Is your content passing the vibe check?
As the internet and social media platforms evolve, the ways we communicate online change along with it. With such rapid changes, it can be challenging to keep up.
So get the notepad ready. You might want to write some of these down for future references.
Different types of content
- AMA: Ask me anything. Most notably used on Reddit, “Ask me anything” refers to crowdsourced Q&A sessions.
- ASMR: This stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”. ASMR is a popular search on YouTube. The videos are typically about soft, calming sounds to assist with sleeping, meditation or study.
- Challenges: Ever heard of the #bottlecapchallenge? These challenges are driven by social media and are popular on TikTok and Instagram.
- FBF: Flashback Friday. It’s the same as Throwback Thursday; it’s about nostalgic posts on a Friday! #FBF, #FlashbackFriday.
- FF: Follow Friday. A trend that started on Twitter, FF lets users make recommendations of accounts worth following.
- GRWM: “Get Ready With Me”. These are videos of the creator getting ready for something. These videos are usually live, so the person can chat with their followers while they get ready.
- Hauls: Haul videos are when a creator shows their followers a bunch of things they’ve recently got. Prominent influencers often do “Haul Videos” to show what brands and sponsors have given them.
- MCM: Man Crush Monday. Hashtagged on all social platforms as #ManCrushMonday or #MCM
- NSFW: Not safe/suitable for work. Content is sensitive or unsuitable for a work environment, often about nudity or profanity.
- OOTD: “Outfit of the day” – this is used on Instagram so people can show their followers what they’re wearing.
- POTD: Photo of the day. Popular on Instagram as a way for users to show off their best images.
- QOTD: Quote of the day. They are used for sharing funny or inspirational quotes.
- RT: Retweet – a Tweet that is shared with another user’s Twitter account followers.
- TBT: Throwback Thursday. Posting images from the past on Thursdays: #ThrowbackThursday, #TBT.
- UGC: User-generated content. Any content created by users of an online system.
- WCW: Woman Crush Wednesday. Hashtagged on all social platforms as #WomanCrushWednesday or #WCW.
Internet acronyms and slang
- AF: This means “As F*ck” and is used to describe something in excess. For example, on a chilly morning, you could say, “It’s cold AF outside”.
- AFAIK: As far as I know
- BAE: Before anyone else. A term of endearment for your loved one.
- Basic: Tragically mainstream
- BFF: Best friends forever. Aww.
- BRB: Be right back
- Bussin: a term used to describe delicious food.
- Caught in 4k: to catch someone red-handed.
- Cray: to be crazy.
- DAE: Does anyone else. This is a term used when people share something embarrassing.
- DFTBA: Don’t forget to be awesome
- Doomscrolling: The hypnotic state of endlessly reading grim news on the internet and social media. Very 2020!
- Drip: used to describe someone with swagger or someone who dresses well.
- ELI5: Explain like I’m 5. Use this when you want someone to explain something simply.
- Extra: To be “extra” is to be dramatic and over the top.
- Facepalm: When someone does or says something a bit stupid.
- Fam: Short for family.
- Fire: When something is outstanding.
- Fit: This one has two meanings, depending on what side of the pond you’re on! The British version of the term means attractive, while in the United States, it’s just a shortened version of “outfit.”
- Flex: To “flex” is to flaunt and show off.
- FOMO: Fear of missing out.
- FTFY: “Fixed that for you” means that someone has fixed an error you made on a post.
- FTW: For the win. An exclamation of excitement, but more often used sarcastically.
- GOAT: Greatest of all time.
- HBD: Happy birthday.
- HMU: Hit me up.
- HTH: Happy to help/here to help.
- I can’t even: an inability to convey feelings or thoughts properly due to being incredibly overjoyed or frustrated.
- I’m dead: I’m laughing so hard about something that you’ve died – dying of laughter.
- ICYMI: In case you missed it
- IDK: I don’t know
- IKR: I know, right?
- ILY: I love you
- IMO/IMHO: In my opinion/In my humble opinion. Distinguishing opinion from fact.
- IRL: In real life
- It me: Used when someone can relate to something, usually a quote or meme.
- IYKYK: If you know, you know.
- JIC: Just in case
- JK: Just kidding. Used for conveying a light-hearted tone.
- JOMO: The joy of missing out
- LEL: A satirical abbreviation of LOL – laugh out loud.
- Lit: Used to describe something that’s very cool or exceptionally good, similar to ‘fire’.
- LMAO: Laughing my a** off
- LMK: Let me know
- Lowkey: To be slightly or discreetly into something. The opposite of “high key” (when you’re very into something).
- NIL: Next in line is used on Facebook buy and sell groups. If an item has been sold, someone can write NIL if the buyer pulls out.
- NMU: Not much, you?
- NVM: Nevermind.
- Mid: used to describe something as low quality or average.
- On fleek: Something that’s very on point.
- Salty: To be “salty” is to be annoyed, upset, or bitter, usually about something minor.
- Savage: When someone or something is exceptionally harsh. Often used as praise!
- Sending me: used to describe something that you found hilarious.
- Shook: To be “shook” is to be significantly affected by something.
- Slay: You’re “slaying” something if you do it exceptionally well.
- SMH: Shaking my head. Conveys frustration or disbelief.
- Stan: “Stan” means to be an overzealous and obsessive fan of something or someone.
- Tea: “Tea” is the gossip, and “spilling the tea” is the act of sharing the gossip.
- TFW: That feeling when… Used for sharing a relatable experience.
- TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday
- TIL: Today, I learned…
- THIRSTY: No, we don’t want a glass of water. Thirsty is slang for being very interested in another person.
- TL;DR: Too long; didn’t read. When someone hasn’t read what you’ve written but wants to reply anyway. It is also used to give a brief synopsis of a post or article.
- TBH: To be honest
- TMI: Too much information
- Vibe check: A spontaneous and usually random time where someone checks your vibe.
- WFH: Work from home
- YEET: YEET means to be very happy about something and is often associated with a dance move or throwing something.
- YOLO: You only live once. Used jokingly and also literally, often associated with risky behaviour.
- YSK: You should know
- Zoombombing: An unwanted, disruptive intrusion of a virtual meeting.
