In our Glossary below, we define the terms you need to know in the realm of social media, cyberbullying, and online safety, so that you are increasingly informed about technological jargon as you work with the youth under your care.
(You can also download a distributable PDF of our Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Technology Terms Glossary).
Citation: Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2025). Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Online Safety Glossary. Retrieved [insert date], from https://cyberbullying.org/pdfs/2025-social-media-cyberbullying-online-safety-glossary.pdf
13th Reason: slang used online to refer to a person or event that pushes someone to their emotional or mental breaking point. The term came from the show 13 Reasons Why. It’s commonly used humorously or sarcastically.
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP): A policy that schools and other organizations create to define the responsibilities and appropriate behaviors of computer and network users.
Affiliate links: Special web links that help people earn money when others buy products through them. These links are often used by influencers and content creators to earn money from their recommendations.
Algorithm: A promotion strategy that is determined through your interactions with other posts in order to decide the posts to place at the beginning of your news feed.
Alpha: Slang used to describe someone dominant and cool.
Among Us: A murder mystery online game where you work with other players (Crewmates) to fix a spaceship while trying to determine who the killers (Impostors) are.
Android: Operating system created by Google. Android powers smartphones and tablets.
Anonymizer: An intermediary website that hides or disguises the IP address associated with the Internet user. Generally, these sites allow a person to engage in various Internet activities without leaving an easily traceable digital footprint.
App: Abbreviation for “application,” it is a piece of software, primarily referring to those used on smartphones, tablets, and other touch-based devices.
Archive: This is a feature primarily on Instagram where users can access previous stories after 24 hours when they disappear from their followers’ home page. Snapchat has a similar feature where users can save their stories before or after posting to their friends. The media will then save to their Snapchat “Memories” which are always available for a user to look back on.
Ask.fm: An app where users can ask and answer others’ questions with the option of doing so anonymously.
Ate: Slang that is used to describe someone doing something exceptionally well, often with confidence and style. Relatedly, “ate and left no crumbs” means a person achieved greatness with some task or goal.
Aura Points: Slang used to describe someone’s vibes, energy, and personality.
Avatar: A virtual image that users create to look like them. Avatars are available on Facebook which allows users to customize their avatar’s wardrobe, facial features, and background. Users can then send and post their Avatar as a sticker to friends. Snapchat has a similar feature like this called Bitmoji.
Bash Board: An online bulletin board on which individuals can post anything they want. Often, posts are malicious and hateful statements directed against another person.
Bed Rotting: Slang that means spending an extended amount of time lying in bed, often doing nothing like scrolling through your phone, watching TV, or napping. It’s typically associated with self-indulgence, relaxation, or a way of coping with stress, burnout, or emotional overwhelm.
Beige Flag: Slang that means that something is neither good nor bad, but makes you pause for a minute when you notice it, It refers to something odd.
BeReal: An app that for people to share real moments. It asked users to take a photo at a random time each day and gave users two minutes to take a photo using both the front and back cameras of their phone to show what they were doing in that moment. BeReal became popular in 2021, but it peaked in early 2022. As of 2024, it has around 23 million users, as compared to 2022 when the app had 73.5 million.
Beta: Slang used to describe someone who is considered weak. Used often in contrast to ‘alpha.’
Big back: Slang that refers to someone that is always eating. It can also be used to insult someone that is overweight.
Bio: A short description of a person on their social media platform. Often, a “Bio” will include relevant information about a person’s interests or preferences. It also sometimes includes personal information such as school name, where they are from, the initials or social media handle of their boyfriend/girlfriend, their pronouns, etc. In addition, a relevant link may be present too in order to provide additional details to interested parties.
Blocking: The denial of access to particular parts of the Internet. Usually, a message will be shown on screen to say that access has been denied. For example, Facebook users can block other users from sending them messages or seeing their posts.
Blog: Interactive Web journal or diary, the contents of which are posted online where they are viewable by some or all individuals. The act of updating a blog is called “blogging.” A person who keeps a blog is referred to as a “blogger.” The term was created by combining “web” and “log.”
