The term “nonchalant dreadhead” has been popular for the past two years, but what does it really mean to be nonchalant?

 According to The Daily Dot, “The Nonchalant Dreadhead meme refers to a character popular in TikTok skits made mostly by young Black men that started as a slang term”. They do things like purposely ignore people, or act like they don’t care when receiving important news. Now it’s cool to not care what people say to you or what your teacher is telling you to do. 

I won’t lie, the first couple of memes were pretty funny, but then it started getting out of hand. 

Once it became a trend to be nonchalant, a lot of people my age took it too far. It’s gone from a trend, to feigned ignorance. Feigned ignorance is defined as when someone pretends to be uninformed or confused about something they actually know. It might be to avoid responsibility or to manipulate others. What was once a joke turned into a way to ignore the issues surrounding you. 

So why is it cool not to care? Is it a tactic to make people more interested in you? From what I’ve seen, it became a way to ignore bullying. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “In a national survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, 100% of student participants reported experiencing, witnessing, or being aware of acts of bullying during the 2021-2022 school year. Despite that percentage, only one out of every five (19.2%) students reports bullying.”

This personality might even lead to loneliness. Elizabeth M. Ross, a Harvard Graduate, writes, “U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy placed a spotlight on America’s problem with loneliness when he declared the issue an epidemic in the spring of 2023.” Being nonchalant could be a coping mechanism to deal with loneliness; you can act like it doesn’t bother you in hopes of people finding you interesting. But I think it is actually much more interesting to care about a cause than to just dismiss it in hopes that people will find you cool.

Maybe we’re scared of vulnerability? Maybe people are choosing to be nonchalant because it’s easier than facing problems head on. For some people, it’s a coping mechanism. Some might be afraid to show their true colors, or scared of rejection. But real strength means being who you are. If somebody was being made fun of, would you ignore it just for the sake of looking “cool” or do the right thing and say something?

Opportunities often come from showing genuine interest. Whether it’s in a friendship, a career or a project, doors open when you’re willing to show your interest. Playing it cool and being nonchalant might feel safe in the moment, but it often comes at the cost of connections and chances you’ll wish you had taken later. Consider a new activity in school, or for upperclassmen check out a college you haven’t considered yet. New opportunities are everywhere, but you won’t find them by not caring.

The more you care, the more opportunities come your way. Passion is powerful. Effort is admirable. And in the end, nothing is cooler than someone who isn’t afraid to show up and fully express themselves.