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A guide to ‘terminally online' slang: 5 terms that define Gen Zs, Alphas
A guide to ‘terminally online' slang: 5 terms that define Gen Zs, Alphas

Straits Times

time3 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Straits Times

A guide to ‘terminally online' slang: 5 terms that define Gen Zs, Alphas

An oversized hat worn by Zendaya on the red carpet in 2014 is emblematic of the irony-laden and unserious language of the "terminally online" youth. PHOTO: AFP SINGAPORE – 'Money printer go brrr.' 'Zendaya spelled backwards is hat.' 'This meme is an infohazard.' If none of that made sense to you, you are experiencing the linguistic equivalent of cultural whiplash. (But do not worry, t he sentences above will be demystified in this story. ) An ever-widening divide is playing out in how different generations use an increasingly fragmented internet and discuss daily life. Digital natives Generation Alpha – born after 2010, weaned on a diet of iPads and often raised by digital natives themselves – are introducing a new lexicon, such as 'skibidi' and 'rizz', inspired by internet influencers. Gen Zs – aged 13 to 28 and raised on TikTok or Reddit – are beginning to enter the workplace and stake their claim with phrases such as 'slay' and 'cringecore'. Meanwhile, millennials – aged 29 to 44, and who grew up in that awkward space between the Walkman audio player and the first iPod – are using parlance like 'lit', 'HODL' and 'negging'. Nowhere is this divide clearer than in the use of language. On the local HardwareZone forum – where a sizeable chunk of users have accounts created before 2015 and are often older millennials and Gen Xs in their 40s and 50s – conversations carry distinctly local cadences: '9 to 5 everyday pcw on EDMW and jjww about gahmen and angry boomers.' Translation: 'Spending my office hours complaining about the government and old people.' On the other side of the generational divide is SGExams, a 280,000-strong Reddit forum dominated by students and young adults (mostly in their 20s and younger) discussing their exam stress and relationship angst. Here, users speak in globally sourced and video game-inflected internet-speak. In one thread where a teenage user asks for advice about whether a crush actually likes him, a peer commenter writes, 'man catch signs challenge (impossible)' – meaning 'this guy does not get it'. These lexicon differences underscore how groups adopt words both for convenience and as a marker of belonging, to sift out insiders from outsiders. As internet culture marches on in all its diversity, here are five things you need to know so as not to get left behind. 1. Intentionally meaningless What does 'skibidi' mean? Answer: Absolutely nothing. Originating from a machinima (animated using video game graphics) YouTube series, the word has become emblematic of the lingo of Gen Alpha. The term 'Skibidi' originates from the YouTube animated series Skibidi Toilet, which has racked up over 50 million views on the platform. PHOTO: YOUTUBE And yet, the word is meaningless. It is a nonsense word used for humorous effect, to add emphasis or to confuse older generations seeking to decode it. This weaponised absurdity is central to understanding how internet culture influences language, as much of it thrives on irony so layered that 'getting it' means there is nothing to get. Take, for example, the 'Zendaya theory', a trend of TikTok videos that have amassed millions of views since 2020. These videos typically feature American actress Zendaya in a 2014 red-carpet look – where she wears an oversized hat – accompanied by sinister music and glitchy editing. Thousands of users post comments like 'Zendaya spelled backwards is hat' or 'Never seen Tom Holland and the hat in the same room', referring to the actress' reel and real-life partner, English actor Holland, and insinuating something darker. But there is no theory. After going down the rabbit hole of TikTok videos, one finds that the trend was started by a user who was so taken with the hat that he or she posted many edited videos of it – until TikTok's algorithm amplified this absurdity into a trend. Thousands joined in thereafter, creating elaborate and humorous conspiracy theories around nothing. Once you grasp 'sh**posting' – deliberately absurd or provocative humour – you understand that much of internet culture is social play disguised as communication. In other words, the virtual equivalent of an inside joke, but on a massive scale. Such weaponised irony is commonplace online. There is the 470,000-strong Reddit community Never Broke A Bone (its calling card is: 'From Have you ever broken a bone? No? Then this is the place for you') for people to discuss their superiority to those with weak bones. Other examples include live-streaming platform Twitch's worship of 'Big Chungus' – featuring a chunky, photoshopped version of cartoon character Bugs Bunny – for no discernible reason. And there is the nonsensical and artificial intelligence-generated 'Italian brain rot', a series of absurd memes involving characters with pseudo-Italian names, currently trending on TikTok. Mr Amirul Hakim, 28, who works in tertiary education, says that part of the joy stem s from watching these memes develop and get remixed endlessly across contexts. 