Why has it become so popular to say “Yikes”?

It's just an ironic sexy twist on an old timey exclamation. Jaysus is getting big too. Sheesh is OVER.

I've always said yikes, never stopped.

It's the ginchiest.

A surge in popularity of the Bark Bell.

Just because you've recently noticed something, doesn't mean it's new.

Scooby Doo speak is making a comeback. "Jinkies!"

I like old-timey exclamations like "consarnit," "what the heck," "oh my gosh," "what in tarnation," etc.

It’s been around a LONG time:

No!! That's my phrase. I've always said Yikes and I don't want it appropriated.

I love R6's kitty!

I have a younger co-worker of whom I'm very fond. He's very smart and professional, and reminds me of Nick Jonas. I've never known him to use any profanity. The strongest epithets I've ever heard him use are 'silly' and 'yikes'. It's so unlike so many other people of his generation. I find it very endearing.

Hahaha this youngling you're talking about is actually [italic]so[/italic] like his generation. "Yikes" has made a resurgence with the youths, as well as a number of words like "off". You can find "yikes" in its current usage on twitter, on reddit, on tiktok. It's used in response to people who say especially backwards or cringeworthy things, like most of what you'd read on DL or hear from Trump's mouth.

Thank you R10 for giving a proper response. So it’s not just me, there has been a resurgence.

Egads!

Up your alley!

It's always been 'Yipes!' for me, because ... Felix the Cat.