An emerging list of new-age abbreviations have begun to dominate the way social media users connect and communicate – and it is only set to get longer.
The minefield of new meanings, at least according to social media marketing agency wearesocial.com.au, have grown from the days of the simple yet effective LOL (Laughing Out Loud) abbreviation to a list as long as 60.
And the social media savvy are now employing them in every day communication.
Those using the abbreviations do so as a tactic for speed in text communication, a university professor in linguistics said, while others just choose to do so because they are a code that older people don’t quite understand.
WeAreSocial.com.au managing director Julian Ward said the various different shortcuts, which range from the compassionate ILY (I Love You) to the more profane abbreviations are commonplace now and indicate the changing way people harness social media.
The top ranking term was, LOL which was used a total of 1,242,935.
But now some abbreviations have become so complex that if sent alone without an accompanying graphic or visual element to give them context, have no meaning.
Here are 60 simple abbreviations that are used most commonly. (I have deleted the definitions of the profane. You can see the full list at WeAreSocial.com.au)
- LOL: Laugh out loud
2. OMG: Oh my god
3. ILY: I love you
6. PPL: People
7. IDK: I don’t know
8. TBH: To be honest
9. BTW: By the way
10. THX: Thanks
11. SMH: Shaking my head
13. AMA: Ask me anything
15. TBT: Throwback Thursday
16. JK: Just kidding
17. IMO: In my opinion
18. YOLO: You only live once
19. ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
20. MCM: Mancrush Monday
21. IKR: I know right?
22. FYI: For your information
23. BRB: Be right back
24. GG: Good game
25. IDC: I don’t care
26. TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday
27. NSFW: Not safe for work
28. ICYMI: In case you missed it
30. WCW: Womancrush Wednesday
31. IRL: In real life
32. BFF: Best friends forever
33. OOTD: Outfit of the day
34. FTW: For the win
35. Txt: Text
36. HMU: Hit me up
37. HBD: Happy birthday
38. TMI: Too much information
39. NM: Not much
41. NVM: Nevermind
43. FBF: Flashback Friday
45. FOMO: Fear of missing out
47. OMW: On my way
48. POTD: Photo of the day
49. LMS: Like my status
50. GTG: Got to go
52. TTYL: Talk to you later
53. AFAIK: As far as I know
54. LMK: Let me know
56. SFW: Safe for work
57. HMB: Hit me back
58. TTYS: Talk to you soon
59. FBO: Facebook Official
60. TTYN: Talk to you never
You can see the full list at WeAreSocial.com.au