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150+ Most Searched Social Media Terms in 2024
Ever felt lost in the social media jungle, where every swipe introduces a new term or trend you’re supposed to know? From “newsjacking” to “ghosting” and beyond, it seems like every week there’s a new social media term to learn and keep up with. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Social media language can feel alien at times, with acronyms, slang and phrases popping up every day. Fear not, because we’re about to explain the hottest social media terms of 2024.
But why should you care? Well, knowing your “FOMO” from your “YOLO” isn’t just about sounding smart — it’s about getting the most out of your online experience. Whether you’re trying to boost your brand, join the right conversations or just keep up with what other brands are talking about, knowing these terms gives you the power to navigate the social world with confidence.
So, what’s in store? In this blog, we’re breaking down over 150 of the most trending social media terms of 2024. By the end of this, you’ll know what they mean, why they matter and how you can use them correctly.
What are social media terms or words?
Social media terms refer to the vocabulary used to describe everything from popular trends and internet phenomena to the latest features on social media platforms. Social media terminology includes everything from abbreviations and acronyms to slang and specific phrases that pop up in posts, memes and discussions. Understanding this social media jargon helps you stay relevant and engaged.
It not only helps you stay in the loop but also empowers you to engage meaningfully with your audience. Plus, using the right social media words can elevate your content and make your posts more relatable and engaging.
In the sections ahead, we’ll break down the most searched social media terms of 2024 into various categories, arranged from A-Z, giving you a clear and concise explanation of each one.
A - Z of social media marketing terms
Here are few social media terms used in promoting, advertising or managing brand presence on social media platforms:
A/B testing
A/B testing on social media involves comparing two versions of a post or advertisement to determine which performs better. This method helps optimize content based on engagement metrics from split audiences.
Ads Manager
Ads Manager is a tool offered on platforms like Facebook and Instagram for creating, managing and analyzing ad campaigns. It provides detailed insights into ad performance, targeting and budgeting.
Ad Scheduling
Ad scheduling allows you to set specific times and dates for your ads to be displayed. This feature helps optimize ad campaign performance by targeting audiences when they are most active.
Audience segmentation
Audience segmentation involves dividing your audience into smaller, more specific groups based on characteristics like social media demographics, interests or behavior. This helps target content and ads more effectively.
Learn more on Customer Segmentation in detail!
Boosted post
A boosted post is a standard social media post that has been promoted with paid advertising to reach a larger audience. This increases its visibility beyond the user's current followers.
Brand advocate
A brand advocate is a loyal customer or supporter who actively promotes and defends a brand. They often share their positive experiences with the brand on their social media feeds, influencing others through their endorsements.
Brand awareness
Brand awareness measures how familiar people are with a brand and its products or services. Higher brand awareness means more people recognize and remember the brand, which gives a competitive edge to the brand on cluttered social platforms.
Brand authenticity
Brand authenticity refers to how genuine and transparent a brand appears to its audience. Authentic brands are perceived as trustworthy and aligned with their stated values and promises. This can be measured using metrics like sentiment analysis, which gauges how positively or negatively people feel about the brand based on their online interactions and reviews.
Brand persona
A brand persona is the personality and voice a brand adopts to connect with its audience on social media. It is the sum total of the brand’s style, tone and values, and influences how it is perceived by its audience
Brand voice
Brand voice is the distinct tone and style used in a brand's communications. A consistent brand voice across all social media channels reinforces the brand's unique identity and helps win audience trust.
Clickbait
Clickbait refers to sensationalized or misleading headlines and images designed to attract clicks and views. While it can be effective at grabbing attention and driving initial traffic, its effectiveness wanes over time as users and search engines become smarter at detecting it.
Content calendar
A content calendar for social media is a planning tool used to schedule and organize posts. It helps ensure consistent content delivery and strategic alignment with marketing goals.
Content curation
Content curation involves selecting and sharing relevant content from various sources to provide value to your audience. It helps maintain engagement and demonstrates expertise.
Content moderation
Content moderation involves monitoring and managing user-generated content (UGC) on social media to ensure it aligns with community guidelines and standards. It helps maintain a positive online environment.
Content repurposing
Content repurposing for social media involves adapting existing content into different formats for various platforms. This maximizes the value of content and reaches a wider audience.
Cross-posting
Cross-posting involves sharing the same content across multiple social media platforms. It helps maintain scheduling consistency and widen the reach on different channels.
Cross-promotion
Cross-promotion, also known as cross-promotional marketing, involves using multiple social media platforms or channels to promote content or products. This strategy leverages the strengths of each platform to increase visibility and engage different audiences, ultimately boosting reach and effectiveness.
