How Has Social Media Changed the English Language?

Social media hasn’t just changed the way we communicate. In the space of a few decades, sites like TikTok and Instagram have fundamentally altered the English language.

New internet slang seems to pop up all the time. But keeping up with these changes can be tough, especially if you’re focused on learning formal English for work or an exam.

That’s where our guide comes in. Let us show you how social media has changed the English language and what you really need to know. By the end of the article, we promise you’ll know your brat from your BRB.

New vocabulary

Whenever there are advances in technology, people must come up with new words for all the gadgets and software. Social media is no different.

It started in the 2000s as social networks like Facebook and Myspace became more popular. Some vocabulary came directly from the site creators. For example, Reddit was one of the first platforms to let users rank content and introduced the words ‘upvote’ and ‘downvote’. Twitter gave us the idea of ‘tweets’ and ‘hashtags’.

Other vocabulary developed over time as people wanted to describe all the new things they were seeing and doing. Take “selfie” for example. As shops started selling camera phones and it became easier than ever to take photos, people needed a word to describe all these pictures of themselves.

How can you make it easier to learn all this new vocabulary? The good news is that these words usually come from existing and related language you may already know.

Take the word ‘clickbait’ for example. This is a combination of the words ‘click’ (the sound your computer mouse makes) and ‘bait’ (the food you use to attract animals when hunting). Put them together and you can guess it’s online content designed to get your attention and make you want to ‘click’ on a link.

Changed meanings

Social media hasn’t just given us new vocabulary. It has also borrowed words from various contexts and given them new definitions. Some basic examples are ‘like’, ‘follow’ and ‘block’, which are all common English words and actions you can perform on social media.

In fact, have you tried switching your language settings? You could learn a lot of new vocabulary just by using your social media in English for a couple of weeks.

Some words have less obvious or intuitive definitions than others. For example, ‘bump’ means to like or comment on online content so more people in your network can see them. But other common definitions of ‘bump’ in English are ‘to hit something hard’ or ‘to remove something’, which are seemingly the opposite.

Try looking at this vocabulary in context to understand what it means. What do the other words there mean? Are people reacting positively or negatively to what was said? If you’re still unsure and don’t want to risk saying something offensive, you can always look up the word or phrase before you respond.

Digital shortcuts

Many people send messages while they’re on the go or busy with another task. We often use shorter versions of words and phrases so we can type more quickly.

You’re probably familiar with the acronym ‘lol’ (laugh out loud). But how many of these other ones do you know? The answers are at the end of the article.

1. brb

2. afaik

3. btw

4. fwiw

5. dm

6. tl;dr

7. smh

Although acronyms have become popular, they’re not appropriate for every situation. Many see them as too casual or even flippant. Avoid using them when applying for a job or talking about a serious topic.

Visual language

Images aren’t just used to illustrate text online. They can often replace or complement what we write, to convey more complex ideas and emotions.

Here’s a basic example. Imagine your friend messages you ‘I can’t believe I fell over’ followed by an emoji.

😂 tells you they found it funny.

😢 suggests they got hurt.

🤭 probably means they’re embarrassed.

Thinking about what the emoji tells you can be important. Many English-speaking countries have a sarcastic sense of humour and may use these images to reveal they actually mean the opposite.

Memes and GIFs can also be used for the same effect. Most are straightforward, but you may find others tricky to interpret if you haven’t watched the TV or film they’re referring to. Luckily, there happens to be a website called Know Your Meme where you can look up any clips you don’t know.

Internet slang

The internet is full of communities based around shared interests, hobbies and backgrounds. They often develop their own slang.

Online gamers are one of the biggest and most impactful communities. They’ve developed a lot of new vocabulary such as ‘gg’ as shorthand for ‘good game’ and ‘nerf’ to mean you’ve weakened someone or something.

Fanbases are often responsible for new slang online. You may have noticed a lot of people using the word ‘brat’ online to describe someone bold and rebellious. Charli xcx made this the name of her 2024 album and fans started using it online, leading to it becoming a major trend. ‘Brat’ even became the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year.

The TL;DR

Social media has had a deep and lasting impact on the English language. It introduced a lot of vocabulary and changed the meaning of others.

But nothing says you need to learn every new word or expression you come across online. The internet is vast. Lots of the language you come across online is mostly only used by certain groups or for niche situations.

Tutors can help you learn the essentials or get deeper into specific areas of the online world. Book a lesson with Oxford House to see how we can support you.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Pop up (pv): to appear suddenly or unexpectedly.

Gadget (n): a small tool or device, usually electronic.

On the go (phr): busy or moving.

Acronym (n): a word formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase.

Flippant (adj): not showing a serious or respectful enough attitude in a situation.

Complement (v)): to add to something in a way that improves it.

Meme (n): a funny image or video that spreads quickly online.

GIF (n): a short, repeating video without sound.

Fanbase (n): a group of loyal fans.

Key

pv = phrasal verb

n = noun

phr = phrase

adj = adjective

v = verb

Answers

1. be right back

2. as far as I know

3. by the way

4. for what it’s worth

5. direct message

6. too long, didn’t read (here’s a summary)

7. shaking my head (I’m disappointed)