Algospeak

Synonyms:
See also:	TikTok, Twitter, Censorship
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Algospeak refers to the use of code words, turns of phrases, alterations to spellings or the use of emojis, and other adaptations to language used in online spaces to avoid posts or other uploads being removed or having reduced visibility as a result of the content moderation systems in place.

Social media platforms in particular fuel the growth of algospeak as people attempt to avoid being demonetised or having their posts removed or hidden from other users of the app.

Algospeak refers to code words or turns of phrase users have adopted in an effort to create a brand-safe lexicon that will avoid getting their posts removed or down-ranked by content moderation systems. For instance, in many online videos, it’s common to say “unalive” rather than “dead,” “SA” instead of “sexual assault,” or “spicy eggplant” instead of “vibrator.”

Taylor Lorenz, The Washington Post

Some algospeak is used to circumvent genuine restrictions, other algospeak arises when there isn't consistent evidence that restriction is in place, simply that people believe that their posts are under-performing due to being restricted. Additionally, while some algospeak is used to discuss serious topics that would otherwise get removed, giving people a place to talk about current events or serious but important topics, at other times it is adopted to continue harassment against other users while avoiding automated moderation. This might employ the use of dog-whistles or alterations on acronyms; for example kys as an acronym for 'kill yourself' has been altered to 'keys' or Keep Yourself Safe.

In fandom

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.

Some social media platforms — TikTok is one of the most recent ones — have become widely associated with the use of algospeak. As people from those platforms have moved to spaces such as Archive of Our Own, the existing users of AO3 noticed an increase in the use of this algospeak not just in tags, but sometimes in the body of fan works as well.

reading a m rated whump fic where the writer goes out of the way to make the characters say 'unalive themselves' makes me fucking feral. You're a rated m WHUMP FIC ON AO3 fuck off with the brainwashed self censorship. like dear god. stop doing it. you're only empowering a world that denies nuance and discussion. you're denying yourself acknowledgement #just me screaming into the void

gurggggleburgle 

Some use of algospeak from TikTok also migrated to Tumblr when TikTok users joined, looking for fandom spaces, which causes issues with the tagging system of posts, especially those which were used as content warnings that people might blacklist to avoid.