Ecommerce
Ecommerce on social media involves using platforms to sell products or services directly to consumers. Features like shoppable posts and integrated store fronts make it easier for businesses to reach customers and drive social selling.
Email marketing
Email marketing involves sending targeted emails to users to promote content, products or services. It’s a strategy used to engage audiences directly and drive conversions.
Facebook retargeting
Facebook retargeting is an advertising strategy that targets users who have previously interacted with your business or visited your website, by showing them relevant Facebook ads. It helps re-engage potential customers and bring them back to your website.
Geotargeting
Geotargeting is a marketing strategy that delivers content or ads to users based on their geographic location. It helps tailor messages and offers to specific regions or local audiences.
Inbound marketing
Inbound marketing is a strategy that focuses on attracting and engaging customers through valuable content and interactions, rather than traditional outbound tactics like direct advertising. It often involves content marketing, SEO for social media and engagement.
Lookalike audience
A lookalike audience is a type of target audience created based on the characteristics of an existing customer base. It helps advertisers find new potential customers who share similar traits with their current audience.
Marketing automation
Marketing automation is the use of software platforms to streamline and automate marketing tasks like email campaigns, social media posting and ad management. It helps in delivering personalized content and improving efficiency in reaching and engaging audiences.
Marketing funnel
The marketing funnel is a model that outlines the stages a customer goes through from discovering a brand to making a purchase. It typically includes stages like awareness, consideration and conversion, guiding strategies to move prospects through the funnel.
Native advertising
Native advertising refers to ads that blend seamlessly with the content of a platform, matching its format and style. This approach makes the ads less disruptive and more integrated into the user experience.
Newsjacking
Newsjacking is the tactic of inserting your brand or message into current news stories to capture attention. By aligning with trending topics, brands can enhance their visibility and relevance.
Niche marketing
Niche marketing focuses on targeting a specific segment of a market with tailored products or services. By addressing the unique needs and interests of a narrow audience, brands can create more personalized and effective marketing strategies.
Objective
An objective in social media marketing is a specific goal that a campaign aims to achieve, such as increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic or generating sales. Setting clear objectives helps measure the success of your marketing efforts.
Outbound marketing
Outbound marketing refers to traditional marketing methods where companies actively reach out to potential customers through channels like cold calling, direct mail or email campaigns. It’s a proactive approach to generating leads and brand awareness.
Paid promotion
Paid promotion involves using paid advertising options on social media platforms to increase visibility and reach. This can include sponsored posts, ads or boosted content to target specific audiences.
Paid social
Paid social refers to the use of paid advertising on social media platforms to boost the visibility of posts or ads. This includes various formats like sponsored posts, display ads and promoted content, which target specific audiences to enhance reach and engagement.
Real-time marketing
Real-time marketing involves creating and sharing content that responds to current events or trends as they happen. It aims to capitalize on timely opportunities to engage audiences and boost relevance.
Remarketing
Remarketing involves targeting users who have previously interacted with a brand but did not convert. It uses tailored ads to re-engage these users and encourage them to complete desired actions.
Retargeting
Retargeting is a form of online advertising that focuses on users who have visited a website or app but have not completed the desired action. It aims to bring users back and increase conversion rates.
Schedule
Scheduling in social media refers to planning and setting specific times for posts to be published. It helps maintain a consistent presence and manage content distribution efficiently.
Social commerce
Social commerce refers to the integration of e-commerce and social media, allowing users to purchase products directly through social platforms. It streamlines the shopping experience and drives sales.
Social customer service
Social customer service involves addressing customer inquiries and issues through social media platforms. It helps brands provide timely support and enhance customer satisfaction.
Social proof
Social proof is the concept of using UGC, reviews or testimonials to build trust and credibility. It demonstrates that others value or endorse a brand, influencing potential customers.
Social selling
Social selling involves using social media platforms to build relationships and engage with potential customers. It focuses on nurturing leads and driving sales through direct interactions and content sharing.
Sponsored post
A sponsored post is a piece of content paid for by a brand or advertiser to promote products, services or messages on social media. It appears in users' feeds alongside regular content but is labeled as sponsored or promoted.
Targeting
Targeting is the practice of directing social media ads or content to specific audiences based on demographics, interests or behaviors. It ensures that marketing efforts reach the most relevant users.
UTM code
UTM codes are parameters added to URLs to track the effectiveness of online marketing campaigns. They help measure traffic sources and campaign performance through social media analytics tools.
