Inspired by a Taylor Swift song, the term resonates particularly well in this late summer month, associated with the breakup of short-lived flings and romantic encounters interrupted by the end of vacations.
Getting “augusted” is how TikTok users now describe the experience of falling head over heels in love, only to see their loved one leave them for someone else.
The term, which has gone viral, is widely used in August, when social media users are confiding in one another about their summer love affairs, under the hashtag #Augusted, which already has 8 million posts on the social network.
Among the reactions observed: “Realising that I’ve been augusted/summered for the second year by the same guy,” laments one internet user, her head in her hands, or “getting augusted by a guy, but realizing that in less than a week, you will be going out every weekend & doing thing for the plot with your friends,” another outlines, in a bid to put things into perspective.
A term inspired by Taylor Swift
The term “Augusted” refers directly to the song “August” by American singer Taylor Swift. The song is one of a trio of tracks on Taylor Swift’s 2020 album “Folklore,” exploring the story of a fictional love triangle.
Swift has said that in the song “August,” the character of Augustine has her heart broken by James, her summer love, who ends up choosing Betty, another character evoked in the songs “Betty” and “Cardigan.”
“August” captures Augustine’s nostalgia and sadness, recalling a summer romance that ended too soon, leaving a feeling of abandonment.
This viral expression, coined by Taylor Swift fans – Swifties – evokes the deep pain many feel after a short-lived romance. The term resonates all the more because so many people recognize themselves in this disappointment in love.
An interlinked story
This isn’t the first time Taylor Swift has inspired a trend on social media.
This past April, she launched a challenge for the release of her 11th album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
She invited her fans to share “14 clips from 14 moments” from their lives on YouTube Shorts, with her song “Fortnight” playing in the background.
Taylor even joined in by sharing her own video, “For A Fortnight,” which racked up over 72 million views in just five days.