Brawl Stars (Game): A mobile game where players compete in fast-paced, team-based battles. In the game, players choose from a variety of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, and work together to complete objectives or fight against other teams.
Bullicide: Suicide that results directly or indirectly from bullying victimization. The relationship between bullying and suicide is complex and for that and other reasons, many researchers have concerns with the utilization of this term.
Canceled: When individuals are collectively and very publicly shamed online for disappointing others with their opinions or actions. This often leads to major damage to the canceled person’s reputation when considering the power of vocal groups on social media committed to a cause.
Cap: Slang that means “to lie.” If someone is capping, it means that they are lying.
Caption: A short blurb or sentence that describes the user’s photo or video usually to receive higher engagement on posts.
Catfishing: In the online world, catfishing refers to the practice of setting up a fictitious online profile, most often for the purpose of luring another into a fraudulent romantic relationship.
CD9: Used when youth want to convey to others that they can’t talk openly because parents, teachers, or other adults are nearby. Short for “Code 9.”
Challenge: This term largely referred to a TikTok user recording themselves doing a particular challenge that has gone viral due to popularity. (These are now referred to as “Trends”). They can include dancing, posing a particular way, using an object/product, using a filter, etc. For example, the Cereal Challenge where a user would lie down on their back while a friend/family member pours cereal and milk in their mouth as the user attempts to swallow the contents, although most challengers spitted up the contents altogether. The Alphabet Challenge involves users who decide on a scenario and have to keep a conversation by starting their sentence with A and keeping the conversation with the letters of the alphabet.
Chat: An online real-time conversation, typically carried out by people who use nicknames instead of their real names. A person can continually read messages from others in the “chat room” and then type and send a message reply.
Chat Room: A virtual online room where groups of people send and receive messages on one screen. Popular chat rooms can have hundreds of people all communicating at the same time. Typed messages appear instantly as real-time conversation. All of the people in the room are listed on the side of the screen with their screen names.
ChatGPT: An advanced AI language model created by OpenAI. It is designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. ChatGPT can engage in conversations, answer questions, assist with writing tasks, and provide information on a wide range of topics, making it a versatile tool for various applications.
Cheesing: In gaming, this means that a player is reducing an opponent’s health by forcing them to respond to moves that are difficult or impossible to block. On social media, this involves the juvenile challenge of sticking cheese on cars as an act of vandalism. In photos, it means the subject is grinning widely and without any embarrassment or reservation.
Cheugy (also called “Cringe”): A term used on social media to describe users who appear to be out-of-date with current trends such as fashion, captions (including hashtags), technology, foods, etc.
Clock: To notice or realize something (e.g., “I clocked that shady look they gave me.”
Close Friends (CF)/ Private Stories: These are features on social media platforms that allow users to share content only with a select group of people. Instead of posting something to everyone who follows them, users can choose a smaller group of “Close Friends” (Instagram) or use “Private Stories” (Snapchat) to ensure only those selected people see the content. This allows for more personal or exclusive sharing and is often used by youth to post what they do not want their parents to know about as well. Its use is similar to a Finsta.
Clubhouse: An audio-based social app where individuals can gather and connect in channels to discuss certain topics on a regular or ad-hoc basis. While each person is represented by an icon-based avatar but shares only their voice with others.
Coded: Something coded means that it is typical of a specific group, and has their characteristics (e.g.,Millennial-coded, Ariana Grande-coded, Queer-coded).
Connections: Used on LinkedIn to refer to the number of people following a user.
Cook/Let them cook: Slang for letting someone keep doing what they’re doing, especially if it seems like they’re onto something good, or are performing great. It’s like saying, “Give them a chance; they might surprise us!”
Cooked: Describes a situation or person that is ruined or in a tough spot. It is also a synonym for “f***ed.”
Cookie: A file on a computer or other electronic device that records user information when visiting a website. Cookies are often used to identify the websites that the device has visited, save login information and customization preferences, and enable the presentation of more personalized information or content.
Copilot (Microsoft): A generative AI chatbot that suggests content, offers writing or data insights, and automates repetitive tasks. Copilot aims to make working with Microsoft apps easier and more efficient.
