What does it mean to be real yappers? A new mythological figure emerges on TikTok

The Gen Z glossary is taking shape day by day, and while some terms are ready to disappear just as quickly as they crossed the cyberspace, others are destined to resist the barriers of time. In the past, we explained the meaning of some of these neologisms, such as people pleaser or niche. Today it’s the turn of yapper which, after reaching its peak virality in 2024, is making its way back into social media algorithms in a new (and decidedly pinker) form. Urban Dictionary defines a yapper as someone who enjoys talking non-stop. Etymologically, we know it comes from the English verb “to yap,” which in the 17th century was used to describe the sharp, annoying barking of small dogs. It is an onomatopoeic word: it literally reproduces the sound “yap yap” of barking. By the late 19th century, “yapping” began to be used in a derogatory way toward people, referring to “useless and irritating chatter.”

We’ve talked about its negative connotation, but its modern version, viral on TikTok, offers different perspectives. It’s true that on one hand, memes featuring the term joke about friends who go on endlessly without ever getting to the point (e.g. “bro you’re yapping”), but on the other hand, many celebrate the figure of the yapper baddie, describing her as “that friend who saves your night.”

TikTok’s yapper baddies are all of us

“Being friends with a yapper baddie is not for the weak-hearted. Because the moment you open your eyes after a sleepover, guess who’s already ready to talk? Yep, her. All day, every day”: this is how creator Dempsey Tonks introduces the concept in a TikTok video. Not exactly encouraging premises for those who don’t consider themselves morning people, but she continues: “The best part is you’ll never, ever, ever, ever be bored. She has such a wide range of topics she can talk about. Plus, being friends with a yapper baddie is amazing because when you go out together she’ll always make new friends and talk to new people, so you’ll meet new people too and have the best nights ever.” In pop culture imagination, a baddie is a confident, aesthetically polished girl with a strong personality who isn’t afraid to be the center of attention. By combining the two concepts, the yapper baddie stops being the one who talks too much and instead becomes a charismatic conversational leader: the girl who always has a comeback, knows how to entertain, and turns chatting into a true art form.

Should we all yap more with our friends?

“When two yappers meet… it’s the best moment ever”: the creator concludes, and we try to understand why. In a historical moment that pushes us to be constantly concise and performative, yapping becomes a form of resistance. However, it shouldn’t be confused with gossip: gossip feeds on other people’s lives, while yapping is more of a shared stream of consciousness that centers ourselves. We should do it more often because it is therapeutic. It’s the same secret ingredient that made shows like Sex and the City or Gilmore Girls timeless. Those endless conversations, spanning from the deepest existential questions to the most trivial details, kept us glued to the screen and led us to a new awareness: there’s no need to get to the point, because the point is the journey itself. So next time someone tells you you talk too much, just smile: you’re simply exercising your right to be a true yapper baddie.