What is Algospeak on Social Media?
Algospeak is a way that creators can avoid getting their content flagged, often by misspelling or replacing letters in a word.
By using algospeak rather than actual words allows users to avoid content moderation systems. Users simply replace words or phrases that they know may go against community guidelines with code words or even emojis. This then ensures that their posts don't get flagged or removed.
Most social media platforms have community guidelines that prohibit certain types of content, including words or phrases that are considered to be inappropriate or offensive. This includes hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexually explicit content, and violent or graphic content. Platforms like TikTok may also remove content that contains content associated with harmful behaviour, such as promoting drug use or self-harm.
If a user was to share content that does not comply with community guidelines then this will result in their content being removed, account suspended, or even legal action being taken against the user. This is the reason that some users use algospeak to avoid detection from moderation systems.
Examples of algospeak includes:
"Corn" instead of porn
"Seggs" instead of sex
"Unalive" instead of dead or kill
The use of algospeak has featured recently in a viral challenge circulating on TikTok using variations of the hashtag 'foopah'. A play on the phrase 'faux pas' (and embarassing act), the trend encourages users to 'blink and you'll miss it' nudity. Users use screens, mirrors, and other reflective surfaces to capture their images. The content itself ranges from sexually explicit content to suggestive but subtle imagery of themselves.
Further advice
Age verification - Encourage children and young people to enter their correct date of birth on the platforms they use to avoid seeing inappropriate content.
Report - Learn how to report inappropriate content, underage accounts, hashtags and videos on the different platforms.
Discuss - Have open conversations enabling children and young people to make informed choices, thus developing their online resilience. This includes talking about online challenges, hoaxes and seeking support online.
Image sharing - Should a child or young person find themselves in a situation whereby an indecent image has been shared, don't panic. Reassure them that there are things that can be done. Support can be accessed through the ChildLine website. Childline and the IWF now work in partnership to remove indecent images of children online. This is done by visiting Report Remove on the Childline website. Report Remove is where children and young people under 18 in the UK can confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and it will be removed from the internet.
The below image has been taken from TikTok to show the variations of hashtags for the 'foopah' Challenge...
By using algospeak rather than actual words allows users to avoid content moderation systems. Users simply replace words or phrases that they know may go against community guidelines with code words or even emojis. This then ensures that their posts don't get flagged or removed.
Most social media platforms have community guidelines that prohibit certain types of content, including words or phrases that are considered to be inappropriate or offensive. This includes hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexually explicit content, and violent or graphic content. Platforms like TikTok may also remove content that contains content associated with harmful behaviour, such as promoting drug use or self-harm.
If a user was to share content that does not comply with community guidelines then this will result in their content being removed, account suspended, or even legal action being taken against the user. This is the reason that some users use algospeak to avoid detection from moderation systems.
Examples of algospeak includes:
"Corn" instead of porn
"Seggs" instead of sex
"Unalive" instead of dead or kill
The use of algospeak has featured recently in a viral challenge circulating on TikTok using variations of the hashtag 'foopah'. A play on the phrase 'faux pas' (and embarassing act), the trend encourages users to 'blink and you'll miss it' nudity. Users use screens, mirrors, and other reflective surfaces to capture their images. The content itself ranges from sexually explicit content to suggestive but subtle imagery of themselves.
Further advice
Age verification - Encourage children and young people to enter their correct date of birth on the platforms they use to avoid seeing inappropriate content.
Report - Learn how to report inappropriate content, underage accounts, hashtags and videos on the different platforms.
Discuss - Have open conversations enabling children and young people to make informed choices, thus developing their online resilience. This includes talking about online challenges, hoaxes and seeking support online.
Image sharing - Should a child or young person find themselves in a situation whereby an indecent image has been shared, don't panic. Reassure them that there are things that can be done. Support can be accessed through the ChildLine website. Childline and the IWF now work in partnership to remove indecent images of children online. This is done by visiting Report Remove on the Childline website. Report Remove is where children and young people under 18 in the UK can confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and it will be removed from the internet.
The below image has been taken from TikTok to show the variations of hashtags for the 'foopah' Challenge...