Coquette: Mainly an aesthetic based on girlhood and embracing a fun-loving, bubbly personality. It includes a variety of subtypes such as vintage, y2k, classic Americana etc. For instance, a girl wearing a bow in her head with a cute little bag would be considered coquette. “Omg I love your bag, that is so coquette.”
Cray cray: Slang used to refer to someone who is crazy, or out of their mind. “She is cray cray if she thinks I will finish this amount of homework in two days.” used in singularly (“cray”).
Cuffed: Tied down in a committed relationship. Related to “cuffing szn” which is the season of the year when individuals are looking for new romantic relationships.
Cyberbullicide: Suicide resulting directly or indirectly from cyberbullying victimization. The relationship between cyberbullying and suicide is complex and for that and other reasons, many researchers have concerns with the utilization of this term.
Cyberbullying: Intentional and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.
Cyberspace: The electronic “universe” created by computer networks in which individuals interact.
Cyberstalking: Repeated harassment using electronic devices and networked technology that includes threats of harm, or that is highly intimidating and intrusive upon one’s personal privacy.
Cyberthreats: Electronic material that either generally or specifically raises concerns that the creator may intend to inflict harm or violence to others, or to themselves.
Dashboarding: When online users (usually on gaming consoles) rapidly switch from online in-game play to the home screen for their console or other devices. Gamers do this when they are losing badly, and don’t want the game to register their demise, or lack of kills, or another metric that demonstrates poor performance.
Decoy Apps: Apps used to store private information, such as photos, videos, voice recordings, or texts. They look like everyday apps such as a calculator so offer a secure way to hide certain information. They also are called vault, secret, or ghost apps. A teen may use this on their phone to secretly store sexual pictures and videos that they don’t want their parents to see.
Delulu: A person who is delusional and like to imagine things. It is often used tongue-in-cheek: “I am in love with John Summit, but I know he does not even know who I am. I am so delulu.”
Demure: Slang that caught on because a creator’s video went viral where he said, “This is how I do my makeup for work, nothing crazy, very classy, very demure.” Now it is used for when people think something is classy, elegant, and modest.
Diabolical (Devious) Lick: A social media trend where students post videos of themselves perceivably or actually stealing or destroying property from their schools.
Digital Evidence: Tangible signs, proof, information, or data that demonstrate some behavior. This could be a screenshot, a record of Internet activity, a saved piece of content, etc.
Digital Footprint: Evidence of a person’s use of the Internet, typically focusing on dates and times of specific websites visited. This includes anything that can be linked to a user’s existence, presence, or identity. See also, “cookie.”
Digital Immigrant: A person who has not grown up with digital technology, such as smartphones, social media, and the Internet, but has adopted it later. Many adults are referred to as digital immigrants, because they have known a time when these technologies didn’t exist.
Digital Native: A person who has grown up with digital technology, such as smart phones, social media, and the Internet. Many adolescents or young adults would be classified as digital natives, because they have not known a time without these technologies.
Direct Message (DM): A way to communicate privately on social media websites that include an inbox of chat messages from followers and requests from strangers who want to send you a private message. Some apps on which you can DM others include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Facebook Messenger, and LinkedIn.
Discord: An app and website that allows individuals who share an interest (e.g., a specific video game, hobby, or topic) to communicate via video, voice, text chat, and screen sharing. You can even integrate it with your gaming console and join others’ servers, set up your own, and create channels/categories. While mostly used for gaming, it has communities for tons of other uses such as Netflix shows, anime, schoolwork, dance, books, and more.
Discover: An exclusive section of Snapchat that allows users to browse through news publishers, influencers, and other brands that are created in story format. Users are able to subscribe to content they enjoy most and that content will appear at the top of their Discover section. Some examples of popular Discover content include NBC Stay Tuned, Daily Mail, Seen Stories, and Transformed.
Double Tap: Used to describe a user liking (or “hearting”) another user’s content by double-tapping their screen.
Duet: When a TikTok user posts a video that includes their video and another user’s video content side by side. Often, the TikTok user who decides to do the duet will be narrating what’s going on in the other video or will be simultaneously doing the same actions.
