#145 The Algorithm is God Now - The Etymology Nerd
From Within Reason by Alex J O'Connor
March 4, 2026 · 1h 16m
About this episode
In this episode, Alex J O'Connor interviews Adam Aleksic, exploring the impact of social media on language and the concept of Algospeak.
Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF with code alexoconnor at https://huel.com/alexoconnor (Minimum $50 purchase). For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: https://www.alexoconnor.com. - VIDEO NOTES Adam Aleksic, known online as Etymology Nerd, is an American linguist and content creator who produces videos exploring the origins of words. He began exploring word origins in 2016 through his blog. Aleksic studied at Harvard University, where he gained attention for his educational TikTok videos on linguistics and language in 2023. In 2025, he published Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language. - LINKS Buy "Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language": https://amzn.to/3NcOLpw - TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Will Social Media End Local Languages? 7:49 – Why Does Language Change? 15:11 – What Is Algospeak? 22:33 – We Worship Our Phones 27:36 – Upcoming Slang to Invest In 33:26 – Online Slang That Never Quite Caught On 38:48 – Introducing Adam to British Slang 47:13 – The Origins of Language 57:22 – Punctuation in Text Messaging 1:06:24 – The Latin Mass and…
People in this episode
Host: Alex J O'Connor
Guest: Adam Aleksic
Topics covered
- linguistics
- language change
- social media
- slang
- etymology
Keywords
- linguistics
- etymology
- Algospeak
- social media
- language change
- slang
- TikTok
Sponsors
Huel
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Harvard University
Books & works: Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language
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