Peak girlhood? Why everyone is calling themselves a young ho on TikTok right now

The underlying message was simple: life is hard, adulthood is confusing, and taking the easier route is not a moral failure. It is survival. Cooking pasta on high heat, skipping the iron, and piling clothes on a chair does not mean you are lazy. It means you are human.



As the trend grew, so did the sense of community. Women started recognising themselves in each other’s videos, often realising that the things they felt quietly ashamed of were actually universal experiences. There is even a viral “put a finger down” sound that playfully measures how much of a “young ho” you are, racking up millions of views and plenty of laughs.

Online users have reframed the term as something closer to freedom than failure: a mindset where convenience is prioritised over perfection, and self-judgement is replaced with self-compassion. What was once weaponised language has turned into a shared inside joke.



Perhaps the most surprising part is how gentle the trend has become. What started as a way to talk down to young women has transformed into a celebration of girlhood in all its slightly chaotic glory. It is not about doing less, but about letting go of impossible standards.

In true Gen Z fashion, the “young ho” trend proves that even the internet’s worst takes can be recycled into something unexpectedly cute.