If you have been on TikTok recently, or even simply around young people, then you will have probably heard babbled, half-formed, vaguely Italian sounding phrases such as Tralalero Tralala and Bombardiro Crocodilo being parrotted. Often followed by in-group giggling at the bemused faces of the old-age millennials. This is Italian Brainrot. But what does it mean, and why does it have resonance currently with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
What does it mean?
The simple answer is nothing. For the most part, the names are nonsense words or Italian-sounding approximations of their English counterparts. There is no real importance to the meaning of the words. In fact, the whole idea of brainrot is that the humour involved does not require any kind of cognitive stress. Why is it funny? Cause it is.
These names have often been paired on TikTok with AI-generated images and a stereotypical Italian voiceover track. Tralalero Tralala, for example, is usually depicted as a shark wearing three blue sneakers.
There has been some concern raised about the message behind the audio, with allegations of Islamophobia being raised against the creators. However, it is unlikely that most young people are going to the trouble of translating the messages. It is brainrot after all. It is not meant to make them think, or question, or even do anything apart from stop their doom scrolling for a few extra seconds and perhaps forward the image to their friends, or repeat the ‘funny-sounding’ name in the class the next day.
Interestingly, the use of an Italian voice caricature hints at a desire to poke fun without risking the insinuation of offence. The stereotypical Italian accent seems to be one of few that can be repeated without accusations of racism. Whether this is due to a perceived abundance of or a lack of power attached to Italian culture is unclear and might make for an interesting study.
Why do kids like this stuff?
It’s stupid, isn’t it? Why do kids even bother wasting their time with it? Yes, it is, and that is why. Every generation creates its own in-group slang/meme culture that functions and repeats for no other reason than it excludes adults. Even by cataloguing its usage here and explaining it, it loses its power. It stops being funny if everyone gets it.
So, the question remains, what should we do about this? Well, in the short term, nothing. It’s harmless, currently. But like everything, it needs to be consumed in moderation. If students start forming their personality around an internet fad, then they put their own individuality at risk. Therefore, as a teacher and as a father, I think it is important to be aware of these trends, not because I wish to criticise them, or because I believe the trends were better when I was a teenager (they weren’t), but so that we can monitor for possible sites of radicalisation. A surprising amount of meme culture is closely linked to right-wing political groups and what can begin as a harmless joke can take a more sinister turn. Not always, not even usually, but it is also good to be well-informed. In the meantime : addio bombardino coccodrillo e spero di non rivederti mai più.