'I think it's hilarious, I love them, and I don't blame anyone young or old for not getting it because it's a symptom of being chronically online. 'Not only is it intentionally meaningless, but there is (also) a sort of 'planned obsolescence' of it, in the way that it's meant to expire. If you reference it late, you'd be 'unc' (short form for uncle, meaning old or out of touch) or 'washed up',' he adds, noting that by the time such slang reaches Facebook and Instagram, its popularity is nearing its tail-end. 2. Making sense of disillusionment Some communities take this embrace of satire a step further, using it as a response to disillusionment with society. For example, 'Do you have diamond hands or lettuce hands?' is not about grip strength. It is about whether you can hold on to investments through volatility or tend to sell at the first sign of trouble. Meanwhile, 'money printer go brrr' is a mockery of most central banks' monetary policies, and 'HODL' (originally a typo of hold) is a rallying cry for cryptocurrency and retail investors to 'Hold On for Dear Life' to their assets amid signs of turmoil. Such vocabulary is commonplace on Twitter accounts run by cryptocurrency enthusiasts and on the Reddit forum Wallstreetbets. 'Instead of speaking about the fundamentals of a stock or its price-earning ratio, we talk about 'pumpamentals',' says Dr Andrew Bailey, a professor of philosophy at Yale-NUS College, referring to the hype that can lead to a token's rapid growth in value. 'Many people feel that the world of finance isn't working to their benefit, it's just a scam, so I'm gonna scam it to my benefit,' he adds. 'It's a total rejection of business school-style thinking and that facade of seriousness.' Dr Bailey believes that this language of 'financial nihilism' prevalent in online finance communities – typically dominated by millennials – reflects deeply held frustrations. When traditional financial systems feel rigged against ordinary people, online communities create counter-languages to mock establishment expertise. Among enthusiasts of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, 'money printer go brrr' is the signature phrase that ends many pro-crypto online screeds about the failures of the modern economy. The implication is that bitcoin is the solution for every social ill, notes Dr Bailey. Such language has real-world consequences. At the height of its popularity in 2021, Wallstreetbets made headlines for coordinating a mass purchase of GameStop stock to spite hedge funds and short sellers. PHOTO: WALLSTREETBETS Wallstreetbets, a 13 million-strong subreddit community for 'making money and being amused while doing it', galvanised members to buy massive amounts of shares in American retailer GameStop in 2021. This drove the price from around US$20 to US$400 , in order to spite hedge funds which had 'shorted' (betting the share price would fall) the stock. Meanwhile, in Singapore, crypto-related scams accounted for nearly 25 per cent of the $1.1 billion lost to scams in 2024. This nihilist world view extends to internet subcultures beyond crypto. Incels, short for involuntarily celibate, have also formed a distinct vocabulary based on disillusionment that seeks to make sense of one's isolation from and frustration with society. According to incels, being 'redpilled' means waking up to the 'truth' that feminism has ruined society. Such thinking is now embraced by the manosphere, a collection of misogynistic online forums and communities. Other examples include the '80/20 rule' (the belief that 80 per cent of women go after only 20 per cent of men), 'mogging' (dominating someone, typically using one's appearance or social status) and 'negging' (using subtle insults to undermine someone's confidence). Collectively, these terms imply that society is hierarchical and that immutable traits, such as one's appearance, determine one's place forever in the pecking order. 3. Parasocial relations This quest for social connection also explains another subset of internet-born vocabulary. Internet researchers use the term 'parasocial relationships' to describe one-sided relationships , where a person develops a strong connection with a public figure, such as a celebrity or musician, who does not know him or her personally. Stan Twitter, a dedicated online community within the social media platform, epitomises this. To 'stan' someone means to be his or her obsessive fan. The term was first popularised by a 2000 song by American rapper Eminem about an obsessive fan named Stan. Fans on Stan Twitter have embraced a competitive validation culture with terms like 'flop era' (when an artiste's popularity declines), 'ratio' (when critical replies get more engagement than the original post) and 'bias' ( refers to one's favourite member of a music group ). Korean terms such as 'maknae' and 'oppa' – meaning the youngest member and big brother respectively – have also entered the popular lexicon. Stans avidly track their favourite artistes' album sales, music chart performances and red-carpet looks – as if doing live sports commentary. 