Have you ever scrolled through your social media feed and encountered strange words or abbreviations that felt like a foreign language? Worry no more as we will introduce you to some slang terms and commonly used abbreviations and explain their meanings in this Gen Z digital world. Let’s dive in!
Gen Z stands for Generation Z, the people who were born between the mid-90s to early 2010s. They might seem naive but have mastered online communication through trending internet slang, abbreviations, and acronyms.
Today, social media abbreviations have become modern communication styles that can leave older generations scratching their head.
Whether you are a parent figuring out your kid’s latest post, a social media enthusiast trying to connect with a young audience, or someone just curious about this evolving internet language, this post pertains to your interest.
Knowing all these abbreviations will help you stay connected and communicate without googling every single time you see a new lingo.
We will delve deep into the most commonly used slang terms and abbreviations. By the end of this post, you will be able to communicate effectively and understand what is being said online.
Now get ready to become fluent with the most commonly used Gen Z social media abbreviations!
The Evolution of Online Languages
- Chatrooms and BBS (1980s to 1990): The rise of chatrooms was the initial outbreak of internet slang terms such as BRB (be right back) and LOL (laugh out loud) to type faster and save space.
- SMS (1990s to 2000s): The growth of mobile phone usage and text messaging introduced short versions of words such as b4 (before), gr8 (great), etc. to communicate within character limits.
- Social Media (2000s to present): Character limitations platforms such as Facebook and Twitter contributed to the evolution of internet language along with the use of emojis, emoticons, catchphrases, and slang terms.
- Cross-border Communication: As internet-connected people across the globe, this phenomenon united different languages and cultures and gave birth to new online slang words and phrases that are used today.
- Rise of Memes: Memes are another considerable driver of different online languages. Memes are made with trending slang or create new ones that spread in a flash across the internet world.
So, why does Gen Z use abbreviations and slang terms?
Today, using abbreviations in different social media platforms has become a tradition. For Gen Z, it is a cooler way to connect with friends and other people on popular social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
These slang terms and abbreviations not only sound and look stylish but also save the effort and time of typing words and long sentences. Abbreviations and slang terms also add informality and build a community that speaks and understands it.
These abbreviations and slang terms act as a secret code that helps Gen Z-er to connect with other people on various social media platforms, online chats, and instant messaging services, like WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, etc.
For Gen Z-ers, slang and abbreviations are a great way to hide private chats, especially from parents. Some examples of these abbreviations are:
- Parents are watching (PAW)
- Parents behind the back (PBB)
- Parents in the room (PITR)
- Parents at home (PTH)
- Keeping parents clueless (KPC)
- Parents over my shoulder (POMS)
So, this is how online slang and abbreviations are born. Let’s quickly take a look into the most commonly used Gen Z social media abbreviations.
Network-Specific Social Media Abbreviations
Here is the list of the widely used acronyms specific to social media networks. You might have heard about these terms before.
- FB: Facebook
- LI: LinkedIn
- YT: YouTube
- TW: Twitter
- IG: Instagram
There are some other acronyms based on the unique features or functionalities of these social media platforms.
Fleet: Tweet that Disappears
Fleet is a Tweet that disappears after 1 day or 24 hours. In other social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, these disappearing posts are called stories.
FYP: For You Page
In TikTok, FYP is the key timeline. This page displays popular users, viral videos, or random clips on the basis of their algorithm rules.
DM: Direct Message
DM is a private message sent to other users in the inbox. It is mostly used on Instagram and Twitter.
IB: Inspired By
IB is majorly used in TikTok captions. This slang is used for videos and reels that are inspired by other content.
MT: Modified Tweet
An MF is a tweet that is changed or modified before resharing it.
PM: Private Message
PM is a one-on-one message exchanged between users. It is mostly used on Facebook.
#XYZ BCA
This hashtag is used widely by people to make their TikTok videos viral and get multiple views. While it has no specific meaning, it is attached to the video to make it immensely viral. It is similar to #FYP and #ForYouPage.
RT: Retweet
Retweet is sharing someone else’s Tweet to one’s own feed.
Tweet: Twitter Post
Twitter post is a message shared to other users in the form of photos, text, video, or GIF (graphics interchange format).
So, these were some social media network-based abbreviations, let’s learn other popular acronyms.
Widely Used and Popular Acronyms
OMG, TBT, and TB
OMG (Oh My God)
These three letters are widely used on various social media platforms. It expresses the emotion of surprise, excitement, or disbelief.
TBT (Throwback Thursday)
TBT stands for Throwback Thursday. Using this caption, people share memories or throwback pics from the past. TBT slang is a very popular trend on Instagram.
TB (Throwback)
The majority of Gen Z-ers use ‘TB, especially on Instagram. So, what does TB mean on Instagram? It stands for throwback which means sharing a photo or memory from the past. People share nostalgic moments with their friends or followers on Instagram using ‘TB in the caption. For instance, you can share a picture of your schooling days with the caption ‘TB to the golden days’.
FOMO, SMH, and YOLO
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
FOMO is the feeling of anxiety or worry of missing out on trending social experiences and events. This acronym is used to express the wish to be included in what others are part of. For instance, if someone couldn’t attend the event last night, he or she can say ‘I have a major FOMO as I missed the event’.
SMH (Shaking My Head)
This abbreviation is used to express disbelief, frustration, or disappointment about something. If someone has a controversial opinion about something, you can say ‘SMH’ to express the disagreement.
YOLO (You Only Live Once)
Another popular Gen Z slang is YOLO which is used to encourage individuals to live the moment to the fullest. It highlights the importance of taking risks, being adventurous, and not missing out on any opportunities.
