Cringey

A word that describes someone or something that deviates from the norms of a particular group. The word has become more popular along with the 1. rise of social media and 2. identity politics. In other words, social media has created an environment in which identity within a particular social or political group (E.g. leftist, feminist, conservative, LGBTQ, "person of color," antifa, free-speech supporters) has become valued over individuality and nuance, and therefore anyone who acts outside of strictly defined group norms stands out, even to the point of potentially beings seen as untrustworthy. "Cringey" is a word used to describe behavior that does not fit neatly within prescribed social limits and makes members of the group who strongly identify with those social limits uncomfortable.