Social media terms in metrics and analytics
Here are few terms used by marketers to track key performance indicators and measurements for social media success:
Average response time
Average response time measures how quickly a brand or individual responds to messages or comments on social media. A shorter response time generally leads to higher customer satisfaction and better engagement.
Wondering why it’s important? Give this blog on “Why You Need to Optimize your Social Media Response Time” a quick read!
Brand mention
A brand mention refers to any instance where a brand is referenced or discussed online, whether on social media, blogs, forums or news articles. These mentions can be direct (using the brand's name or handle) or indirect. Tracking brand mentions helps brands understand how often they’re being talked about and can be crucial for monitoring brand awareness, sentiment and reputation.
Bot followers
Bot followers are fake or automated accounts that artificially inflate a user’s follower count. They are often used to boost perceived popularity but do not engage genuinely with content.
Call to action (CTA)
A call to action (CTA) is a prompt in a social media post or ad that encourages users to take a specific action, such as clicking a link, signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase.
Click-through rate (CTR)
Click-through rate (CTR) measures the percentage of people who click on a link or ad after seeing it. It helps assess the effectiveness of online ads and content in generating user engagement.
Conversion rate (CVR)
Conversion rate (CVR) measures the percentage of users who take a desired action after interacting with a post or ad, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Further Reading: Social Media Conversion: A Guide for Beginners to Experts
Cost per click (CPC)
Cost per click (CPC) is a metric that measures the cost of each click on an ad. It helps advertisers understand the efficiency of their campaigns in driving traffic.
Cost per engagement
Cost per engagement measures the cost associated with each interaction (such as likes, shares or comments) on a social media post or ad. It helps evaluate the effectiveness of engagement strategies.
CPM (Cost per Mille)
CPM or Cost per Mille (also called cost per thousand) is the cost of 1,000 impressions of an ad. It’s a common metric used to gauge the expense of ad campaigns in terms of reach.
Cost per view
Cost per view measures the cost of each view on a video ad. It’s used to assess the efficiency of video advertising campaigns in terms of generating views.
Demographics
Demographics, in the context of social media, refer to statistical data about the characteristics of the audience, such as age, gender, location and interests. It helps in targeting and understanding the audience.
Dislikes
Dislikes are reactions that users can give to content to express disapproval or dissatisfaction. While some platforms use a dislike button, others use negative reactions or feedback mechanisms.
Engagement rate
Engagement rate is a social media metric that calculates the level of interaction (likes, comments, shares) relative to the number of followers or impressions. It helps assess how well content performs in engaging the audience.
Facebook reach
Facebook Reach refers to the number of unique users who see your content on Facebook. It measures the potential audience size for a post or ad.
Fake followers
Fake followers are accounts that are either inactive, bot-generated or purchased to inflate follower counts artificially. They do not provide genuine engagement or value to social media metrics.
Follower
A follower is a user who subscribes to another user’s content on a social media platform. Followers receive updates and posts from the accounts they follow in their feeds.
Frequency
Frequency refers to how often content is posted or how many times an ad is shown to users. It helps in managing content strategy and ensuring consistent engagement.
Growth
Growth refers to the increase in a social media account’s metrics, such as followers, engagement and reach. Strategies for growth on social media include content optimization, targeted advertising and community building.
Impressions
Impressions measure the number of times a piece of content is displayed to users. Unlike reach, impressions count multiple views by the same user and help gauge the overall visibility of content.
Insights
Insights are analytics and data provided by social media platforms to help users understand the performance of their content. Insights can include metrics such as engagement, reach and audience demographics.
Like
A “like” is a form of engagement on social media where users’ express approval or enjoyment of a post by clicking a thumbs-up icon or heart. It helps gauge the popularity or impact of content.
Mention
A mention refers to tagging or referencing another user or brand in a social media post. This increases visibility and engagement by notifying the mentioned party and their followers, often fostering interaction.
Metric
A metric is a quantifiable measure used to evaluate the success of social media activities. Common social media metrics include engagement rates, likes, shares and impressions, which help in assessing performance and strategy effectiveness.
Organic reach
Organic reach is the number of people who see your social media content organically, without it having to be pushed into their feeds through paid promotion. It’s achieved through natural engagement, such as likes, shares and comments, rather than through sponsored ads.
Learn how you can Drive Organic Growth on Social Media
Page reach
Page reach measures the total number of unique users who have seen your social media page or posts. It helps gauge the overall visibility and effectiveness of your content in reaching your audience.
Paid reach
Paid reach refers to the number of people who see your content as a result of paid advertising. Unlike organic reach, which is achieved through natural engagement, paid reach is driven by advertising spend.
