Gen Z Kids on TikTok Are Embracing the Swastika for 'Unity'

Kids on TikTok have started a disturbing and shocking new trend, where a number of people are calling to get tattoos of a Nazi symbol, which resembles a swastika as a show of "unity" and "rebellion" among members of Gen Z.

In a video shared by TikTokker SmoothAvacado, the video creator shared their design, which features a "Z" with a line drawn through the center. The symbol is seemingly inadvertently an inversion of the "Wolfsangel" symbol, which was used by Nazis during World War II and is still used by Neo-Nazis today. It's also worth noting that the symbol does resemble a swastika. SmoothAvacado has since made her account private.

While it's easy to see why teens and young adults on the app may be drawn to the symbol without knowing its history, at face value the symbol suggested by SmoothAvacado seems like the type of trendy logo that you'd buy from an Instagram ad. Nevertheless, it's still alarming to see a number of young people embracing and defending the symbol. Thankfully, a number of TikTok users who were familiar with the Wolfsangel jumped in to tell people not to get the tattoo.

"Hey gen z! Please do not get this tattooed," TikTokker kcmbrly wrote in a video duetting the original user who suggested the tattoo. "It was appropriated by the n*zi party and now is a popular white supremac*st symbol"

Also known as the "Wolf's Hook" and "Dopplehaken," the Wolfangel was an ancient runic symbol, which was appropriated in Nazi Germany, according to the Anti-Defamation League's database of hate symbols. "It appeared as part of the divisional insignia of several Waffen-SS units, including the notorious 2nd SS 'Das Reich' Panzer Division," the ADL wrote on its website. It also noted that the Neo-Nazi group Aryan Nations included the symbol, turned on its side, into their logo.

A number of people jumped in to say not to get the tattoo, but a few people shared videos of themselves pondering the idea of getting a matching tattoo, albeit without referencing the design suggested by SmoothAvacado. Some people also shared their own designs, which still are reminiscent of the Wolfsangel.

Some people on TikTok offered their own suggestions for a Gen Z tattoo. "If you want a Gen Z tattoo, just get something that says, 'Gen Z' oh my God," user vibin.not.thriving said in a duet.

Another teen shared his own design. "It references the design of the anarchy symbol because the orginal [sic] idea behind this was was abt [sic] rebellion, revolution, and the overall anti-fascist ideology held by the majority of gen z," thatpunkkid wrote in his video. "[I]ts also not a wolfsangle [sic]."

TikTokker alayathebirdlady made a number of videos to try to explain why teens wouldn't want a Nazi symbol tattooed on them. She replied to a number of comments from people who tried to defend the tattoo. "Just because you've never heard of this symbol before, doesn't mean it's not a f**king Nazi symbol," she said. "It is so s**tty to see you say to a Jewish person that they're exaggerating when they say it's physically painful to see people tattoo a Nazi symbol onto their bodies"

Newsweek reached out to the Anti-Defamation League for Comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.