'I feel like it started from people deciding that extreme devotion is the best way to show your love for a celebrity,' says 18-year-old Singaporean student Alleyah, who declines to share her last name. The devout fan of K-pop girl group Loona – who used to post 'fancams' (fan videos of a particular artiste) and get into arguments online defending the band – believes it stems from finding comfort and solidarity from a shared love of a celebrity, which places the idealised object of affection on a pedestal. 'The idea nowadays is that you have to be a dedicated fan and show it, otherwise you're fake,' she ad ds. 'I felt that way too, that I needed to be invested in Loona's whole life to show everyone I was a true fan. I was convinced it was flattering.' The rise of video-streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch adds an interactive twist to parasocial relationships. Here, popular American content creators like MrBeast have created communities of mostly Gen Z- and Gen Alpha-aged internet users built around their personalities and numbering in the hundreds of millions. 'Fanum tax': the phrase meaning stealing food from a friend began as a recurring inside joke by American live streamer Kai Cenat and his friends, before it was adopted as generational lingo. PHOTO: KNOW YOUR MEME For American live streamer Kai Cenat, broadcasting his daily life has turned everyday occurrences and inside jokes into generational lingo. He is credited with popularising the terms 'rizz' (charisma), 'gyatt' (as in gyatt damn) and 'fanum tax' among Gen Zs and Gen Alphas. Fanum tax refers to a friend playfully stealing food, inspired by a fellow live streamer with the habit of helping himself to Cenat's food during his live streams. Part of the power of live-streaming culture is how viewers do not just spend hours passively watching. They chat, participate in polls and sometimes even send money to their favourite streamer. This engenders a relationship that live-streaming enthusiasts describe as being 'one step closer' than your typical celebrity-fan relationship. 'People forget these are human beings and mostly adults with lives of their own outside the persona they show,' says Alleyah. 'I've lost count of the numbe r of times I've seen people get into online feuds over their favourite streamers and try to imitate their behaviour.' 4. Myths for a digital age Collaborative storytelling and meaning-making form the core of what makes the internet special. Part of this stems from the structure of the internet, which embraces modes of content that are quick-firing, easy to remix and allow for endless copy and pasting. From the earliest text-based forums to the popular TikTok dance trends of today, small inside jokes can take on mythical quality among those in the know. Nowhere is this more apparent than creepypastas, a term used to describe horror-related legends or stories shared across the internet, many of which appear to be real experiences, even though they are fictional. While folks of a different generation may have told their ghost stories in real life, possibly over a campfire, today's horror stories are shared in Reddit posts and TikTok videos. Consider the 'smile dog', a 'cursed' JPEG file of a dog with an unsettling human-like smile. If you see this image, the dog haunts your dreams and drives you insane, unless you pass on the curse by sending the image to someone else, or so the story goes. Unlike traditional folklore with murky origins and established mythos, internet myths emerge from collective authorship and constant editing. 'The Backrooms' — an internet myth of a fictional and infinite office space that one can be trapped in — originated from the image board 4chan and is the subject of many creepypastas. PHOTO: 4CHAN Stories mutate as they spread, and communities decide which elements survive, often based on virality, as they evolve from memes into the digital equivalent of folklore. Popular examples include the 'Slenderman' (a supernatural figure that stalks and abducts people), 'backrooms' (fictional and infinite office spaces that one can be trapped in) and stories of the SCP Foundation (a fictional database dedicated to cataloguing paranormal phenomena and objects). When a term achieves widespread recognition outside of its origin subculture, fans of creepypasta call it 'containment breach', borrowing language from the fictional SCP Foundation. Meanwhile, the term 'infohazard' is used to denote something that poses a threat to you simply by your having knowledge of it, like the smile dog. What is novel about much of this collaborative myth-making is how it expresses modern anxieties about capitalism and technology, which seem to resonate more with digital natives than supernatural fears of previous generations. 