Edits: Clips of one or multiple people that are done to make said person or thing look cool. Such “edits” include applying filters, adding text, incorporating special effects, or stitching together multiple clips to create a new, engaging piece of content.
Engagement: Any activity that a social media user does towards your content that generates a notification to you. This can include liking or reacting to a post, commenting, saving, or posting on a timeline.
Fabotage: Slang for ‘Facebook Sabotage’ and used to describe hijacking, and meddling with, someone’s Facebook account while it is unattended.
Facebook: The most popular social media app with over 3 billion monthly active users. Users can create personal “profiles” to represent themselves, listing interests and posting photos and communicating with others through private or public posts and messages. They can also join groups about common interests, play games with friends, buy and sell goods and services, run a business, plan events, and more.
Fan: A Facebook user that likes a business page on Facebook.
Fanum Tax: Slang used when someone steals something, more specifically someone’s food. It started by creator Fanum because he would jokingly “tax” other members of his crew by taking bits of their food when they were eating.
Feed: Sometimes referred to as a “news feed,” a feed is the main tab on social media where users scroll to interact with other media content and like/react to a post. This is also where users will see advertisements displayed while scrolling.
Fein: When someone desires something badly (e.g., he feins for tacos, I am feining for Celsius, man). It became more popular with Travis Scott’s song “FE!N” where it refers to an addict, or someone addicted to substances.
Filtering: The act of restricting access to certain websites or social media platforms. For example, a filter might compare the text on a web page against a list of forbidden words. If a match is found, that web page may be blocked or reported through a monitoring process. Generally speaking, a filter allows or denies access based on previously specified rules.
Finsta: combining the words Fake and Instagram, a finsta is a secondary Instagram account which is usually meant for a smaller, private audience, and allows the user to share pictures and videos in an unfiltered and more natural way without having to make each shot perfect or socially acceptable.
Firewall: Hardware or software that restricts and regulates incoming and outgoing data to or from computer systems. Firewalls allow or disallow access to certain websites or social media platforms.
Flaming: Sending angry, rude, or obscene messages directed at a person or persons privately or an online group. A “flamewar” erupts when “flames” are sent back and forth between individuals repeatedly.
Fleek: Slang that means something extremely good, attractive, or stylish (“My eyebrows are on fleek”).
Following: The act of requesting another person to connect with your online social network (on Twitter, Instagram and similar sites).
Friending: The act of requesting another person to connect with your online social network (on Facebook).
FYP: “For You Page” is TikTok’s home screen and also refers to the feed you see that displays a curated assortment of videos that the app’s algorithms believe you will like. Users typically want their TikToks to be featured on the FYP because it increases the chances it will go viral.
Gallery: An Instagram feature allowing uploads of up to ten photos/videos in one post.
Gamergate: Controversy involving issues of sexism and progressivism in video game culture, stemming from a harassment campaign conducted primarily through the use of Twitter (and other platforms).
Gaming: Participation in video (often online) games, which involve individuals adopting roles of fictional characters, thereby directing the outcome.
Gaming Console: A device designed for users to run video games on a television. Popular consoles include the Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Switch).
Geolocation: The process or technique of identifying the geographical location of a person or device by means of digital information processed via the Internet.
Geotagging: The process of adding geographical information to various pieces of digital content in the form of metadata. The data usually consists of coordinates like latitude and longitude, but may even include bearing, altitude, distance and place names. Geotagging is most commonly used for photos and videos and can help people get a lot of specific information about where the shot was taken, or the exact location of a friend who logged on to make a post.
GG: In video game parlance, it means “good game” to convey appreciation to someone else for playing with you.
Ghosting: The act of ignoring someone who has messaged or otherwise reached out to you; disappearing from any interactions with them. Often refers to the context of romantic relationships and/or dating apps.
Girl math: An internet meme that describes the process of playfully justifying large or unnecessary purchases.
Google Gemini (previously known as Bard): An AI-powered chatbot developed by Google that helps users find information, answer questions, and assist with various tasks. Google Bard became Google Gemini on February 8th, 2024.
