Between challenging classes, money stress, homesickness, and more...who can't relate to college difficulties?
• Brevity - Short-form social content thrives on platforms like TikTok. The meme is easy to replicate in quick videos or posts.
• Community - Participating in trends like the #alphabetchallenge allows young people to signal they're part of the college in-crowd.

The Most Hilarious Alphabet Contributions

From study struggles to the dreaded freshman 15, no university experience is left untouched in the collegiate alphabet. Here are some of the most hilarious and too-real alphabet letter posts:

• F - Finals week frenzy
• M - Meal plan ran out
• P - Procrastination papers
• V - Vending machine dinner

University students have gotten very creative with this alphabet. Sports teams, obscure campus locations, dining hall menus - almost anything is fair game for this irreverent meme!

The Future of the Collegiate Alphabet

Will the #alphabetchallenge stand the test of time or fade out as quickly as it appeared? Hard to say when it comes to viral Gen Z trends. But the meme does seem to fill a fundamental human need - connecting through humor and the shared experience of "inside" jokes. As long as college life continues to overflow with stress, excitement, and growth opportunities...students will keep bonding over their alphabet stand-ins for the university experience.

The collegiate alphabet offers a fun way for students to come together across schools, majors, and graduation years. And gives everyone else a peek into the ever-evolving world of on-campus challenges and triumphs!

FAQs

How do I participate in the #alphabetchallenge meme?

It's easy to join this TikTok trend! Create short videos or social media posts with each letter of the alphabet standing for a funny or relatable aspect of college life. Use the #alphabetchallenge hashtag when posting.

What kinds of words work for the university alphabet?

Anything about university! Inside jokes, frustrations, campus locations, or slang terms. Get clever with your letter contributions by tapping shared student experiences.

Is the collegiate alphabet trend only for current college students?

The trend originated with Gen Z students, but anyone can join in on poking fun at dorm life, cafeteria woes, boring lectures, and more. Former college students often have their own hilarious alphabet reflections.

Does my collegiate alphabet have to be in English?

Nope! TikTok is a global platform. Plenty of non-English language versions of the #alphabetchallenge have gone viral too. Italian, Korean, Spanish - showcase your university lingo!