LOL, BFF, HMU, and More
LOL (Laugh Out Loud)
LOL is another Gen Z slang that has stood the test of time. It is used to show laughter or amusement in response to something hilarious. It can be used on funny memes or videos to express amusement.
BFF (Best Friends Forever)
BFF is popular with Gen Z, especially among girls, women, and even the elderly. This slang is used to describe a person’s best friend or a close group of friends. The BFF term describes someone with whom you can rely and share a very deep friendship.
HMU (Hit Me Up)
HMU stands for ‘hit me up’ which is a casual method to invite others to contact you. HMU is mostly used in bio sections or captions on social media posts. If you want to get in touch with someone, you can drop ‘HMU’ and wait for the recipient’s response.
IKR (I Know, Right)
The IKR is used for a statement you agree with or find relatable. This acronym is normally used to show understanding or solidarity.
FTW (For The Win)
FTW is another abbreviation that is quite popular among Gen Z. It is used to express enthusiasm or support for a specific thing, person, sport, or idea. This word originated from gaming, but now it is commonly used in online conversations.
NSFW (Not Safe For Work)
NSFW is a way to indicate that a particular content is unsuitable for the public or warn other users. When you come across anything explicit or inappropriate content on social media, you can use this abbreviation to warn other users and avoid uncomfortable situations.
Social Media Conversational Slangs and Acronyms
ASL: Age/Sex/Location
ASL is a revival of AOL chat room days. Thanks to TikTok, this old internet phrase from AOL chatrooms is back in style.
AMA: Ask Me Anything
This social media acronym implies an open invite for questions. This slang is used by industry experts, celebrities, influencers, and other social media users.
BTS: Behind the Scenes
BTS is often used by big brands, movie makers, celebrities, etc. to give their fans and followers a sneak peek at how things work in the field.
OOTD: Outfit Of The Day
OOTD is often used in captions and video captions to showcase daily fashion choices. This term can be used in shoes, accessories, and overall looks.
Read: How to use Visuals Effectively in Custom PowerPoint Presentations
Other Conversational Slangs in Social Media
- FBF: Flashback Friday
- 2mr: Tomorrow
- DYK: Did You Know
- F2F: Face 2 Face
- GIF: Graphics Interchange Format
- GTG: Good to Go
- BTW: By the Way
- FF: Follow Friday
- FTW: For the Win
- FBO: Facebook Official
- FYI: For Your Information
- HBD: Happy Birthday
- SMH: Shaking My Head
- HMU: Hit Me Up
- GTR: Got to Run
- ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
- HMB: Hit Me Back
- IDC: I Don’t Care
- HTH: Here to Help
- LMK: Let Me Know
- LMS: Like My Status
- IDK: I Don’t Know
- JK: Just Kidding
- MCM: Man-Crush Monday
- IRL: In Real Life
- LOL: Laugh Out Loud
- IKR: I Know, Right?
- NBD: No Big Deal
- MTF: More To Follow
- ILY: I Love You
- IM: Instant Message
- MIA: Missing In Action
- OP: Original Poster
- POV: Point of View
- NVM: Nevermind
- IMO: In My Opinion
- NM: Not Much
- OMW: On My Way
- PP: Profile Picture
- QOTD: Quote Of The Day
- SELFIE: A Picture of Yourself
- ROFL: Rolling On The Floor Laughing
- NSFW: Not Safe for Work
- TMI: Too Much Information
- TBH: To Be Honest
- TTYL: Talk To You Later
- TL;DR: Too Long; Didn’t Read
- TIL: Today I Learned
- WBW: Way Back Wednesday
- SOV: Share Of Voice
- WFH: Work From Home
- WCW: Woman-Crush Wednesday
- TY: Thank You
- YW: You’re Welcome
Other Popular Slangs Used By Gen Z-ers
Crush It
When a person is doing pretty well in some area, they are referred to as someone who is crushing it.
Clickbait
Clickbait is content with sensational headlines, descriptions, and images to drive more clicks.
Cheugy
This term is used for something that is not in trend or referring to someone basic. Gen Z uses Cheugy’ to refer to millennial trends.
Fire
The fire emoji is often used for the purpose when something is doing exceptionally well.
Fam
This term is the short word for family. Fam refers to a group of people who are very close to one’s heart or it can be one person.
It Me
It Me’ is slang for ‘that’s me’ or ‘I can relate with this’. It is a way to show that a specific post, meme, or content is applicable or relatable to him/her.
I Can’t Even
‘I can’t even’ term is used to express the emotion of overjoy or frustration.
Lit
Lit is a slang that is used to describe something intense, excellent, or exciting.
Savage
The term ‘savage is used to indicate something very harsh or commendable.
Slide Into Someone’s DMs
This refers to randomly sending a DM to another social media user in a one-on-one inbox.
Slay
Gen Z-ers use slay to refer to something exceptionally well. Slaying means extremely great.
Shadowbanned
Shadowbanned refers to a situation when content is ‘blocked’ without one’s knowledge. In such cases, the shadowbanned accounts are removed from searches and their reach will be limited.
Squad Goals
Squad goals are a set of objectives that people want to achieve as a group.
Trend Jacking
Trend jacking is all about capitalizing on trending content, topics, reels, and videos to drive more attention.
Yaas
Yaas is a trendy form of saying “yes.” This term can be used with multiple ‘Aa’s in the middle.
Throwing Shade
Throwing shade implies highlighting a negative aspect of someone’s action or behavior.
Summing Up
From understanding what TB means on Instagram to several conversational slang, now you have learned the major social media abbreviations that Gen Z commonly uses. We hope this post provided you with all the information that you were looking for. Remember, new abbreviations and terms emerge all the time, so keep yourself abreast of the latest developments and always be open to learning.