Griefing: When a player in an online game deliberately irritates and harasses other players within the game.
Grindr: The world’s largest online platform for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
Grooming: Some people use online mediums across the Internet to connect with children so that they can exploit them or even blackmail them for sexual purposes. Befriending a child in this way is called grooming.
GroupMe: A group chat app that allows you to create groups (such as family, relatives, friends, team members, whatever you want) and send text, memes, hyperlinks, images, and videos. It works on every smartphone and even on the Web, and it allows you to quickly send messages without having to compile a list of addressees.
GYAT/GYATT: This word has two meanings. It can be an expression of excitement or admiration and originated from “G** damn” but has most commonly been used by Gen Z/Gen A to describe people’s butts. (“Negative 1 gyatt” indicates that the person does not have a big butt).
Hacking: The act of circumventing security and breaking into an authorized location (a network, computer, file, etc.), usually with malicious intent.
Handle: A username on social media that is accommodated with the @ symbol in order to tag a friend, organization, or other page on social media posts.
Happy Slapping: An extreme form of bullying where physical assaults are recorded on electronic devices like phones, and then sent to others or posted online. This term is more commonly used in the United Kingdom.
Harassment: Unsolicited words or actions intended to annoy, alarm, or abuse another individual. Often based on a protected status (e.g., sex, race, disability, or sexual orientation).
Hashtag: A descriptor or label preceded by the pound (#) sign that helps others easily find content related to that word or phrase. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, for example, allow users to look up and click through hashtags to find other users’ content that are also listed (tagged) with that hashtag.
Hate raids: A phenomena on Twitch where abusive streamers and bots flood a creator’s channel with hateful messages. Targets have typically been Black and LGBTQ+ streamers.
Highlights: This feature is used on Instagram which allows users to keep their 24-hour stories visible to followers on their profile page. Highlights appear under an Instagram user’s bio in the shape of circles like a regular story will appear. Users can personalize their highlights with pictures, words, and emojis in order to organize stories the user wants to keep visible.
Houseparty: A video chat app (defunct as of October 2021) that gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. You were able to add friends based on the phone numbers stored in your contacts list, or search for their usernames. Once you open the app, you could join “rooms” (chats) with other friends who were currently using the app.
IYKYK: “If you know, you know.”
Influencer: An individual who can sway an audience through a digital platform. This term is often used in relation to social media marketing, promotion, and other related efforts.
Instagram: An app where users can apply filters to photos and videos before posting them for others to like and comment on. Users can also share their content on other social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
Instant Messaging: The act of real-time messages sent and received between two or more people over a network such as the Internet. This can occur through software such as WeChat, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Viber, and Facebook Messenger.
Internet: A worldwide network of computers communicating with each other via phone lines, satellite links, wireless networks, and cable systems.
iOS: Operating system created by Apple Inc. iOS powers iPhones and iPads.
IP Address: “Internet Protocol” address. A unique address assigned to a computing device that allows it to send and receive data with other computing devices that have their own unique addresses.
IRC: “Internet Relay Chat.” A network over which real-time conversations take place among two or more people in a “channel” devoted to a specific area of interest. See also “chat” or “chat room.”
ISP: “Internet Service Provider.” The company that provides an Internet connection to individuals or companies. ISPs can help with identifying an individual who posts or sends harassing or threatening words.
Kik: A communications app which facilitates cross platform (iOS and Android) instant messaging across phones or tablets in an attractive interface. Users can send links, pictures, videos, group messages, etc.
Linktree: Allows users to create a single link that directs to multiple links. Instead of sharing several different links, users can use LinkTree to generate one link that leads to all their important pages, such as social media profiles, websites, or other relevant links. Often used by content creators and influencers.
Looksmaxxing: Maximizing or enhancing one’s looks through diet, skincare and other techniques. It can also mean “trying to look attractive.”
Meme: A virally transmitted cultural symbol or social idea. Most modern memes are captioned photos or videos that are intended to be funny, often to publicly ridicule human behavior. Others are popular for depicting traits or experiences that many others can totally relate to.
