Oxford’s Word of the Year doesn’t have to be a word, per se, but it can be any word, expression, or series of words that have been popularized in 2022. The publishing company said in their press release that 300,000 people cast their vote in this year’s poll, but in the past, Oxford University Press lexicographers have determined the title themselves. Oxford says the first instance of goblin mode can be traced back to 2009 Twitter, but the term exploded in popularity on the Internet in February 2022 with a peak that spring—the publication of The Guardian’s article during that time helps solidify this trend.
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As we integrate the digital world deeper and deeper into our own, we will continue to see the effects of that relationship through sources such as this one. Merriam-Webster’s word of the year, “gaslight,” was likely born out of social media’s affinity for watering down terms of abuse and mental health, which was prevalent on TikTok this year.