The word "polyester" has become a new code used by Generation Z on social media to denounce influencers, brands and lifestyles they consider overly perfect, artificially curated or excessively authentic. The term compares polyester — a synthetic fabric — with natural materials like cotton, suggesting that something is fake, manufactured or lacking genuineness.
The expression circulates mainly on TikTok and other social platforms, where young people use the word to comment on content they deem overly edited, filtered or disconnected from everyday reality. The virality of the word reflects a growing distrust among younger people regarding the authenticity of content creators and brands.
This phenomenon fits within a broader trend of criticism toward the culture of perfection on social media, where influencers are frequently accused of promoting unattainable lifestyles. Generation Z shows increasing interest in authenticity and transparency, preferring content that reflects human imperfection.
Just like many other expressions that emerge, go viral and disappear almost as quickly as they appeared, "polyester" may be replaced by another word soon, remaining only as another example of the ephemeral language that characterizes contemporary digital communication.
