1984
Overreaching government
Example
they won’t let us use our phones during lunch anymore
wow, literally 1984
1984 definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary
This page explains what the slang term "1984" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.
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1984 is shorthand for excessive government control, surveillance, or censorship, a reference to George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. When someone drops "this is so 1984" or "literally 1984," they are usually being dramatic (often jokingly) about rules, monitoring, or restrictions that feel overbearing or invasive.
The use of 1984 grew steadily in online culture during the 2010s and surged again in the early 2020s as people debated technology, privacy, and moderation on social sites like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). For example, you may see or hear Internet-savvy users, meme posters, gamers, and commenters use 1984 when framing everyday annoyances, or serious concerns, in an exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek manner.