verb Internet Slang

Gatekeep

/ˈɡeɪt.kiːp/ · verb · informal

To hoard access or info about something so others can't get in on it — keeping a thing exclusive on purpose.

0

Definitions

1

Part of the ironic "gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss" meme trio, often used jokingly.

“My personality is just gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss.”
by community
0
2

To control or limit who gets access to something — a hobby, a brand, a piece of info — usually to keep it exclusive or feel superior. Refusing to share where you got something is classic gatekeeping.

“Just tell me where you bought it, stop gatekeeping.”
by community
0
3

Common in fan and niche communities, where longtime members act like newcomers haven't earned the right to be there.

“Music snobs love to gatekeep underground artists.”
by community
0

Gatekeep In A Sentence

She gatekeeps her skincare routine like it's a state secret.
Don't gatekeep the good playlists, share them.
The fandom gatekeeps so hard newcomers feel unwelcome.

Origin & Usage

"Gatekeeping" comes from older sociology and media theory about who controls access to information. Gen Z repurposed it around 2020 for hoarding niche knowledge, cemented by the "gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss" meme.

Variants GatekeepingGatekeeperGaslight gatekeep girlboss
Tags #gen-z#internet#meme#texting

People Also Ask

What does gatekeep mean?

To gatekeep means to hoard access or information about something so others can't easily get in on it, keeping it exclusive.

Where did gatekeep come from?

It comes from sociology and media theory and was repurposed by Gen Z around 2020, helped by the "gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss" meme.

Is gatekeeping a bad thing?

It's generally framed negatively, as being needlessly exclusive, though minor gatekeeping is often joked about.

How do you use gatekeep in a sentence?

For example: "stop gatekeeping and tell me where you got it."

Comments 0