Slay the new slang: check out a guide to social media’s baffling lingo

image via New Scientist

July 9, 2025, 6:00 PM

• •Examines the evolving language landscape shaped by social media, particularly short-form video platforms like TikTok.
• •Introduces the concept of "algospeak" to encompass language influenced by algorithms, including euphemisms and censorship workarounds.
• •Highlights how content creators adapt language for algorithmic gains, leading to the spread of certain words online and offline.
• •Discusses the impact of cultural appropriation on slang, emphasizing the potential for context collapse and the loss of historical meaning.

In a world dominated by social media, language is rapidly transforming. Adam Aleksic's "Algospeak" explores this evolution, focusing on how algorithms influence language use. The book delves into how content creators adapt to algorithmic demands, causing certain words to spread widely. It also examines the complexities of cultural appropriation in slang and its impact on language development, making it a vital read in our ever-changing digital world.

Read original article