Mogging, maxxing, and what to do when we don’t know what new words mean
Jane on Nov. 6, 2026
A parent’s guide to the world of coded language and online slang
The Collins Dictionary has announced its word of the year for 2026 is “mogging”. That’s right – a slang phrase that became popular in the online communities of the manosphere is now, officially, a real word. Mogging means outshining someone by making them seem inferior.
“Maxxing” – also a term that picked up steam in the manosphere – is Dictionary.com’s word of the year. It essentially means “maximising” and most famously appeared at the end of “looksmaxxing”.
The online era has changed the way slang is behaving and spreading. While every generation has made a similar observation about new words used by the younger people, these days really are different. Online slang isn’t just used to show your youth and hipness now. It can be used to bypass platform moderators or communicate a meaning without saying it directly. In this way, certain slang, along with certain emojis and memes in particular contexts, can be thought of as “coded language”.
In this blog we share some information about how parents and whānau can start to decode some of the new words and phrases that are rising out of online communities, like the manosphere. We also share what young people themselves have to say about how this language spreads, and how you can talk with them about it.
What is coded language?
“Coded language” is when a word or phrase is used to carry a hidden meaning, or communicate a message without saying it directly. Sometimes, seemingly innocent words can have harmful connotations in certain contexts – racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory.
Coded language can also be used positively. Some words and phrases have been reclaimed by marginalised communities as a way of expressing identity, solidarity or shared experience. Other times, people use a word simply because it is part of a trend, meme or online joke, without knowing that it has a deeper or more harmful meaning.
At the Classification Office, we often encounter objectionable content that uses language familiar to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, including slang, abbreviations, emojis and online trends. Language can move between mainstream and more extreme online communities. A term may begin as an ordinary meme or trend and take on a darker meaning within communities such as incel or extremist groups. In other cases, language that originates in these communities can spread into mainstream online spaces, where its meaning may become less obvious to outsiders or platform moderators.
Coded language can be humorous, creative or simply part of how young people communicate online. But sometimes it can carry hidden or harmful messages, including misogyny, racism or links to extremist ideologies. This is why it’s key to understand the context, particularly when young people or even kids may encounter or repeat terms without knowing where they came from or what they can mean to others.
What the experts say: our Classification Advisors
Our Classification Advisors use the example of the term “Chad”. This is a term that refers to a hypermasculine man who is charismatic, confident, and irresistible to women.
The meaning of “Chad” has travelled considerably. The term predates contemporary incel communities but was adopted within incel culture to represent the attractive, sexually successful man (as opposed to a ‘virgin’). It subsequently spread much more widely, through memes and online culture.
Now, “Chad” can simply mean someone impressive, confident or good at something – for example, a game streamer may refer to someone who is good at playing as a Chad.
While the term is still used in incel forums, most people using it these days wouldn’t be familiar with its history.
What the experts say: young people
We asked our Youth Advisory Panel about coded language, since young people are experts in being and living online. They described it as “messages hidden in plain sight” that work as in-group markers signalling belonging, while avoiding detection by outsiders or algorithms.
They wanted to emphasise how important context is.
This means sometimes words may seem innocent when they’re not. But also, it can mean that words you might have heard worrying things about can be used innocently.
Members of our Youth Advisory Panel were aware that many of these terms caused harm, even when used jokingly. They wanted us to know that “jokes” like that can normalise harmful ideas over time, and they were worried that “just joking” can easily become a mask for offensive or violent views.
They said, “Even if not meant seriously, repetition matters.” YAP members were concerned that repetition and ironic use can make harmful language feel increasingly ordinary. They also pointed to recommender systems, like social media algorithms, which can repeatedly amplify similar material based on engagement.
They shared how easily phrases can start as group-chat in-jokes and end up in daily speech.
Is coded language the same as slang?
Coded language can be slang, but it can be anything that is used to imply a meaning that is more than it appears to be. Coded language could be an emoji that certain subcultures understand to mean a shorthand for something. Or it could be a particular usage of a word that is outside the mainstream understanding of that word.
Where do young people pick up coded language?
TikTok, YouTube, Discord, and Roblox are common spaces where this language spreads, including their comments sections.
Sometimes coded language evolves to evade moderation, or sometimes it evolves out of humorous memes or other internet “moments”.
Young people also pick up coded language in the same way slang spread when we were young – from our peers at school, in the playground, from hearing older siblings say it, watching shows and films, listening to music, and so on.
Is coded language illegal?
A word or coded expression isn't automatically objectionable simply because it is hateful or offensive. The Classification Office considers content as a whole and applies the legal tests in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. Content may be objectionable where it promotes, supports or encourages matters such as serious violence, sexual violence, or other serious harm.
Coded language isn't illegal in itself, and encountering or using a particular term doesn't tell us what someone believes. However, language can sometimes form part of a wider pattern of content or behaviour that is worth paying attention to. Read more about this in our Online Misogyny and Violent Extremism research.
Talking with your whānau about coded language
The first step is to ask your child curious questions and make sure they are okay. Take a deep breath and stay calm. You don’t have to have all the answers but just be willing to listen. Acknowledge their feelings and talk things through together – and remember: context is key.
Before you tell them off about how bad the word or phrase is, or jump to conclusions, try to get a picture of the context – this will help build trust, and be another step on the path towards your whole whānau having stronger media literacy. Just because your child is calling their sibling a term you’ve learnt is used in the manosphere, doesn’t mean you have an incel in the house – have a calm chat to them about where they heard the word and what they think it means.
Our Youth Advisory Panel members were very clear that they did not want to be preached at by condescending adults, or subjected to long, performative school assemblies. Our research with young people makes clear that they don’t want their phones taken away as punishment for something that might have been out of their control.
They said that short, non-judgemental messages would be much more effective. They would respond much better to things that gently raise awareness – i.e. media literacy – rather than things that try to reinforce strict rules.
Start with some of our ideas below, even with children in early primary school.
Conversation starters
- "What does [insert word] mean?"
- "Are there more words like these, and where do they come from?"
- "What would you say to someone younger about this kind of language? Should they be careful?"
- “What is the difference between a joke and being unkind?”
Final thoughts
You don’t need to stay up-to-the-minute with the language your children use – what’s important is to ask questions and teach them media literacy. Let them be the experts. Remain calm, be curious, and if you’re worried about them and their behaviour, seek help. Take a look at the resources and helplines below.
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