Potential reach
Potential reach estimates the maximum number of people who could see your content if it were shared widely. It’s a measure of the potential visibility and impact of a post or campaign.
Reach
Reach is the total number of unique users who see a piece of content on social media. It measures the potential audience size and helps evaluate the effectiveness of content distribution.
Dive Deep: Organic vs. Paid Social Media: Choose the Right Channel
Reactions
Reactions are emotional responses users can give to social media posts, such as like, love, angry face, care, sad or wow. They provide feedback on how content resonates with the audience and can influence engagement metrics.
Real followers
Real followers are genuine social media users who actively engage with a profile or brand, as opposed to fake or inactive accounts. They contribute to meaningful interactions and growth.
Relevance score
A relevance score is a metric used by social media platforms and ad networks to evaluate how well an ad or post matches the interests of its target audience. Higher scores indicate better alignment and engagement potential.
Reply
A reply is a response to a post, comment or message on social media. It allows users to engage in conversations, answer questions and interact directly with others on the platform.
Sentiment
Sentiment refers to the emotional tone or attitude expressed in social media content, such as positive, negative or neutral. Analyzing sentiment helps gauge public perception and emotional reactions towards a brand or topic.
Share
Sharing involves posting content from one user or source on your own social media profile. It helps amplify content and can increase visibility and engagement with the original post.
Share of eye
Share of eye measures how much visual attention a brand or content receives compared to competitors. It assesses the visibility and prominence of visual content in a user’s view.
Share of voice (SOV)
Share of voice (SOV) is a metric that measures the percentage of brand mentions in comparison to competitors within a given market or industry. It helps gauge brand visibility and market presence.
Social media ROI
Social media ROI measures the return on investment from social media activities. It evaluates the effectiveness of social media efforts by comparing costs to the benefits, such as increased engagement, leads or sales.
Spam
Spam refers to unsolicited or irrelevant content, such as excessive promotional messages or comments, that clutters social media feeds or inboxes. It often aims to deceive or annoy users and is typically against platform guidelines.
Subscribers
Subscribers are users who have opted to receive updates or notifications from a social media account, channel or content feed. They are a key metric for tracking audience engagement and growth.
Traffic
Traffic refers to the number of visitors or users who access a website or social media page in a specific timeframe. It measures the volume of interactions and can help assess the effectiveness of online marketing efforts.
Vanity metric
A vanity metric is a data point that looks impressive but doesn't provide meaningful insights into performance or success. Examples include the number of followers or likes without considering engagement or conversions.
Views
Views refer to the number of times a piece of content, such as a video or post, has been seen by users. It is a key metric for assessing the reach and popularity of content.
70+ social media terms for platform features
Here are few platform-specific tools and functionalities that users or brands utilize:
Blue checkmark
The blue checkmark is a verification badge used by social media platforms like X and Instagram to indicate that an account is verified as authentic. It typically signifies a notable public figure, brand or organization.
Bio
A bio is a short description or summary found on a user’s social media profile. It typically includes information about the user or brand, such as interests, profession or key details.
Cache
Cache refers to a temporary storage that helps speed up the loading of web pages and social media content. By storing frequently accessed data, it reduces the time needed to retrieve information.
Caption
A caption is a brief description or text accompanying a social media post or image. It provides context, enhances engagement and often includes hashtags or mentions.
Carousel ads
Carousel ads are a type of social media advertisement that allows multiple images or videos to be displayed in a single ad unit. Users can swipe through the carousel to view different content.
Carousel posts
Carousel posts are similar to carousel ads but are used for organic social media content. They allow multiple images or videos to be posted in a single post, enabling users to swipe through the content.
Channel art
Channel art is the visual banner or header image displayed on YouTube profiles. It serves to represent the brand and create a visually appealing profile.
Chat
Chat refers to real-time text communication between users on social media platforms. It can take place in direct messages, group chats or through chatbots.
Chatbot
A chatbot is an automated tool designed to simulate conversation with users. These automated self-serve tools can interact with users round the clock, answering their questions, providing customer support and interacting with them in many other ways.
Comment
A comment is a written response to a post or content on social media. It allows users to engage in discussions, provide feedback or share opinions.
Cover photo
A cover photo is a large, prominently displayed image at the top of a social media profile, such as Facebook or LinkedIn. It serves as a visual introduction to the profile or page.
Conversational AI
Conversational AI is the technology that powers systems like chatbots and virtual assistants, allowing them to engage in human-like interactions. It enables these systems to understand and respond to user input in a way that mimics natural conversation.
