Remember when “LOL” and “OMG” were just silly jargon teenagers used to send text messages to one another on their flip phones? These “digital acronyms” weren’t just a fad; today, the internet community is fluent in what could be described as a digital dialect of the English language that grows every day. These shortened versions of words and phrases translate into posts, hashtags, memes, and other forms of shareable content, which means digital (especially social media) marketers should be on board with them.
Some are easier to figure out and others just seem downright strange, but what the internet wants, the internet shall receive. Check out these widely-used social media acronyms that all marketers should be familiar with:
AMA – Ask me anything. Used to signal an open Q&A opportunity, usually on Reddit, a popular social news/web content site.
BAE – Before anyone else. Used to describe a significant other or someone/something that is strongly desirable.
DM – Direct message. Direct messaging is a Twitter feature that allows users to privately chat with one another. “Slide into his/her DMs” has become a popular expression, meaning to send him/her a direct message.
FBO – Facebook official. When two people enter a relationship and change their relationship status on Facebook to “In a Relationship.”
FOMO – Fear of missing out. Being afraid that if you miss a party, event, or other occasion you’ll miss out on an amazing experience and be “out of the loop.”
FTW – For the win. A cry of victory or success.
IMO/IMHO – In my (honest) opinion. The beginning of every internet feud.
IKR – I know, right? Valley girl accent included.
IRL – In real life. Used to distinguish the real world from the internet world.
LMK – Let me know.
MCM – Man Crush Monday. Social media users post a picture of a man they find attractive or admire on Mondays and use the hashtag #ManCrushMonday.
NBD – No big deal. Usually used to sarcastically describe something that is, in fact, a big deal.
NSFW – Not safe for work. Lock the door or be prepared to exit out of your browser, folks. This acronym is used to describe content that may be sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate.
OOTD – Outfit of the day. A hashtag used to accompany a photo of a social media user’s outfit that day. Usually used by style bloggers or others who take an interest in fashion.
RT – Retweet. The Twitter equivalent of a Facebook “share.” You can click the “retweet” button or type “RT” before the @username and the following content to do this.
RN – Right now.
SMH – Shaking my head. A response to something stupid, silly, or outrageous.
TBH – To be honest. To express one’s honest opinion, usually preceding something negative or unfavorable.
TBT – Throwback Thursday. Social media users post old photos of themselves and/or others and use the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday.
TL;DR – Too long; didn’t read. You know when someone sends you a link to a youtube video that’s 13 minutes long, or an article that seems more like a novel? ‘Nuff said.
YOLO – You only live once. An expression used to jokingly describe or justify a risky or unintelligent decision. Example: “I placed an advertisement without first conducting market research, YOLO!”
WCW – Woman Crush Wednesday. The female version of MCM, done on Wednesdays.
Feel like you’re ready to hold your own amongst even the savviest social media warriors? …not quite? That’s alright. It’s important to be familiar with these acronyms, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be MCM-ing every Monday or calling people “bae” on your social pages. Generally, this terminology is used by younger audiences, so if you’re targeting young people, it could be a good idea to incorporate them into your social strategy. If not, it may not make sense and you run the risk of confusing people or trying too hard. If you’re unsure, Transformation Marketing’s social team can provide you with research, insights, strategy, and content to make your social presence as relevant and effective as it can be. For more information, contact us!