by Justine Pearl Uy, Grade 12 Martin Luther
Over the years that the Internet has been used by millions of people to communicate with one another daily, a special form of language — internet slang — was eventually developed and its use in the online world has now become very widespread. Common expressions such as “LOL” and “IKR!” are well-known examples of Internet Slang, often used by Internet users to better express their thoughts and emotions in an understandable but convenient manner. Internet slang ranges from sets of acronyms, abbreviations, and terms which were coined in order to suit the characteristics and needs of the online community.
With the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internet has quickly become the primary means of communication for many. Specifically, social media and messaging platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Discord are now some of the most popular applications of our generation. As individuals constantly spend their time on these platforms, they become more exposed to the use of Internet Slang. However, while these terms may already be second nature for netizens, especially those belonging in Generation Z, others may have never encountered them before. Because many interactions and forms of communication now take place on the Internet, such as online classes, knowing the common forms of language that are being used by netizens is all the more essential. That being said, how well do you know Internet slang? Here is a list of 7 common Internet Slangs that you may want to begin with!
1. HBU: How ‘bout you?
This seems to be a favorite follow-up question for most of us, including myself. It allows us to know more about the people we are talking to, as well as their thoughts and opinions on certain topics. Oftentimes, it also keeps the conversation going between people, and so it is surely convenient and helpful to add a little “hbu?” at the end of your messages!
2. JK: Just kidding!
Conversations which are filled with fun and laughter are the best, aren’t they? But at the end of the day, it is still a good practice to let our friends know that we are jk — just kidding! This lightens the mood of any online conversation and lets the other person know that something should not be taken too personally or with offense.
3. IMO : In my opinion
As it is common for people to share their own ideas and sentiments about a certain topic, “imo” is often added in a sentence to make it clear that something is simply one’s own opinion. It is also used to avoid any possible conflicts or disagreements among our friends and fellow netizens, while still allowing us to freely voice out our opinions.
4. TYT: Take your time
While “ty” is a commonly known acronym for “thank you”, “tyt” is often used as an acronym for “take your time” (although it may also be used by some as “thank you too”). Opposite to the common ASAP messages, Tyt is usually used when someone is asking for a favor, which is not so urgent. On the part of the receiver, it would be such a relief to receive this message!
5. TL;DR: Too Long; Didn’t Read
In casual online conversations, sending a long message with huge chunks of paragraphs may seem overwhelming at times. This is why internet users would write a shorter message labeled “tl;dr”, containing a gist of the entire message. Next time your classmate asks you to explain the assigned chapters of a home-reading novel, you may also want to go the extra mile and add a “tl;dr” section below! 😉
6. SS: Screenshot
This term might be less familiar to other Internet users, but it is actually an abbreviation for the word “Screenshot”, which is done to capture the exact things displayed on one's screen. With the continuous rise of technology, taking screenshots of certain images and other information have become common activities and doing this would come in handy, just in case someone asks for a screenshot — ss for short!
7. F2F: Face to Face
Despite being used to having online conversations, at the end of the day, face-to-face interactions still hold a special place in our hearts, especially during the pandemic. As the full version may be quite lengthy to type for a phrase which we tend to bring up often, f2f serves as the right alternative!
With the hundreds of trendy Internet Slang terms used online, this list may not be considered comprehensive, but hopefully, it gives you an overview on the type of language which is prevalent online. In addition, like any other language, Internet slang is constantly evolving and being developed for the convenience of the generation which uses it, and these terms actually tell us something about the people who use them as well. Nonetheless, it is important to stay updated in order for us to better relate and express ourselves to the online community we belong in!
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Cover Image Reference:
McFadden, C. (2020). Social Media Blocks [Online Image]. Interesting Engineering. Retrieved from https://interestingengineering.com/a-chronological-history-of-social-media