Direct message (DM)
Direct message (DM) is a private form of communication on social media platforms, allowing users to send messages to one another without public visibility.
Discover (or Snapchat Discover)
Discover, also known as Snapchat Discover, is a feature on Snapchat that allows users to explore curated content from publishers, celebrities and other creators. It provides a mix of news, entertainment and stories.
Endorsement
Endorsement is a feature on LinkedIn that allows users to validate their connections' skills and expertise. It enhances credibility and helps showcase professional competencies.
Explore page
The Explore page is a feature on platforms like Instagram and Facebook that allows users to discover new content and accounts based on their interests and previous interactions. It showcases a curated selection of posts and stories.
Facebook business manager
Facebook Business Manager is a tool that allows businesses to manage their Facebook pages, ad accounts and user roles in one place. It helps streamline Facebook advertising and business operations on the platform.
Favorites
Favorites is a section on TikTok that allows users to save and easily access their favorite videos or creators. This feature helps users keep track of content they enjoy and want to revisit.
Feed
Feed is the stream of content displayed on a social media platform's main page or app, where users see posts from accounts they follow or are suggested based on their interests.
Filter
A filter is a feature used on social media platforms to modify or enhance photos and videos before posting. Filters can adjust colors, add effects or create specific looks.
FYP (For You Page)
FYP or For You Page, is a personalized content feed on TikTok that displays a stream of videos tailored to a user’s interests and interactions. It is designed to help users discover new and engaging content based on their viewing history and preferences.
Grid
The grid refers to the layout of posts on a social media profile, particularly on Instagram. It displays content in a structured, visually cohesive manner, often planned to create a specific aesthetic or theme.
Header image
The header image, also known as the cover photo, is a large banner image displayed at the top of a social media profile. It provides a visual introduction to the profile or page and can be used for branding.
Highlights
Highlights are curated collections of Instagram Stories that users can feature on their profile. They allow users to showcase and permanently display selected Stories beyond their usual 24-hour lifespan.
IGTV
IGTV (Instagram TV) is a feature on Instagram that allows users to upload and watch long-form videos, ranging from 1 minute to 60 minutes. It provides a platform for more extensive video content compared to standard posts.
Instagram Saves
Instagram Saves refers to the action of users bookmarking posts to revisit later. Saved posts are stored in a private section of the user’s profile, allowing them to access content they find valuable or interesting.
Instagram Shop
Instagram Shop is a feature that allows businesses to create a storefront on Instagram where users can browse and purchase products directly from posts and Stories. It integrates e-commerce with social media for a seamless shopping experience.
Lens
A Lens, a feature on Snapchat, is an augmented reality filter that adds effects or animations to a user’s photos and videos. Lenses can alter appearances, add fun elements or provide interactive experiences.
Link in bio
"Link in Bio" is a common call-to-action used on platforms like Instagram, where clickable links are not available in posts. Users are directed to click the link provided in their profile bio for more information or to access specific content.
Listed
Being Listed on X refers to a user being added to a curated list by other X users. Lists can help organize and categorize accounts, making it easier to follow topics of interest.
Live streaming
Live streaming is the process of broadcasting live video content over the internet. It’s used for events, webinars and real-time interaction with audiences across platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitch.
Mute
The mute feature allows users to hide posts from specific accounts without unfollowing or blocking them. This helps manage content visibility and reduce unwanted notifications while still maintaining a connection with the account.
News feed
A news feed is the central stream of updates and posts from accounts a user follows on social media. It displays new content in real-time, keeping users informed about the latest interactions and posts.
Notification
A notification is an alert that informs users of new interactions on their social media profiles, such as messages, comments or likes. Notifications help users stay updated and actively engaged with their social network.
Open graph
Open graph is a protocol that enables web pages to become rich objects in a social graph. By adding Open Graph meta tags to a webpage, you can control how your content appears when shared on social media platforms.
Permalink
A permalink is a permanent URL link to a specific piece of content on social media or a website. It ensures that the content can be consistently accessed and shared over time.
Pin
A pin is an image or video shared on Pinterest, often linked to a website or blog. Pins are used to save and share ideas, inspirations and information on Pinterest boards.
Pinned comments
Pinned comments are comments on social media posts that have been highlighted by the original poster. They are placed at the top of the comment section to draw attention to important or featured interactions.
Pinterest board
A Pinterest board is a collection of pins organized around a specific theme or topic. Users can create boards to curate and share content such as images, articles and ideas related to their interests.
