There was a time when using technology meant learning how machines talked—codes, commands, shortcuts, and stiff instructions. Somewhere between social media timelines, meme culture, and nonstop group chats, that dynamic flipped. Now, it’s technology that’s learning how people talk online.
Canva, long the go-to visual communication tool for students, creators, and modern workplaces, is leaning fully into that shift. Today, the platform unveiled Chronically Online mode in English, a new language style inspired by internet-native users who think phrases like “make it pop, but subtle yk” are perfectly valid creative directions.
For digitally native teams who grew up designing school projects on Canva and now use it in boardrooms and Slack channels, the move feels almost inevitable. As online slang seeps into professional spaces, Canva is meeting users where they already are—linguistically and culturally.
Officially labeled English (chronically online), the feature is a fully functional language setting inside Canva that transforms the entire experience. Buttons, tooltips, and even Canva AI chats now speak fluent internet, mirroring the shorthand and tone people use every day online. It’s not just playful flair; it reflects how users already interact with the platform.
Canva has noticed a growing number of AI prompts filled with phrases like “main character energy” or “give it chaotic good vibes.” Instead of forcing users to translate their thoughts into formal instructions, Canva is recognizing internet language as a practical creative shortcut—one that gets ideas across faster and more intuitively.
Beyond the interface makeover, Canva is also rolling out a set of extremely online templates, packed with subtle easter eggs for users who live deep in internet culture.
The timing isn’t accidental. By 2030, Gen Z is expected to make up nearly 30 percent of the U.S. workforce, and Canva already has a front-row seat to how this generation creates, collaborates, and communicates. Internet-born language, shaped by countless online subcultures, is no longer niche—it’s influencing how teams brainstorm, give feedback, and work together.
That shift shows up clearly in user behavior. Over the past year, searches on Canva featuring terms like “slay” surged by 98 percent, “rizz” jumped 88 percent, and “spill the tea” rose 47 percent, underscoring just how embedded online slang has become in everyday creative work.
Canva currently supports more than 260 million monthly users across over 100 languages. With Chronically Online mode, it’s adding another—one that doesn’t come from a country or region, but from the internet itself.
For users ready to embrace it, going chronically online is simple. Head to Settings in Canva, open the Language section, and select English (chronically online). From there, it’s vibes, memes, and main-character creativity all the way.