What does the term Khia Asylum mean? Gen-Z music term you need to learn to follow trend

The term Khia Asylum has been trending on social media since mid-2024, but it has nothing to do with a psychological asylum. According to YouTuber Hugo Anderson, the term can be traced back to singer Khia, popularly known for her song, My Neck, My Back. In 2024, the singer's name became associated with a social media trend, indicating a celebrity who has experienced a downfall or isn't doing substantially well in the music industry.

The trend's source appeared to be X user (@impxrfectforyou), who shared an image of female musicians with various descriptions. The trend was intended to be a humorous attempt to indicate that some artists, including Zara Larsson and Bebe Rexha (shown at the bottom of the image), were reportedly in the "Khia Asylum" and had been forgotten by fans.

Per the Cut, Jae Stephens, a music artist, started self-identifying as a Khia as a "light-hearted joke" but had a more positive definition of the trend. She said that it is,

“someone who hasn’t had their chance yet.”

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Decoding Khia Asylum: Should one be following the trend?

Now and then, trends go viral on social media, including within Stan Twitter (a community of users on X that post everything linked to celebrities and pop culture.) The term Khia emerged on social media to indicate an artist who may have become less popular at a given time. User @mazzypopstar took to her X channel to share Ariana Grande's music clip of Put Your Hearts Up MV and noted,

"Her one month in the khia asylum was majestic."

Many months later, an X user (@impxrfectforyou) took to their X and used the phrase again. They noted,

"Ariana grande literally never was in the khia asylum since she debuted.."

While a clear definition of the social media term hasn't emerged, the community remains divided in its use. Per Billboard, many users stop them from using the term, as it can be used pejoratively to exclude some artists from mainstream media. Additionally, they noted that it is also "disrespectful" to Khia's career.

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From 'demure' to 'brain rot,' multiple slang terms have emerged in the internet community. The term Khia was used for someone who has become less relevant in the culture. However, the trend Khia Asylum turned into a social media trend, with many users claiming that some female artists have disappeared from the music scene. While some users have used the term to describe certain artists, many others have stayed clear from using it.

What are your thoughts on the trend? Have you used it before? Tell us in the comments below.