What Common Social Media Algospeak Words Actually Mean
The topline Last weekend, actress and influencer Julia Fox apologized after she misread a TikToker’s reference to “mascara,” not knowing it was “algospeak” for sexual assault, the latest misunderstanding caused by code words used on social media devised to avoid algorithmic censors. This photo illustrates the TikTok download page on an Apple iPhone. Getty Images The Key Facts Users of social media use algospeak to avoid AI content moderation software that might flag content violating rules on the app or which may be sensitive. Algospeak can be found on TikTok because their content moderation policy is stricter than any other social media app. They will prohibit users posting longer than usual and penalize those who violate its community guidelines. Emojis can be used to deduce different meanings, so words are often altered. In fact, nearly a third of Americans who use Facebook have reported that they use emojis or altered phrases to communicate prohibited terms. This is...