Gen Z is using new lingo to help clarify what they actually mean on social media.
The most popular form of this new internet speak is /J and /HJ. If you see a TikTok, tweet or message with these characters tacked on, it might help you understand where the person is coming from better.
Here’s how to decipher the latest slang.
What do /J and /HJ mean on TikTok?
It’s actually fairly simple: /J means “joking” while /HJ means “half-joking.” It appears that the millennial abbreviation JK — or “just kidding” — wasn’t cutting it.
People may use the shorthand so that the person they’re speaking with understands they’re being sarcastic or unserious, which could be hard to detect when just reading text. In essence, it’s a way of indicating tone.
Anything that reduces unnecessary online drama is a win for any generation. Plus, as an explainer on tone indicators noted, “it can be difficult for neurodivergent people to understand you even in face-to-face, where they do have access to non-verbal cues, so imagine how much harder it is online.”
There are a few other slash phrases you may want to know.
Twitter user @philyouspork created a handy master list of some similar slang you may run into online.
Here are a few examples:
/P = Platonic
/SRS = Serious
/S = Sarcastic
/NM = Not actually mad or upset
/LH = lighthearted
If you ever come across a strange abbreviation and don’t know what it means, just refer to the list above and hopefully you’ll find your answer!
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