5. The new gatekeepers Despite the internet's democratic promise and focus on collaboration, language evolution can, at times, be surprisingly hierarchical. Take, for example, Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia that, theoretically, anyone can edit. Although Wikipedia was the eighth-most-visited website in the world in April 2025, according to web analytics firm Similarweb, the reality is that only a small fraction of the site's users contribute. According to a 2020 report by the Wikimedia Foundation, 87 per cent of those who contribute to Wikimedia projects – of which English-language Wikipedia is the largest – are male. Almost half live in Europe and one-fifth in Northern America. This results in some stark inequalities in what Wikipedia considers important enough to catalogue. As at 2021, only 18 per cent of content in all Wikimedia projects are about women. There were also more Wikipedia articles written about Antarctica than most countries in Africa, according to a 2018 analysis by the Oxford Internet Institute. Popular pages such as Lady Gaga's have 'extended confirmed protection', requiring one to be an established user to edit. Meanwhile, news events trigger 'edit wars', with pages locked by established editors as they bicker over how to describe an evolving incident. While the internet may have democratised publishing, it has not eliminated gatekeeping, which exists everywhere online. Small groups of influential users, algorithmic amplification and platform dynamics often determine which terms achieve widespread adoption and which terms belong in last year's trend cycle. Incel ideology originated in niche forums where users complained of their dating troubles, but spread through popular manosphere influencers. Many terms popular among Gen Zs and Gen Alphas first originate from black and queer communities, then get popularised by popular Stan Twitter accounts such as Pop Crave. For some Gen Z internet users, Pop Crave has supplanted traditional news outlets. Ms Yi Qing, a 19-year-old waiting to enter university, first learnt about the death of Pope Francis in April on Pop Cra ve. What she loves most about it is how it provides a glimpse into how others feel about the news. 'I know articles used to have comment sections, but I feel like the culture of commenting on an article is kind of dying,' she says. 'It's nothing like being able to open 1,000 QRTs (quote retweets) and reading everyone's bite-size takes, or opening a reddit comment section and seeing all the comments.' Racing against obsolescence Perhaps the only constant in internet language and culture is change itself. Internet database Know Your Meme has catalogued more than 21,000 entries explaining internet culture today, up from just over 4,200 at the end of 2020. According to Know Your Meme, most memes catalogued in the early 2010s originated from YouTube and image-based bulletin board 4chan. By the early 2020s, that mantle was passed on to Twitter and TikTok. Part of why internet language changes so quickly stems from shifting social realities. Gen Zs and millennials in Singapore are more likely to use TikTok, Twitter and Reddit than Gen Xers and baby boomers, according to consumer intelligence firm YouGov's 2024 report on social media use. They are also more likely to get their news from social networks, instead of television, compared with older generations. 'Terms like 'chat' come from live streaming, and because live streaming is so prevalent among young people, they learn the terms and often pull them into other parts of their lives to the extent that this is useful or functional,' says Dr Patrick Williams, an associate professor and cultural sociologist at Nanyang Technological University. Not all terms are made equal though, he adds. This explains why some terms transcend the boundaries of the communities they originate from, such that some millennials and Gen Zs now incorporate 'chat' into their daily lexicon, by saying phrases such as 'chat, I'm cooked' (I'm in trouble) to their friends. 'Culture is never static,' he notes. These changes may not be discernible on a day-to-day level, but language is a key dimension of culture. Many cultural groups use slang terms to set up boundaries that distinguish insiders from outsiders. This could be young people distinguishing themselves from their 'boomer' parents who might not understand, or using terms to connect themselves to current cultural trends, causes or communities they find important. 'Language is also a key marker of identity, so the ability to understand or talk in a certain way says a lot about who you are,' Dr Williams says. 'And if you don't understand, that also identifies you in certain ways.' This is partly why you might never understand Gen Alphas, Gen Zs or millennials if you are not one yourself. Because theirs is a language rooted less in generational differences than how the internet has given rise to hyper-specific niches, unserious language and constantly shifting trends. This is the new social reality, where ghost stories are shared as memes, instead of being read in True Singapore Ghost Stories tomes. Where love of music means 'stanning' your favourite artiste and mourning him or her during his or her 'flop era'. And where millions of people bond over something as innocuous as an oversized hat. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

