Chat SlangInternet culture terms
Words about memes, trends and online behaviour.
The internet has produced words for things people do online that did not exist before. This page explains the most common ones without jargon, so you can follow a conversation or talk to a teenager without a dictionary.
A term can be harmless in one group and hurtful in another. Think before using words that describe other people.
Meme
An image, video or phrase that spreads and is copied with changes.
Example: "that meme is everywhere"
Viral
Spreading fast across many people.
Example: "the video went viral"
Troll
A person who posts to annoy others.
Example: "do not feed the troll"
Doomscrolling
Reading bad news for a long time.
Example: "I lost an hour doomscrolling"
Cringe
Something that makes you feel embarrassed.
Example: "that ad was cringe"
Lurk
To read a group without posting.
Example: "I mostly lurk in the group"
Flame war
An angry online argument.
Example: "the thread became a flame war"
Clapback
A sharp reply to criticism.
Example: "her clapback was calm and clear"
Ratio
When replies to a post outnumber its likes, showing people disagree.
Example: "the post got ratioed"
Spam
Unwanted repeated messages.
Example: "the group is full of spam"
Hashtag
A word with # that groups posts on a topic.
Example: "use a hashtag for the event"
Handle
Your username on an app.
Example: "what is your handle?"
Algorithm
The rules an app uses to decide what you see.
Example: "the algorithm showed me this"
Influencer
A person who has a following and works with brands.
Example: "she is a food influencer"
Reels
Short vertical videos on some apps.
Example: "I made a reel"
Story
A post that disappears after a day.
Example: "it is in my story"
Trending
Being talked about by many people right now.
Example: "it is trending"
Clickbait
A title made to make you click, often misleading.
Example: "the title was clickbait"
Fake news
False information presented as news.
Example: "do not forward fake news"
Troll farm
A group paid to post and push opinions.
Example: "it looked like a troll farm"
Questions people ask
Do these words mean the same everywhere?
Mostly, but not always. Slang changes with the group, the app and the year. Use the meaning here as the usual one and check with the context.
Why is a word not listed?
We list words that are common and not mainly abusive. Tell us on the contact page if you want one added.