Polls
Polls are interactive posts that allow users to vote on a specific question or topic. They are used to engage audiences, gather opinions and drive interaction on social media platforms.
Post
A post is any piece of content shared on social media platforms, including text, images, videos or links. Posts are the primary means of communication and engagement on social media.
Profile
A profile is a user’s personal or business page on a social media platform, showcasing their information, posts and interactions. It represents the user’s online identity and serves as their main presence on the platform.
Private profile
A private profile restricts access to a user’s content and information to approved followers only. It offers greater control over who can view personal posts and details.
Profile picture
A profile picture is the image displayed next to a user’s name on social media. It helps identify and personalize a profile, making it easier for others to recognize and connect with the user.
Public profile
A public profile allows anyone on the internet to view a user’s content and information. It is typically used by businesses and public figures to maximize visibility and reach on social media.
Quiz
A quiz is an interactive content format that tests users' knowledge or opinions on a specific topic. Quizzes are often used on social media to engage users, gather insights and drive participation.
Recommendation
A recommendation on LinkedIn is a written endorsement from a connection, highlighting a user's skills and professional accomplishments. Recommendations enhance credibility and can aid in networking and job searching.
Reel
A reel is a short, engaging video format on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. It’s designed for quick, creative storytelling and often includes music, effects and trends.
Regram
Regram is the act of sharing someone else's Instagram post on your own profile. It’s a way to acknowledge or highlight content from other users while engaging with the community.
Report
The act of reporting a social media post or content to the platform where it was published for violating Community Guidelines. Reporting helps maintain platform standards and address inappropriate or harmful content.
Repost
Repost is the act of sharing someone else's content on your own social media profile, similar to resharing. It can include reposting images, videos or text to engage with your audience or highlight content from others.
Retweet
A retweet is the act of sharing someone else's tweet on your own X profile. It allows you to spread content to your followers while giving credit to the original author.
Rich pin
A rich pin is a type of Pinterest pin that includes additional information beyond the standard image, such as product details, pricing or location. It provides more context and can drive higher engagement.
Shoppable post
A shoppable post is a social media post that includes links to purchase the featured products directly. It integrates e-commerce with social media, allowing users to buy items seamlessly.
Snap Map
Snap Map is a feature on Snapchat that allows users to share their location with friends and view the locations of others on an interactive map. It provides real-time updates and helps users see what’s happening around them.
Social inbox
Social inbox is a centralized feature within social media management tools that aggregates all direct messages, comments and interactions from various platforms into one location. It helps streamline communication and manage customer inquiries efficiently.
Social media handle
A social media handle is a unique username or identifier used to access and manage a social media account. It is often part of the account’s URL and helps users find and tag profiles.
Sticker
Stickers are digital graphics or images that can be added to social media posts, stories or messages. They enhance visual appeal, add personality and can be interactive or decorative.
Stories
Stories are short-lived, engaging posts on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, typically disappearing after 24 hours. They are used for real-time updates and creative content sharing.
Subreddit
A subreddit is a specialized forum or community on Reddit focused on a specific topic or interest. Users can post and discuss content related to the subreddit’s theme.
Super Chat
Super Chat is a feature on YouTube that allows viewers to pay to have their messages highlighted during live streams. It enhances interaction and provides additional revenue for content creators.
Tag
A tag is a keyword or label added to social media posts or content to categorize it or link it to related topics. Tags help improve discoverability and organization of content.
Tagline
A tagline is a short, memorable phrase used to represent a brand or social media campaign. It encapsulates the essence of the brand’s message or value proposition.
Thread
A thread is a series of connected social media posts or comments that follow a specific topic or conversation. It helps organize and follow discussions across multiple posts.
Thumbnail
A thumbnail is a small, clickable image that represents a video or content preview on social media platforms. It provides a snapshot of the content to entice users to view or click on it.
Time-lapse
A time-lapse is a video technique where footage is captured at a lower frame rate and played back at normal speed, showing long processes or changes in a short period. It is used for visual storytelling.
Timeline
A timeline is a chronological view of posts, updates and interactions on a social media profile or account. It displays content in the order it was published and helps users track activities over time.
TimeStamp
A TimeStamp is a link to a specific point in a YouTube video, highlighting a key moment or section. It is often found in the video description and helps viewers jump to particular scenes, also known as "video chapters."
Tip jar
A tip jar is a feature on social media platforms that allows users to make small financial contributions or donations to content creators or influencers as a form of support.
TrueView
TrueView is a YouTube ad format that allows viewers to choose whether to watch an ad before a video. Advertisers only pay when viewers watch the ad for at least 30 seconds or interact with it.
