An Evening with Adam Aleksic
Presented by Berkeley Forum and co-sponsored by Berkeley Center for New Media (BCNM) and Berkeley Linguistics
In an age when the vast majority of communication is digital, how is social media changing language in real time? Join the Berkeley Forum, in collaboration with Berkeley Linguistics and the Berkeley Center for New Media, for an evening with linguist and writer Adam Aleksic (better known as Etymology Nerd), where we’ll discuss slang, censorship, and the strange ways online platforms accelerate linguistic change. Drawing from his bestselling book Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language, Aleksic will explore how content moderation, algorithms, and virality influence the evolution of words and meanings to create new forms of coded speech, euphemism, and community dialects. Together, we’ll examine what “algospeak” reveals about what it means for the future of communication in a platform-driven world.
About Adam Aleksic
Adam Aleksic is a linguist, writer, and content creator best known as the face behind @etymologynerd (Etymology Nerd), where he makes research-driven videos about how words evolve both online and offline. A Harvard graduate who studied linguistics and government, he’s built an audience of millions across platforms by translating academic ideas into clear explanations of slang, sound changes, and the history behind everyday phrases. In his book Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language, Aleksic explores how algorithms, content moderation, and virality don’t just shape what we see, but shape what we say, driving new euphemisms, coded speech, and rapid semantic shifts. His work invites audiences to think more critically about how platforms influence culture, communication, and identity in real time.
Accessibility
BCNM events are free and open to the public. This event will be held in-person, on the UC Berkeley campus. We strive to meet all access and accommodation needs. Please contact info.bcnm [at] berkeley.edu with requests or questions.
BCNM is proud to make conversations with leading scholars, artists, and technologists freely available to the public. Please help us continue this tradition by making a tax-deductible donation today. If you are in the position to support the program, we suggest $5 per event, or $100 a year.