It seems like everyday, the Internet is coming up with new terms for, well, just about everything. And if you’re having trouble keeping up with all the new vocab, Dictionary.com has just added 313 new entries, including a large list of words you’ll only ever use online.
From “rage farming” (aka the art of intentionally provoking political opponents on social media) to cyberflashing (sending unsolicited sexually explicit visuals online), these new terms reflect the darker side of our digital experiences. And let’s not forget about “trauma dumping” — the typically unsolicited offloading of negative experiences and feelings onto an unsuspecting person. This one sparked a TikTok controversy in 2021 and has since been the subject of several online articles. It’s a reminder that our online interactions can have real-world consequences and that we should all be more mindful of how we engage with each other.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Internet culture has also given rise to more nuanced ways of discussing identity, and we see that in many of the new entries. “WOC” (women of color) and “Latine” (an alternative to Latinx) offer more inclusive language options to describe people’s experiences. And let’s not forget about the “petfluencers” – both the people who post pictures of their pets and the pets themselves who have achieved internet fame.
So, whether you’re in a “liminal space,” dealing with “cakeism” or trying to navigate your current “hellscape,” just remember Dictionary.com’s got you covered on all the new online lingo.
