TikTok’s ‘Canon Event’ trend: What does it mean to students?
We’ve all had life events that shaped us and helped us grow – and recently students are taking to TikTok to describe them.
Canon event has emerged as a new term trending on TikTok. The term itself is a hashtag that already has over 47 million views on TikTok. The slang refers to unavoidable life events that build character, and lately, users are sharing their canon events and advising others not to interfere with other people’s canon events.
As an educator, it can feel overwhelming to constantly try and stay up to date with students’ slang. Staying in touch with what students are up to helps educators understand and know their students better, creating a stronger and more positive student-teacher relationship.
Keep reading to find out more about what this trend means for students and how you can empower students to navigate the latest trends in high-character ways.
What the trend means for students
The term canon event comes from the recent movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This idea of sharing a person’s canon event is a way for students to share the pivotal moments in life that shaped them into who they currently are. These events can range from a very serious event in someone’s life to something smaller and maybe more trivial.
For example:
- One user shares that her younger sister wants to buy a lifeguard hoodie (which is very trendy amongst tweens) and knows they cannot interfere as it is a canon event
- Singer and actress Halle Bailey posts her canon event of getting rich
- Another user posts about shaving their head as their canon event
A student’s canon event differs for everyone and can be either light-hearted or serious, but overall the trend of sharing these pivotal life moments, whether they’re cringe or not, creates a safe space for students to share something foundational to shaping who they are.
An educator’s role in students’ canon events
Staying in the loop of what our students are up to these days can seem time-consuming. Since trends and slang are constantly changing, it provides an opportunity for an educator to let students coach up and learn from them.
The canon event trend itself allows students to address and process a character-building moment that pushed them to persevere and become who they are today. Some of these moments might occur in the classroom or within the school community, and as an educator, you can lean into this trend and use it as a way to empower students to talk about their character-building moments in life, otherwise known as their “canon events”. Trends like canon events can seem silly on the surface but can also have deeper meanings.
For some students, their canon event might have been something on the more serious side, and you can encourage students to share their canon events and create a safe, open dialogue around their experiences. Not every student will have a canon event to share or will feel comfortable sharing, but conversations about character development enable students to start processing and reflecting on pivotal moments in their lives.
Educators can stay informed and on top of the ever-evolving social media trends by having open conversations with students about the latest TikTok trends, subscribing to newsletters such as our Weekly Huddle, and if you’re feeling bold, consider joining popular social media platforms yourself.
TSI’s Take
As an educator, you may have witnessed a student’s canon event whether you were aware of it or not. Equip your students with the modern-day life skills they need to feel empowered to handle pivotal moments in their lives through our Seven Social Standards. Our Social Standards like Play To Your Core, Use Your Mic For Good, and Handle The Pressure provide guidelines for supporting students as they navigate canon events.
- Play To Your Core is an important reminder for students to reflect on their values, character, and interests. This standard can help students thoughtfully consider their character-developing canon event and how to share and process their experience.
- Use Your Mic For Good is a standard for students to keep in mind when sharing their canon events. It is important for students to feel empowered to share things they care about and to express themselves in positive ways.
- Handle The Pressure is a standard that encourages confidence in students when it comes to the pressure they experience both online and offline.
If you’re looking for more resources on how to equip students with the skills to navigate their social world, check out the Essential guide to empowering students to make high-character decisions online and offline.
Always stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest trends online by subscribing to our newsletter where we talk about trending tech and social media news weekly! In the meantime, check out our Instagram and TikTok @thesocialinst for tips, trends, and highlights when it comes to social media.