# We've Reached Peak Maxxing. It's Time to Minn.

> The internet's slang explosion of '-maxxing' has become toxic, outdated, and ripe for replacement.
- Title: We've Reached Peak Maxxing. It's Time to Minn. · Vanity Fair
- Summary: The internet's slang explosion of '-maxxing' has become toxic, outdated, and ripe for replacement.
- Keywords: maxxing, internet slang, 2026, patricia lockwood, cheesecake factory, trump department of homeland security, wall street journal, ai tokenmaxxing, Vanity Fair
- Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/nominate-for-oblivion-maxxing
- Author: Hillary Busis
- Published: 2026-11-05T20:06:40.823+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: maxxing, internet slang, 2026, patricia lockwood, cheesecake factory, trump department of homeland security, wall street journal, ai tokenmaxxing
## The internet's slang explosion
The internet once allowed people to sound like themselves but now everyone talks like supplement-addled bridge trolls.
## Maxxing slang takes over
By 2026, internet users adopted '-maxxing' to describe optimization, from gymmaxxing to sleepmaxxing.
## Maxxing's ugly origin
Maxxing started in Gamergate with losers on SlutHate, using it to describe how they hoped to attract women.
## Corporate co-option of maxxing
Cheesecake Factory's Instagram and Trump's DHS used maxxing, turning it into a corporate and political tool.
## Maxxing's death knell
The Wall Street Journal declared 'thrift-maxxing' the new trend, ending AI 'tokenmaxxing' in corporate America.
## The need to minn
After 12 months of maxxing, the author is ready to abandon the trend and replace it with something better.
## Key takeaway

By 2026, internet slang '-maxxing' has become overused and offensive, signaling a need to abandon the trend.