When you browse the Internet and interact on social networks, it is possible that expressions or abbreviations that you do not fully understand appear more than once. It may be because they are used by younger people, because they belong to a specific community, because they come from English or because they are so old that everyone takes them for granted, the fact is that you will not possibly know their meaning.
This happens especially on social networks like TikTok or Instagram, where they are often used by younger users, but also by any other older user – even boomers – if they are terms that become fashionable at a certain time.
In this article we are going to explain 20 of the most common ones, so that you know what these acronyms refer to if you come across them while browsing the Internet.
Acronyms and abbreviations most used on social networks such as TikTok and Instagram
-LOL: It means “laughing out loud” in English and can be used, generally as a response to a joke or joke, in any type of context.
-POV: Point of view, to indicate that it is a personal opinion. POV has a similar meaning to the next word on the list:
-IMO: In my opinion is used to emphasize that something is one's own opinion and not an objective fact.
-BAE: My number one (before anyone else), and it is used above all to talk about rankings or very close people.
-ASAP: As soon as possible, which can be translated as “as soon as possible.” It is used when something is requested with some urgency.
-ILY: It is used to say “I love you”, and comes from the English “I Love You”.
-TBH: It means “to tell the truth” or “to be honest.” (“To be honest” in English)
-NSFW: Not safe for work is a label that usually accompanies content that is best left unseen if third parties can peek at the screen.
-+1: This expression is used to show that you agree with something.
-TT: Trending topic is a Twitter expression that is used to refer to the topics that are most talked about at a given time on the social network.
-SMH: Shake my head is an expression used to show confusion or embarrassment at something.
-F4F: Follow for follow is a tag used to indicate that an account will follow back all those who follow it.
-FF: Follow Friday is an expression that was born on Twitter and is used (although not so much anymore) to recommend to the followers of an account other interesting profiles to follow.
-DM: Direct message or direct message (can also be seen as MD). Refers to private messages on a platform.
-TL: Timeline, which refers to the activity feed of social networks such as Twitter or Instagram.
-IRL: In real life is used to refer to events that occur outside the Internet.
-IDK: I don't know (I don't know). It is an abbreviation that literally expresses when a piece of information is not known.
-BTW: By the way could be translated as “by the way.”
-GL: Good luck, this expression is used especially in online games before starting a game.
-WTF: What the fuck is the expression par excellence to express confusion.
-AFK: 20 abbreviations used on the Internet that you may not have known Away from keyboard means “away from the keyboard”, and is an expression used especially in online games to indicate that the player was momentarily away from the computer.
-ICYMI: In case you missed it is used when you attach something that you think the interlocutor may not have seen.
-GTG: Got to me (I have to go) is used when you are going to leave the computer slightly abruptly. It is mainly used in online games.
-JK: Just kidding means “just kidding” and is used when you want to emphasize that you were not serious.
-HTH: Hope that helps is used when a doubt is resolved or a question is answered, expressing that it is hoped it has been useful.
-OP: Original publisher, the person who first published content that has subsequently been shared (“original poster”)
-OC: Original content (from “original content” in English).
-TIME: Tears come to my eyes, how sad, it makes me very sad… (it comes from the English “tears in my eyes”)
-SMH: Of course. It comes from shaking my head in English.
-OH: It is rumored that… (it comes from the English “overheard”, something like “too heard”)
-IDC: It means something like “I don't care”
-GL: It is used to wish luck (good luck, in English)
-AUNT: Thanks in advance (thanks in advance)
