This tongue-in-cheek hashtag is spreading knowledge and delight on social media.
Every once in a while, a hashtag comes along that is so pure and delightful, you wonder how you survived on the internet without it.
#RateASpecies is that hashtag.
It's a tongue-in-cheek hashtag that zoos, aquariums, and wildlife centers have been using to write humorous Amazon-style "reviews" of different animals. It's a silly, carefree way to learn real facts about the amazing creatures around us.
And in the vein of Dog Rates, every animal receives four stars because every animal is pretty much perfect. Trust and believe — this is koala-ty content.
Here are some of the animals coming out on top, including a few endangered, vulnerable, and otherwise surprising species.
1. Am I the last person to learn of tree kangaroos? And, if so, why didn't any of you tell me about these delightful but vulnerable creatures?
2. The tree kangaroo is not to be confused with this cuddly cutie: the red panda.
Bonus points to Minnesota Zoo for the excellent wordplay.
3. If you give a hoot about owls (and you should), consider doing something about light pollution.
4. This big cat is a gentle giant most of the day. I'm not lion.
5. Don't be alarmed. This is a mola mola, not a swimming nightmare come to life.
And if you stare long enough, it's actually kind of cute.
6. Because even creepy-crawlies deserve love. Four stars (and four terrifying screams) for your local scorpion.
7. If super floofs are more your scene, look no further than the snow leopard.
8. Or better yet, this seafaring floof: the penguin.
9. If you need something that hauls, climbs, and rests like no other, maybe a bear is more your speed.
10. This well-dressed epaulette shark has a unique look that can go from day to night.
And from water to land. Seriously!
11. I don't know how this made the list. This list is for animals — not very happy plant life!
12. Now jellyfish. This is more like it. Did you know they're 95% water?
13. Finally, an animal that's Instagram ready.
14. "Bats off" to these late-night party animals.
I'm so sorry about that attempt at wordplay. I will never be the Minnesota Zoo, and I recognize that now.
15. Nothing but respect for my predator.
Even after some ice cold seals left a pretty damning review.
16. Have you ever seen an unhappy bonobo? Probably not. And you probably never will.
17. Ain't no party like a lake sturgeon party cuz a lake sturgeon party has been going on for 150 million years.
Did your favorite fauna not make the cut? Join the party, and rate it yourself.
Because every now and then, it's possible to find pure, unadulterated delight on the internet. And if you can learn a few things along the way, it's as close to a four-star experience as you can get.
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."