How much screen time is too much for kids? Parents share strategies and concerns
How much screen time is too much for kids? Parents share strategies and concerns

Daily Record

time17 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Record

How much screen time is too much for kids? Parents share strategies and concerns

A new parent has sparked a debate online after asking other mums and dads how many hours they allow their child to watch TV or play on a iPad or tablet It's a contemporary conundrum that has most parents poised with their personal perspectives. Thus, it was no surprise when one inquisitive parent reached out on social media to canvass opinion on how long other families let their children use iPads or tablets, reports the Mirror. They posed the question: "How old are your kids, and what are your screen time rules? My kid is two months and won't get screens until she's at least two years so I have a while to think about it, but just curious to see what works for other parents." ‌ This simple query ignited spirited discussions online, as numerous folks divulged what constituted 'normal' for their family units. ‌ One participant said: "We don't do screens first thing in the morning, and besides that we just try to keep it reasonable and absolutely turn it off once kiddo gets crabby/demanding about it. I've found it more effective to monitor her attitude than have a specific time limit. Some days it's a lot less than others." Yet another chimed in: "Never allow YouTube. Ban it from day one. But if I could, just go with the flow." ‌ Flexibility seemed key for some, as they explained: "So many parents that have rigid rules end up with issues later on. It doesn't have to be so hard. If you don't make it an issue, it won't be. "My daughter is six now. Some days she watches a movie, other days not one minute of TV at all." Notably, some stressed the importance of balance: "Some weekends we are so busy we never turn the TV on! It doesn't have to be this all or nothing awful thing. TV is fun. We love watching as a family and having something we can all get into. ‌ "Some days I can't wait to unwind with a bit of TV. Kids are people too. Between friends, play, homework, after school activities, ballet etc... they also need a reset." A third user commented: "Mine are two and five. I don't really limit and we really don't have an issue with excessive telly. Some days they watch more than others. "But they also don't have any tablets or anything like that so I think that helps. My two year old doesn't even really watch it, it just plays in the background." ‌ According to a study by Ofcom, 40 percent of children aged eight to 11-years-old take their mobiles to bed with them, with 71 percent of 12 to 15 year olds doing the same. Their research discovered that 93 percent of eight to 11 year olds spend approximately 13.5 hours online per week and 74 percent spend around 10 hours a week playing video games. The NHS advises that children under five should have "very limited screen time" as "the first year of a child's life is crucial for cognitive, physical and social development". ‌ How much screen time your child should have, according to the NHS Babies and toddlers (0 - 2 years): No screen time, except for video calling with caregivers and family members. Preschool children (2 - 5 years): Up to one hour per day. School children (6 - 12 years): Up to two hours of screen time per day. Teenagers (13+ years): No more than two hours per day. A statement on Twinkl reads: "Regardless of age, parental involvement is very important in setting screen time amounts for any child. ‌ "Watching shows or films as a family or playing video games together can be great family bonding activities and can lead to positive learning experiences for children. "Parents can also model good behaviour by managing their own screen time. This could be creating a healthy balance between technology use and real-life interactions such as not using devices during mealtimes. "While excessive screen time without any physical activity can definitely be harmful, screen time alone isn't necessarily always a problem. "Some feel that parents should focus on making sure their children are using screens safely and productively, rather than putting strict limits on any amount of time without considering other factors."

Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?
Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?

Engadget

time19 hours ago

  • Engadget

Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?

This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI. This embedded content is not available in your region. iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34 Web browsers go AI 'agentic': The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37 xAI is paying Telegram $300m this year to use Grok – 54:04 Apple's self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30 Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57 Working on – 1:02:41 Pop culture picks – 1:09:26 Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben Ellman Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.

