Ten acronyms that could just make your life online a little easier
These 10 acronyms could just help you get through your next scroll through Facebook.
Whether you’re new to the social media scene, or a seasoned veteran in the art of keeping your followers updated, these 10 acronyms could prove useful.
You could be scrolling through your Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter feed, or simply be texting and get hit with an acronym you’ve never seen before. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In light of this, here are 10 acronyms you could use to up your social media game:
1. tl;dr
Originally, ‘tl;dr’ was an insult, used in reaction to some post, comment, or content seen as wordy or longwinded — as if literally saying “This is way too long, so I didn’t read it”. By 2005, ‘tl;dr’ had taken on a second meaning as a shorthand for a “summary,” frequently called the tl;dr version of a longer account or article.
2. H/T
Back in the olden days (think the 19th and 20th centuries), men always wore hats. And, the way that they expressed their respect for someone was with a hat tip, tipping their hat brim a little bit to someone. That’s where the acronym H/T (also sometimes used without the diagonal slash) comes in. It means hat tip, or tip of the hat—a way of recognising the original source of a meme, expression, image, or idea on social media.
3. LBS
LBS means ‘laughing but serious’. It’s a great acronym to throw in after a text or social-media post to show everyone that you definitely don’t take yourself too seriously … however, what you’re writing or posting about is a concern. Sarcasm is tricky business in the digital world.
4. IMHO
IMHO is an acronym used mostly in texting, email, and social media that means “in my humble opinion”. It was first used in the 1980s in online forums, and decades later, some began erroneously attributing the H to the word honest. These days, IMHO is always taken to mean “in my honest opinion.”
5. WOC
WOC stands for “women of colour.” It’s a good acronym to know because you’ll probably see it pop up in articles and social-media feeds a lot these days.
6. DWS
You may know DWS as the acronym for ‘driving while suspended’. But, there’s a more fun, more useful meaning too: “dealing with s#!t”.
7. MUA
If you’re looking for tips on how to get your eyeliner ‘just right’ or advice on the best foundation for your skin type, you might want to check out some of the MUAs on social media. MUA is an acronym found mostly on social media that means ‘makeup artist’.
8. SWAG
You may have not known it, but SWAG is an acronym! It stands for “stuff we all get,” and it usually refers to free promotional or marketing items.
9. WYD
WYD is a texting and internet acronym that stands for “What (are) you doing?” or “What (would) you do?”. WTP is similar … but a little more on the nose, meaning “What’s the plan?,” or “What’s the play?”.
10. HMU
HMU is an abbreviation for the phrase “hit me up”. It’s often posted online to announce that you’re looking for something to do and to encourage others to reach out to you. In a one-on-one exchange, it’s an invitation for continued contact, meaning “text me,” or “call me,” or simply “let’s talk again”.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at northsider@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