Twitter list
A Twitter list is a curated group of X accounts that users can organize into categories for easier following and engagement. It helps manage and filter the content from selected accounts.
Username
A username is a unique identifier used to access and manage a social media account. It distinguishes one user from another and is often part of the user’s profile URL.
Verified profile
A verified profile is a social media account that has been officially confirmed by the platform as authentic. It is usually marked with a checkmark or badge, indicating the account belongs to a notable person or organization.
YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos of up to 60 seconds designed for quick, engaging content. They are similar to TikTok videos and are featured prominently on YouTube’s mobile app to attract a broader audience.
Further Reading: Latest Social Media Features No Brand Should Miss in 2024
Terms used in social media strategy
Here are some of the terms for techniques, approaches and behaviors that enhance your social media performance:
CFBR (Commenting for better reach)
“CFBR” or “commenting for better reach”, is a social media strategy where users comment on others’ posts to enhance their own visibility. The aim is to attract attention to one’s own profile by actively participating in trending discussions, knowing that social media algorithms favor highly engaged content.
Community manager
A community manager is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with a brand’s online community. They engage with followers, manage interactions and monitor discussions.
Crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing is a method of gathering input, ideas or content from a large group of people, usually through social media or online platforms. It leverages the collective intelligence of a broad audience to solve problems or generate ideas.
Dark social
Dark social, also known as private social sharing, refers to the act of sharing content through private digital communication channels like messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Messenger), emails and direct messages, rather than public social platforms. This concept underscores the challenge of tracking untraceable interactions, which can obscure traffic sources and impact how brands measure user engagement.
Delulu
"Delulu" is a slang term derived from "delusional," used in social media contexts to describe someone who has unrealistic or overly idealistic views, often about celebrities, influencers or personal expectations. It’s typically used in a humorous or critical manner to highlight someone's disconnected or overly optimistic perceptions.
Drip feed
Drip feed is a content strategy where information or media is released in small, incremental pieces over time. It helps maintain audience interest and engagement.
Employee advocacy
Employee advocacy refers to the promotion of a company or brand by its employees on social media. When employees share positive content about their workplace, it can enhance the company’s reputation and reach.
Follow Friday
Follow Friday (#FF) is a weekly social media tradition where users recommend accounts for others to follow. It’s often used to promote and support other users or brands.
Hashtag
A hashtag is a keyword or phrase preceded by the "#" symbol used to categorize and index social media content. It helps users find posts related to specific topics or trends.
Link building
Link building is the practice of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. It’s a key SEO strategy to improve a site’s authority and search engine ranking.
Macro-influencer
A macro-influencer is a social media personality with a large following, typically ranging from 100,000 to 1 million followers. They have significant reach and influence across broader audiences.
Mega influencer
A mega influencer is a social media personality with a follower base usually exceeding one million. Their large reach makes them valuable for high-profile campaigns, though collaborations with them often come at a premium cost.
Microblogging
Microblogging involves posting short, frequent updates on social media platforms. It’s used for sharing quick thoughts, updates or multimedia content, enabling users to stay connected and engaged with their audience.
Micro-influencer
A micro-influencer is a social media user with a smaller, yet highly engaged, following of 1,000 to 100,000. They often focus on niche markets and offer more targeted and cost-effective marketing opportunities.
Monetize
To monetize means to generate revenue from social media activities. This can be achieved through various methods, including ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing or direct sales of products and services.
Multilingual sentiment analysis
Multilingual sentiment analysis involves using AI to assess emotions and opinions in social media posts across multiple languages. It helps in understanding global audience sentiment and tailoring strategies to diverse markets.
Nano-influencer
A nano-influencer is a social media user with a very small following, typically under 1,000 followers. Despite their limited reach, they often have highly engaged audiences and can be valuable for highly targeted marketing efforts.
National boyfriend day
National boyfriend day, observed on October 3rd, is a social media trend where individuals post about their significant others. Brands often capitalize on this day for themed content and promotional campaigns to engage users.
OK Boomer
"OK Boomer" is a phrase that became popular on social media as a way to dismiss or criticize attitudes associated with the Baby Boomer generation. It’s often used to highlight generational differences or perceived outdated viewpoints.
Owned media
Owned media includes all digital assets that a company controls, such as its website, blog or social media profiles. Unlike paid or earned media, owned media allows full control over content and messaging.
Refill
Refill refers to replenishing or updating content or resources, such as reactivating a campaign or refreshing a profile with new information. In a social media context, it can also involve republishing or updating posts.