Mewing: To “look good.” It is when people, often tweens, try to sharpen their jawline in certain moments. However, it is defined as a form of oral posture training purported to improve jaw and facial structure. It was named after Mike and John Mew, two orthodontists who created the technique.
Mid: Slang that is used to describe something mediocre or average. Normally it is used for when something is neither particularly good nor bad, just average.
MMORPG: Acronym that stands for: “Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.” A game in which large numbers of individuals from various locations connect and interact with each other in a virtual world online.
Mog/Mogger: A “mogger” is someone who consistently outperforms or outshines others. It can be used as a verb, like: “I mog you,” which means I look better than you. It is used to compare between individuals’ physical appearance and attractiveness.
Monitoring: The recording and reporting of online activity, usually through software, which may log a history of all Internet use, or just of inappropriate use.
Mutuals: When two individuals friend or follow each other on social media.
Netiquette: “Network etiquette.” The unofficial rules of accepted, proper social conduct online.
Network: Two or more computers connected so that they can communicate with each other.
Newbie: Someone who is new to, and inexperienced with, an Internet activity or technology. Also referred to as a newb, n00b, nob, noob, or nub.
Nice try Diddy: Following several accusations against rapper Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, this comment is used on various ads and posts to make fun of the fact that P. Diddy has ventured into many unrelated enterprises. It is a way of saying “Nice try Diddy you’re not taking my money.”
Ohio: Although a state in the US, it also is considered a meme and slang that is used to describe weird or unusual things. It can also be used to describe someone that is a loser. In the last few years, “Ohio” became known as the state where crazy posts originate from, beginning the “Only in Ohio” trend and insinuating that strange things only occur in Ohio.
Omegle: A platform where people from all over the world could connect and speak to each other via webcam conversations. Defunct as of November 2023.
Omega: Slang that means something or someone below average and/or not cool. Typically refers to a person who is at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Opposite of alphas and sigmas; if someone is described as ‘omega,’ they are perceived as weak.
OnlyFans: A subscription-based online platform that allows creators to sell their video streams and content. It originally gained notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic and is/was used by those in the pornography industry, models, escorts, and others to supplement their income.
Periscope: An app (owned by Twitter) that allowed users to broadcast live streaming video. It was shuttered as of October 2020.
Pharming: This is a method by which scammers try to get personal/private information from users by directing them to fake websites which look legitimate.
Phishing: A technique used to gain personal information, usually by means of fraudulent e-mails.
Photoshopping: The process of altering digital images so that the main subject is placed in compromising or embarrassing situations. For example, a person might photoshop a picture to append an animal’s face to a human’s body (or vice versa), or something much worse.
Pinned Post: This is a way for users to keep their most important pieces of media at the top of their profile page so that it’s the first thing followers see.
Pinterest: An online platform and visual discovery engine for finding ideas like recipes, home and style inspiration, and more. Users create, share, and link to boards and “pins” of visual content (largely pictures, memes, and related creations) from across the Web.
Profile: When considered in the context of online social networking, this is a user-customized page that represents that person. Here, a person’s background, interests, and friends are listed to reflect who that person is or how that person would like to be seen. Pictures, biographical and contact information, and other interesting facts about the user are often included as well.
Proxy: Software or a website that allows one’s Internet connection to be routed or tunneled through a different connection or site. If a user’s computer is blocked from accessing certain websites or programs, the user could employ a proxy to redirect the connection to that site or program. For example, if a software filter prohibits a user from directly visiting TikTok, a proxy website could be used to circumvent the filter and provide access.
Raiding: On Twitch, creators at the conclusion of their own stream send their audience of streamers to a friend’s or colleague’s channel to boost their viewership.
Rage quitting: A condition in which gamers, through steady provoking, simply cannot take being killed (cheaply or otherwise) anymore and leave an online game mid-match.
Reactions: Introduced by Facebook, reactions allow users to react to a piece of media in order to closely identify how they feel about the post as opposed to just “liking” the media. Reactions include like, love, funny, care, angry, sad, and surprise.
Receipts: Slang for proof or evidence when there is gossip is being shared. Receipts can be tweets, texts, or any physical proof of something.(“Are you sure she did that?” “I’ve got the receipts, dude.”)