Apple opening its 3rd store in India in Bengaluru, Phoenix Mall is the place
Apple opening its 3rd store in India in Bengaluru, Phoenix Mall is the place

India Today

timea day ago

  • Business
  • India Today

Apple opening its 3rd store in India in Bengaluru, Phoenix Mall is the place

Apple is doubling down on India, and Bengaluru is next in line for the Apple retail experience. The tech giant is set to open its third physical store in the country, this time at the Phoenix Mall of Asia in Hebbal, Bengaluru, according to a Business Standard report. The move is part of Apple's growing love affair with India, even as tensions brew across the Pacific. advertisementSet to occupy a prime 8,000 square foot space on the mall's first floor, the new store will be similar in scale to Apple's Delhi outlet, though still dwarfed by the brand's flagship Mumbai store, which covers a whopping 20,800 square feet. While not the largest, the Bengaluru location is expected to pack the same Apple aura — minimalist interiors, expert staff in black tees, and plenty of glass. The report also stated that Apple has leased the place for 10 years. Apple will cough up 2 per cent of its store revenue for the first three years, with the figure climbing to 2.5 per cent in subsequent years. It added, "The lease period has commenced from November 8, 2024, while the rent commencement date is August 8, 2025." This means that the store may open in just a few months from now. advertisement This store is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently confirmed the company's intent to open four more retail outlets in India, with Pune and Delhi-NCR joining Mumbai and Bengaluru on the map. The first two stores, which opened in 2023, were seen as symbolic steps in Apple's India journey, this third opening signals something much more has become central to Apple's global plans, not just as a market for sales, but increasingly as a key manufacturing hub. In fact, Cook told analysts during Apple's Q2 2025 earnings call that, come June, most iPhones sold in the United States will carry a 'Made in India' tag. Meanwhile, Vietnam will be the country of origin for the majority of iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods sold while Apple expands its footprint across South and Southeast Asia, the mood in Washington is anything but relaxed. President Donald Trump has issued a warning shot, threatening a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones not made in the United States, in a bid to nudge Apple back toward domestic production. It's the latest twist in the ongoing US-China trade saga, one that now seems to be pulling India and Vietnam into its remains unclear is whether these looming tariffs will force Apple to re-evaluate its overseas bets. But judging by the company's current pace in India, and the ink now dry on a decade-long lease in Bengaluru, it appears Apple has no plans to hit the pause button. With more stores on the way and India playing an increasingly vital role in Apple's global supply chain.

Apple to open third Indian store in Bengaluru as US trade tensions rise: Report
Apple to open third Indian store in Bengaluru as US trade tensions rise: Report

Hindustan Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Hindustan Times

Apple to open third Indian store in Bengaluru as US trade tensions rise: Report

Apple is set to open its third retail store in India at Bengaluru's Phoenix Mall of Asia, according to a report by Business Standard. The store will span approximately 8,000 square feet and is expected to follow the company's growing strategy in India, despite rising geopolitical friction between Apple and former US President Donald Trump. The upcoming Apple Store will be located on the first floor of the Phoenix Mall of Asia in Hebbal, Bengaluru. Its size is comparable to Apple's Delhi store but significantly smaller than the flagship Mumbai location, which spans more than 20,800 square feet. As per the leasing arrangement, Apple has signed a 10-year lease and will pay rent along with a revenue-sharing component. For the first three years, the company will pay 2% of the store's revenue, increasing to 2.5% from the fourth year onwards. This location is one of four new Apple Stores planned in India, with other sites expected in Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi-NCR. Apple opened its first two Indian stores, one in Mumbai and another in Delhi, in 2023. The new Bengaluru store further underscores Apple's strategic focus on India, both as a fast-growing consumer market and a key node in its global supply chain. The expansion also aligns with Apple CEO Tim Cook's statement during the Q2 2025 earnings call, in which he highlighted a significant shift in Apple's manufacturing geography. 'For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. will have India as their country of origin,' Cook said, adding that other devices like iPads and MacBooks sold in the US will be sourced from Vietnam. This shift comes amid Apple's ongoing effort to diversify its supply chain away from China. However, the company's ramp-up in India is drawing criticism from former President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones manufactured outside the United States. Trump's comments followed Apple's decision not to attend a business delegation to the Middle East, reportedly causing further friction between the tech giant and the former US administration. Despite these headwinds, Apple appears committed to deepening its footprint in India—both in manufacturing and retail—signalling that any reversal in this strategy is unlikely in the near term.

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