Why are so many young people suddenly talking like weird therapists? There have been countless memes throughout the past couple of years about how strange and unnatural «therapy talk» is transforming the way we speak to our friends. It seemed to all start with the mass misuse of the term «emotional labor.» Initially, this phrase referred to the work customer service employees had to do to present a persistently happy attitude at all times and the toll it takes on them. Weird online people twisted the term to mean the «labor» of dealing with their friend’s unseemly emotions. Quite a transformation! 

This phenomenon didn’t stop with «emotional labor» by a long shot. Who could forget this doozy? 

The HR-ification of interpersonal relationships has only grown. One therapist recently went viral for giving cold and cavalier advice for breaking up with a friend, and it looks like at least one person has earnestly taken her cringe advice to heart.