Reel: Created by Instagram, Reels allow a user to post short videos on their profile. If a user creates a Reel, another tab will appear on the user’s profile. Reels are similar to TikTok videos and Facebook has a similar feature too called the “Watch” tab that allows users to scroll through videos.
Repost: A feature that allows the sharing of someone else’s video on your profile. This allows users to amplify content they like by making it visible to their own followers. When you repost a video, it appears on your profile and in your followers’ feeds, giving credit to the original creator. On TikTok, a person’s repost is shown on their followers for you page (FYP). On Instagram, a repost is often done through stories.
Revenge Porn: Sometimes known as nonconsensual porn – defined as the act of distributing intimate photography through different means without the individual’s consent.
Rizz: Short for “charisma” and it is defined as one’s ability to flirt or attract others. Often described as something a person has. “They have rizz” would mean that a person has romantic skills.
Roblox: An online game platform and game creation system. It lets players explore different virtual worlds and interact with others in “experiences.” Users can also design their own games and share them with the Roblox community. Some of the most popular experiences include Brookhaven, Adopt Me!, RIVALS, Doors, Blox Fruits, Murder Mystery 2, Anime Defenders, and Anime Vanguards.
Roman Empire: Slang for something that someone constantly thinks about (used especially by girls on TikTok), It is inspired and popularized by the belief that most men often think about the actual Roman Empire and its legacy. For example, “My Roman Empire is FAU going to the Final Four. That was a time to be alive.”
Saved: An Instagram and TikTok feature within the app that allows users to go back to posts they were previously looking at/interested in. Instagram and TikTok create a private feed of saved posts that are only available to you.
School Climate: The quality, character, social atmosphere, and ‘feel’ of the school, mostly exhibited by patterns of behavior and interactions among and between students and school personnel. Improving school climate reduces both offline and online student interactions.
Screenshot: An image that is captured of what is shown on a phone, tablet, or computer screen.
Secret: An app that gives users the ability to share what they are thinking and feeling with friends from their phone’s contact list, while remaining anonymous.
Sexting: The sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images or video via phone or the Internet.
Sextortion: Threats to expose a sexual image in order to make a person do something or for other reasons, such as revenge or humiliation.
Shoulder Surfing: Peering over the shoulder of someone to see the contents on that person’s computer, tablet, or phone screen.
Sigma: Similar to Alpha, describes as someone or even something cool. With Gen Z/Gen A, this is perceived as being even cooler or better than “alpha.”
Skibidi: Is a word that still has an evolving meaning. It is a filler word for now, but it has two main meanings depending on context. It can represent something bad/evil, or it can mean something cool. “Skibidi” originally comes from a trending Arabic song, specifically from a TikTok user who danced to it with his belly hanging out while he showcased foods next to him. However, it started gaining more recognition from the viral “Skibidi Toilet’’ YouTube Shorts series by Alexey Gerasimov with a storyline involving human-headed toilets.
Skrilla: Slang for money.
Skype: A popular app that enables users to set up profiles, make free phone calls, text chat, and video chat through their computer or mobile device from any point around the world.
Slaps/Slaps: A slang term that means “to be excellent or amazing.” It’s especially used to refer to a song, but it is used for almost everything (“This new episode slaps!”).
SMS: Acronym that stands for: “Short Message Service.” A communications protocol that allows short (160 characters or less) text messages over cell phones.
Snap AI (Snapchat): A feature within Snapchat that utilizes AI to enhance user experiences. It allows users to create, transform, and interact with Snaps by providing suggestions, solving problems, and generating creative content. Snap AI also represents a Bitmoji avatar you can customize which can respond to user queries and offer personalized recommendations.
Snapchat: A popular social media platform where users share texts, pictures, and videos with their contacts. When sending photos and videos (called Snaps), users can set viewing durations between 1 to 10 seconds before the content disappears after being viewed. Texts in chats automatically delete after 24 hours by default, though users can change settings to delete immediately after viewing or choose to never delete messages. Users also have the option to manually save messages they want to keep by tapping on them, which prevents automatic deletion.
