The Oxford Dictionary has named ‘kindness’ as the children’s word of the year for 2024. The word was chosen as the leader in a survey of more than 6,000 British children aged 6 to 14. The study, conducted by Oxford University Press, showed that children are actively aware of the importance of humanity in the modern world.
Among the options offered for voting, ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘conflict’ also made it to the final. ‘Kindness’ received 61% of the votes, while “artificial intelligence” gained 25% and “conflict” only 7%. In their answers, children emphasised the importance of mutual understanding: ‘There are so many things going on in the world that we all need to be kind to each other,’ they said.
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Andrea Quincy, a representative of Oxford University Press, commented on the results: ‘This choice highlights not only children’s awareness of the problems that surround us, but also their sensitivity to mental health and the challenges faced by others.’
At the same time, the survey showed children’s interest in technology. Most of those who supported ‘artificial intelligence’ said they were optimistic about its future. However, some expressed concern about the spread of fake content and the possibility of developing super-intelligent systems.
In addition, Oxford University Press announced the most popular slang word of the year. The leader was the word ‘slay’, which is used to express admiration and approval. It was supported by 28% of children. The second place was taken by ‘sigma’, which describes a self-sufficient person (16%), and the third place was taken by ‘skibidi’, a meaningless or dismissive expression (15%).
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