Retention
Retention refers to the ability to keep users engaged with your social media profile or content over time. It measures how well you maintain your audience's interest and encourage them to remain active and loyal.
Sentiment analysis
Sentiment analysis in social media is the process of using algorithms and natural language processing to determine the emotional tone of the content. It helps businesses understand public opinions and emotional responses towards their brand or topics.
Social bookmarking
Social bookmarking involves saving and sharing links to web content on social media platforms. It helps organize and distribute valuable resources or interesting articles within a community.
Social listening
Social listening is the process of monitoring social media channels for mentions, conversations and trends related to a brand, product or industry. It helps gather insights, track sentiment and inform strategy based on audience feedback and discussions.
Social media analytics
Social media analytics involves collecting and analyzing data to measure social media performance. It includes tracking metrics such as engagement, reach and conversion rates to refine strategies and improve results.
Social media engagement
Social media engagement encompasses all forms of interaction users have with social media content, including likes, comments, shares and reposts. It measures how effectively content resonates with an audience.
Social media etiquette
Social media etiquette encompasses the guidelines and best practices for interacting respectfully and professionally online. It includes maintaining a positive tone, avoiding spam and respecting others' privacy.
Social media management
Social media management involves overseeing and executing a brand’s social media strategy, including content creation, scheduling and engagement. It aims to optimize performance and maintain a consistent presence.
Social media marketing
Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms to promote and advertise a brand, product or service. It includes strategies for content creation, audience engagement and ad campaigns.
Social media monitoring
Social media monitoring involves tracking and analyzing social media mentions, comments and interactions to gain insights and manage brand reputation. It helps identify trends and address issues proactively.
TBF
TBF stands for "To Be Fair," often used in social media conversations to introduce a balanced perspective or acknowledge another viewpoint.
Testimonials
Testimonials are endorsements or positive reviews from customers or clients about their experience with a brand or product. They build credibility and trust by showcasing real user feedback.
Throwback Thursday
Throwback Thursday (TBT) is a social media trend where users post nostalgic content or memories from the past on Thursdays. It encourages engagement through reminiscing and sharing old photos or stories.
Trending topic
A trending topic is a subject or hashtag that is currently popular and widely discussed on social media. It often reflects current events, popular culture or viral phenomena.
10 of the most used social media buzzwords
- FBF (Flashback Friday): A popular hashtag used to share nostalgic or old photos on Fridays, often showcasing past moments or memories.
- OH (Overheard): Used to share interesting or amusing snippets of conversation that were overheard, often highlighting quirky or noteworthy dialogue.
- MT (Modified Tweet): Refers to a tweet that has been altered from its original version before being reposted or shared, usually for clarity or emphasis.
- Catfish: Describes someone who creates a deceptive online persona, often to mislead or deceive others, inspired by the MTV show "Catfish."
- Hate Follow: Refers to individuals who follow someone on social media primarily to criticize or argue with them. Despite the negativity, this type of engagement still counts towards interaction metrics.
- Posting cadence: The frequency and timing of content posts on social media, important for maintaining audience engagement and managing visibility.
- Tok: Slang for content interests on TikTok, such as #BookTok or #AnimeTok. It represents the diverse range of topics and communities on the platform.
- Taps Back: Occurs when users revisit a previously viewed story frame by tapping back. A high tap back rate indicates that the story was engaging enough to warrant a second look.
- Story Bumping: A feature where previously seen content gets resurfaced in the feed when it receives new engagement. This allows older posts to gain additional visibility and interaction.
- Last Touch Attribution: The practice of attributing a conversion or action to the last interaction a user had with content before making a purchase or completing a desired action. It helps in evaluating the effectiveness of final touchpoints in the conversion process.
Start using social media terminologies more often
Using social media buzzwords regularly can really boost your online presence and help you communicate more effectively. By getting comfortable with these terms, you’ll be better at creating engaging content and analyzing what works. If you want to dive deeper into the lingo and stay ahead of the curve, check out our glossary page to get up-to-date with all the terms you need to know. 👇
Frequently Asked Questions
A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the “#” symbol, used on social media posts to categorize content and make it easily searchable.
Engagement rate is the percentage of interactions (likes, comments, shares) relative to your total followers or views. It measures how well your content connects with your audience.
Organic reach is the number of people who see your content without paid promotion. It’s driven by user interactions and shares.
Influencer marketing involves partnering with popular social media users to promote your brand. Their endorsements help you reach and influence their audience.
A social media algorithm determines which posts appear in users' feeds based on factors like engagement, relevance and recency.