These internet slang terms are for intermittent usage; don’t use them too often or you’ll be deemed uncool. It would be easy to list a hundred, but for brevity’s sake, here are some favorite Internet slang phrases.
- AMA: Ask Me Anything. This started on a website called Reddit, where an authority on a subject takes open questions.
- BAE: Before Anything Else. This acronym is generally used when referring to one’s sweetie or dear one.
- DM: Direct Message (also PM = Private Message). The default way to give permission for someone to message you in private.
- ELI5: Explain Like I’m 5. When you want a simple, short explanation of something.
- Epic: An adjective to describe anything huge or amazing.
- Facepalm: Reaction when someone says or does something incredibly stupid.
- ICYMI: In Case You Missed It. When you mention something that you think most people already know or you have said it before. Manners count.
- IMHO: In my humble opinion. Use when you’re trying to put across a point, but you don’t want to be pushy about it.
- IRL: In Real Life. Real life versus Internet life.
- JSYK: Just So You Know. This is the new way of writing FYI.
- Lulz: For the laughs. A derivative of the longstanding LOL (Laughing Out Loud), meaning you did something just for fun.
- Lurker: Someone who follows a chat or a forum but never comments. (This is a perfectly acceptable practice.)
- Meme: Superimposing a snarky comment (or captioning an image) on a photo. I would show you a screen shot, but they are generally NSFW. You can make your own memes with this meme generator.
- NSFW: Not Safe For Work. Anything marked NSFW should not be viewed on a big screen in a public environment.
- Photobomb: When someone (human or animal) unexpectedly appears in a photo. Like when your cousin Larry jumped in between you and your Bae while taking a selfie.
Photobombing for social media. - PWNED: When you’ve been PWNED, you’ve been defeated or humiliated and your opponent has victory over you. Also used as a noun: PWNAGE.
- SMH: Shaking my Head. Conveys disappointment in something someone does or says.
- TBT: Throwback Thursday. When you want to share something from the past, do it on a Thursday and tag it #TBT.
- TL;DR: Too Long; Didn’t Read. If you share an article that seems really valuable, but it went into minute detail, you might not have time to read the entire thing. Mark your comment TL;DR.
- TROLL: Trolls are people who post to annoy or anger you. They can be terribly annoying. The best advice I have is, “Don’t feed the trolls.” Just block them and move forward.
- Well played: A response when someone does something particularly well.
- YOLO: You Only Live Once. Your excuse to do something incredibly wacky.