Gen Z internet sleuths and TikTok-era writers are calling the em dash 'ChatGPT hyphen', claiming it can expose AI-generated text.
The trend started on a podcast episode and gained popularity when a comment on a fashion rebranding post mentioned the 'ChatGPT hyphen'.
The concern is about using AI-generated content without making it one's own, and the suggested rule is to sandwich AI edits between one's own voice.
While the lack of spacing around the em dash may not technically indicate AI interference, the symbolism behind it is more cultural in terms of reclaiming authorship.