The study compiled a list of 114 commonly used text abbreviations and analyzed the search phrases used by individuals to find their meanings. For example, search phrases like "xx meaning," "what does xx mean," and "xx definition" were used to determine the most confused abbreviations. The results revealed that Floridians are most puzzled by the abbreviation "NSFW," which stands for "Not safe for work." Notably, this abbreviation is searched over 25,000 times every month in Florida, "according to the study." "NSFW" typically indicates that a post may contain content that is inappropriate for work or to be viewed on a work computer... often referring to nudity or sexually explicit material.
This abbreviation is often used in online communities to warn others of potentially ---sive content. In addition to "NSFW," other abbreviations that caused confusion among Floridians include "Ate → eats," which is used to praise someone for doing a great job or something deserving of praise. Other confusing abbreviations included "IIRC" (if I recall correctly) and "TBH" (to be honest). As reported by USA TODAY... this study highlights the evolving nature of texting language and the need for individuals to stay up-to-date with new abbreviations and slang words.
The findings of this study can serve as a resource for individuals seeking to better understand the confusing world of texting abbreviations.
Texting abbreviations have been around for decades, since texting itself. And now, more abbreviations and slang words continue to crop up as Gen Z enters adulthood and Gen A gets old enough to have their own social media accounts. Vera, an AI back-office service for startups and small businesses , recently compiled a list of the abbreviations that confuse Americans the most, using Google data and Ahrefs, an SEO software suite.
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