Is being delulu a good thing?

Bababam (0:04)

Is being De Lulu a good thing?

Thanks for asking. You guys, I have something to tell you. May all your De Lulu come to Lulu.

Because being De Lulu is the solulu. Absolulu.

The clip you just listened to comes from American influencer Bianca Bernardo on TikTok. Now, you might be saying to yourself, what the heck do those crazy words mean? So let me translate for you. What Bianca Bernardo is actually saying is effectively, may all your fantasies become reality. And she's just one of many people posting about De Lulu. The De Lulu hashtag has racked up over 6 billion views on TikTok.

It's more than just an online trend, too. De Lulu is genuinely morphing into something of a philosophy or coping mechanism for Gen Z to deal with reality. So what does De Lulu actually mean? The term is derived from delusional, and it's used to refer to someone who either avoids confronting reality or just flat out refuses to accept it. Being De Lulu involves pretending that reality is better than it is or shaping it to your advantage. It's like a quirky and ironic take on positive thinking. The term first popped up about 10 years ago to describe super passionate and borderline obsessed K-pop fans who genuinely believed in the possibility that they could form a romantic connection with their idols. They felt that their time invested in fandom was equivalent to being in a real relationship. So the essence of De Lulu is to have unwavering self-confidence, firmly believing in one's abilities and future success, even in the face of setbacks. It's not just about having a celebrity crush though. The De Lulu philosophy has crept into the romantic and even professional lives of Gen Z.

For many young folks, De Lulu is a mindset that helps them keep forging ahead with optimism in an era where the climate crisis, geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties are at best disheartening and at worst deeply troubling. Adopting a De Lulu mindset might involve confidently showcasing one's skills to employers instead of downplaying them. In your love life, it could embolden you to express your feelings to someone you think is out of your league. In July 2023, an article on fortune.com said that being De Lulu was the new Gen Z trend for hacking career success. The article was written by Rachel Shin, who suggested that embracing De Lulu in the professional sphere could help counteract imposter syndrome, particularly for those who face systemic discrimination like people of colour or women. Isn't De Lulu kind of like avoiding reality? Well, exactly. So it's really important to exercise caution. When extolling the virtues of the De Lulu philosophy, you have to keep in mind structural inequalities such as economic disparities, racism or sexism. Self-delusion can also have negative repercussions like mishandling frustration when reality doesn't align with our desires. In matters of love, you must know not to persist if the object of your affection doesn't reciprocate. Bear in mind though that in general, the De Lulu philosophy comes with a healthy dose of self-mockery and irony. There you have it. Now you know whether or not being De Lulu can be a good thing. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

Ba ba ba.