Digital Life: Top 10 texting abbreviations
Paste BN columnist Steven Petrow offers advice on digital etiquette.
In a recent column I highlighted the growing generation gap when it comes to digital manners. On one side are the Millennials and Gen Z’ers (the so-called digital natives, born after the year 2000); on the other, just about everyone else.
Many of you wrote in asking for help deciphering the text abbreviations that teens regularly use; I’ll get to that in a moment. Other comments came fast and furious, perhaps proving that when poked or provoked, moms and dads, teachers and coaches, can really let loose on their smartphone’s keyboard. One mom wrote me: “My comment is about the one finger typing I do, which my daughter says is too slow. She types the two thumbs typing and she types fast. When I try, my autocorrect takes over and my sentences make no sense whatsoever.” I’m not surprised that getting Mom to type faster would be a priority for the natives, since they appear to be all about brevity.
So, in the interest of world – or at least family – peace, here’s my latest top 10 list:
ATM: At the moment
AFK: Away from keyboard
4EAE: For ever and ever
DM: Direct message (me)
AFAIK: As far as I know
IYKWIM: If you know what I mean
IRL: In real life
TMB: Tweet me back
IDK: I don’t know
NAGI: Not a good idea
NM: Never mind
And one last duo that a parent could never get enough of:
ILY / ILU: I love you
143: I love you
Update on selfie sticks: Last month I wrote about the proliferation of “selfie sticks,” with amateurs using them to snap photos everywhere from stadiums to the Grand Canyon, from subway platforms to Versailles. I warned that if we didn’t start using some common sense we’d find new bans placed on them. Well, I can tell you my prediction was correct. Disney World and Disneyland started by posting “No selfie sticks” signs at all of their rides, but have now extended the ban to the entirety of the theme parks. The sticks were also banned at this year’s Lollapalooza music festival and at the recent tennis match at Wimbledon. They are a danger — and a nuisance — to others. Common sense, please, folks!
Agree or disagree with my advice? Let me know in the comments section.
Submit your question to Steven at stevenpetrow@earthlink.net. You can also follow Steven on Twitter: @StevenPetrow. Or like him on Facebook at facebook.com/stevenpetrow.