The word “bop” has become a popular slang term among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, but millennials and Gen X are often confused because they don’t understand what it means anymore.
TikTok is one of the most used social media platforms right now, with millions of people interacting with each other and sharing content.
Like any other social media site, TikTok has its own slang, including words and phrases that have different meanings from their original ones or that were shortened for convenience.
While older generations usually think of “bop” as a good song or dancing to music, Gen Z has created a new meaning for it.
What does bop actually mean on TikTok?
On TikTok, “bop” is used to describe “a man or woman who posts their body on the internet” or “someone who is involved with everyone,” according to TikTok users.
In 2023, a TikTok user shared a viral video that has over 1.1 million views and 39,800 likes, explaining what the word ‘bop’ means.
In the video, Brian says that a “bop” refers to both men and women, but it’s mostly used for women. He explains that a “bop” is “somebody who posts their body on the internet … or somebody who just be getting around with everybody, who be linking with every dude, who be around all the dudes.”
Brian clarifies that this doesn’t mean a woman has to sleep with all the guys, but just that guys are always around her. He gives an example of a TikTok with eight guys and one girl.
Brian adds that when a girl posts her “body for views,” she is a bop, but the same applies to guys. He says, “If you’re a man and mess with mega females, you’re a bop,” though the term is used more often for females.
What Does ‘Bop’ Mean in Slang?
The slang word “bop” is used to insult people, usually young women, by calling them promiscuous because they have had several sexual partners. Titania Jordan, Chief Parent Officer at Bark Technologies and co-author of Parenting in a Tech World, explains more about this uncomfortable trend. “It started in late 2022, when a TikTok user posted a song called ‘Lala Bop.’
This song has since been used in videos that shame people for allegedly dating multiple people or being promiscuous,” Jordan tells Parents. Dr. Bounds explains how the trend spreads on social media.
“The post usually includes a picture of the person being shamed and claims that they sleep with many people or engaged in other sexual acts with a certain number of people,” she says. This type of public shaming is a form of slut shaming, which is harmful and promotes double standards about sexuality, especially for young women.