If it has no negative meanings, I wouldn't want to be part of a cultural movement to create a negative connotation on the word. People grow out of using such words themselves.
Given the absence of anyone claiming to be in the first category, I'm forced to conclude it's the second. Let's make sure a problem actually exists before going out of our way to solve it, hm?
(As a passing observation, I might also add that any conversation which features the magical expression "virtue signalling" is unlikely ever to be a valuable one.)
As for virtue signaling, it is a thing that exists[2], and writing off any conversation where one points out that it's happening is probably doing themselves a disservice. Much like any other kind of social signaling, it doesn't even necessarily happen consciously.
[1]: https://www.destroyallsoftware.com/talks/wat
[2]: https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2701968/virtue-signalling-me...
In my experience of conversations featuring the phrase "virtue signalling", I can only say that by the time that term is introduced, they are already worthless bullshit, or very shortly afterwards they are at considerable risk of becoming it. I'm sure it's a real thing that really happens, but I'm not certain that pointing it out ever actually does any good.
(Somewhat amusingly, your second link contained topless nudity just to the right of the main image, at least for me. I guess that's what happens when you link to The Sun, which is broadly regarded in the UK as a newspaper of ill repute.)
If there was something funny about it I'd find it much easier to ignore, but all it's communicating is that you identify with a particular subculture in our industry that I find to be immature. It's just a turn off and a bad first impression.
That said, if I needed it I'd probably still use it regardless.
You don't see me writing about how a certain gender or ethnic group are dumber than others (as a country man on HN I feel I am on the receiving end of that sometimes though).
For the definitions used here though, no: I have realized that once we start living by some of your rules you just invent more.
So I'm OK with not complaining about swearing and hope that others are OK with me writing a straightforward he/she or (s)he instead of spending valuable time on not offending people who are trying to be offended.
Honest question, are you a woman? I generally agree that our industry has to do a lot more work to make everyone feel included and utilize all the talent available. But I disagree that using the word 'bruh' should be discouraged, or that it correlates with inappropriate behavior. Especially if it's anecdotal, its just correlation, not causation, and shouldn't be read into.
(Unless 'bruh' has a meaning other than 'bro', short for 'brother', that I don't know about).