Snapchat Premium (or Premium Snapchat): This expression simply means that the user of the account is willing to share with you snaps that are sexual in nature in return for payment. These users often share their Cash app or Venmo details so you can directly send them money, and they will “subscribe” you to their informal service of sending you their nudes.
Snapchat Filters: When users of Snapchat are in particular places, specialized “filters” are available to superimpose onto their “Snap,” providing fun, artsy backgrounds, pictures, and word art highlighting that location.
Sneaky link: Slang that refers to a secret or discrete romantic or sexual encounter, usually with someone who is not publicly acknowledged as a partner. It’s often used to describe a situation where both people want to keep the connection hidden for personal or social reasons.
Spaces: An X feature that allows users to create a live audio conversation. Though anyone can join your Space to listen, up to 13 people (including the host and two co-hosts) can speak in a Space at any given time.
Stan: Used to describe the act of being overly obsessed with an artist/person/character/etc. It is the combination of stalker + fan (“I am a Taylor Swift stan”).
Stitch: This refers to a TikTok user using part of a clip from another user in their own, new video – thereby “stitching” them together.
Story: Ephemeral social media content, pioneered by Snapchat in 2013, consisting of photos or videos that appear in a dedicated section of social media platforms and automatically disappear after 24 hours unless archived. This format was later adopted by other platforms including Instagram and Facebook
Swipe up: When a social media user attaches a link to their Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook stories encouraging followers to visit the attached link. This term can also be used if the social media user posts a question to their story encouraging responses from followers.
TikTok: A social media platform for creating and sharing short-form videos enhanced with music, effects, and creative tools. The platform’s algorithm creates personalized content experiences, fostering distinct communities (known as ___Tok) centered around shared interests rather than demographics. These subcultures, identified by names like “BookTok” or “FitTok” enable users to connect, create, and engage with others who share their specific passions.”
TikTok Shop: A feature on TikTok that allows users to discover and purchase products directly through the app. There, users can browse products and make purchases without leaving the app, making it a convenient way to shop while engaging with content. It also allows content creators to engage with brands and earn commissions through affiliate marketing of certain products.
Timeline: Often referenced on Facebook, a timeline is your personal social media feed that displays a list of all written and media-related content that you have shared on social media to your friends/followers.
Trend: A topic, behavior, or phenomenon that experiences a surge in popularity and engagement across online platforms or communities, characterized by increased visibility, rapid sharing, and collective attention.
Twitch: A streaming service platform that allows users to engage with their audiences via live-streams, videos-on-demand. It provides interactivity features such as chat, emotes (custom emojis), cheering (a tipping system to support streamers), and a deep focus on community building.
Vine: A video app owned by Twitter which allowed users to capture moments in six seconds and share them with others. It was officially discontinued in April 2019.
Viral: When an online piece of media (i.e., worded post, video, picture) becomes rapidly available to social media users across the World in a short amount of time.
VoIP: Acronym that stands for: “Voice over Internet Protocol.” The transmission of voice over an Internet connection. Allows users to make phone calls using the Internet instead of a phone line.
WhatsApp: A cross platform messaging app that allows users to send texts, pictures, videos, links, user locations, documents, and more. It allows for connections based on one’s phone number. It has almost 3 billion monthly active users.
Whisper: An app that allows users to share their secrets anonymously with other users using text and images. Individuals input their secret (or another self-disclosing message) into the app, select a relevant picture as a background, and then post it for others to like, comment on, and share with others.
YikYak: An anonymous social media app that allows users to post and view messages visible to others within a 5-mile radius. It functions as a local, digital bulletin board where people can share thoughts, ask questions, or post updates without revealing their identity. Users can upvote or downvote posts; posts that reach -5 total vote points are removed from the app. It is popular among college students.
YouTube: A wildly popular video sharing app and site owned by Google where registered users can upload and share videos with anyone able to access the platform. It has approximately 2.7 billion monthly active users who consume over 1 billion hours of content each day. It offers features including long-form videos, Shorts (short-form content), live streaming, and premium services.
