Can We All Be the Main Character?

“Canon event,” “character arc,” “villain origin story,” “character development,” and “lore.” If you’ve ever been in a TikTok or Instagram comment section, you’ve definitely seen these terms used to describe people’s lives. But why? People use these fictional writing terms to talk about events in their own lives that are comparable to fictional stories. This leads some people to believe that Gen Z has a problem. Why do we need to see ourselves as the main characters of our own stories?

Slang Definitions

These terms are all used when talking about fictional media. A “character arc” is the transformation a character undergoes throughout a story, usually because of significant events that change their beliefs or personality. A “villain origin story” refers to the traumatic or formative events in a villain’s life that led them to become the villain of the story. “Character development” is the process of shaping a character’s personality, motivations, and beliefs. “Lore” is the backstory of a person, place, or thing.

“Canon event” is a term popularized by Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In the movie, certain formative events happen to each version of Spider-Man throughout the multiverse. In real life, a “canon event” refers to an experience that shapes or defines a person, often one that also happens to others within a specific demographic or group. The movie was a smash hit with Gen Z audiences, so it’s no surprise that the phrase became popular around the time of its release.

All of these sayings can also apply to events in real people’s lives, so they’ve been adopted as funny and relatable slang. Gen Z, like generations before it, enjoys borrowing words from established disciplines and giving them new meanings as slang. These specific words, which describe the intricacies of character writing, have also sparked a more complex discussion.

Over-Narration on Social Media

Social media has become a place for complete strangers to air all of their business online. This can be helpful when the original poster needs advice or comfort with an issue. On the other hand, it makes social media a place where people narrate their lives for an audience. This is fine by itself, but when people start talking about everything going on in their lives, it creates a space where the creator can begin to feel like the main character.

Viewers of these videos leave comments and likes, which can reinforce that feeling. The everyday events creators film begin to act like plot points in their “main character storylines.” It has become normalized to share anything and everything about your life online. This is not only dangerous, but it can also make people feel better or more important than others based on the viewership they receive.

Viewers are strangers to the influencers they watch online. However, watching an influencer’s life through a phone is strangely similar to watching TV. Commenters and viewers may begin to see influencers as fictional characters rather than real people, which doesn’t encourage influencers to remain humble either. These slang terms fit perfectly into the idea that the people you see on your phone are characters rather than people. This is how the terms gain traction and become widely used.

Main Character Syndrome

Younger generations like to see themselves as special. This in itself isn’t a bad thing, but applying this idea to every aspect of life could give someone an inflated sense of self. Compared with previous generations, many younger people are less willing to remain in stagnant jobs or spend their lives contributing quietly to a bigger picture. They may prefer to create their own businesses or spend their lives practicing the art they love instead of working stable, conventional office jobs. This isn’t a problem, but canceling on your friends at the last minute because you think you’ve seen the love of your life at a coffee shop is.

Daily inconveniences and events aren’t plot twists, and people’s lives aren’t movies. People shouldn’t get to do anything they please because they’re “living their main character fantasy.” Gen Z yearns to see itself as the protagonist, which makes many wonder whether the Gen Z identity has become attached to being the main character.

Confidence or Self-Importance?

Growing up with parents who believed that nobody was special, I think it’s important for people to know that they’re unique. Social media has given Gen Z a mentality that makes its members confident in themselves and their abilities, but some have taken it to the extreme. Social media allows for the rapid sharing of ideas, opinions, and thoughts. People who romanticize their lives to an extreme can quickly spread that mentality to others who follow in their footsteps.

These silly slang terms are fun to use, but they also reveal deeper things about Gen Z’s mindset. Using language that usually refers to fictional protagonists leads people to conclude that Gen Z has a “main character problem.” I will say that sharing every detail of your life on social media has definitely desensitized viewers to the fact that content creators are people, too. However, I don’t think it’s a raging problem that is destroying Gen Z’s minds.

Leaning into the idea that you’re the main character can help boost your confidence and motivation. However, it’s important to moderate how much you glamorize yourself. Whatever this lingo says about Gen Z, it doesn’t mean it’s going to hurt anyone or irreversibly damage their psyche.