Are you "yassified" too? Let us explain the trend taking over social media!
Are you "yassified" too? Let us explain the trend taking over social media!
Explore the rise of yassification in internet culture. This quirky trend transforms people and objects with glam and humor, sparking engaging discussions online.
Who doesn't want to look perfect? You, I, and everyone else, right? The pursuit of perfection has long been a human endeavour, but at what cost? Let's find out!
In the ever-evolving landscape of internet culture, new terms and trends emerge with astonishing speed. One such term that has recently gained popularity on online platforms is "yassification." Originating from the LGBTQ+ society, "yassification" refers to the process of transforming a person or object into a more glamorous, exaggerated, and often hyper-feminized version through the application of multiple beauty filters. This phenomenon has gained significant popularity on social media platforms, sparking both humorous and thought-provoking discussions.
Origin of Yassification
The word "yassification" has its origins in the exclamation "yass," which is a variant of "yes" that conveys enthusiasm or acceptance. This term gained popularity in the late 1980s as a way to support drag shows in ball culture, a largely Black and Latino LGBTQ+ subculture in the US. There are examples of this expression being utilised as support and encouragement during performances in the 1990 documentary "Paris Is Burning," which documents the ball culture of New York City. "Yass" was incorporated in popular culture throughout time, developing into expressions like "yass queen," which are frequently used to praise someone's looks or behaviour.
In late August 2020, @MINTCHIP, a Twitter user, was the first to use the phrase "yassification." The term "yassification gas" was used in the tweet to describe a hypothetical gas that would "yassify" unsuspecting individuals. However, for unknown reasons, @MINTCHIP's account has been suspended.
Reaction of the Netizens
The "yassification" trend involved users applying multiple beauty filters to celebrities, historical figures, and even fictional characters, creating exaggeratedly glamorous transformations. These images, which featured flawless skin, contoured features, and bold makeup, gained popularity on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. The trend was largely attributed to the Twitter account @YassifyBot.
Beyond humour, "yassification" satirises beauty standards and critiques the overuse of photo-editing tools. Hyper-feminizing unexpected subjects such as politicians or objects, the trend emphasizes the absurdity of digital manipulation.
While pondering about the "yassification" trend, I think it highlights the complexity of our society's relationship to beauty and the extremes that people are willing to go to so that they can present themselves in the most favourable way virtually. In some cases, these over-the-top makeovers can be humorous, but they also raise questions about being authentic, how people perceive themselves, and how social media affects us in our consideration of beauty standards of society. Honestly, when I participated in this trend using various beauty filters, I felt that my authenticity was sliding away to achieve others' validation, and it made me more aware of the need to appreciate natural beauty in a time where filtered perfection can replace your real self.
#Yassification #InternetTrends #BeautyFilters #LGBTQ #SocialMediaHumor
