Ask.fm lists top internet teen slang

Ask.fm has unveiled its top 20 internet slang and acronyms used by teenagers. The social networking forum said it compiled the list by analysing language and communications of almost 150 million members, most of whom are teenagers and young adults.

Andrea Cutright, Ask.fm's chief operating officer, said teen language can undergo a "seismic shift" with very little effort. Words, phrases and even symbols gain new meaning and can "change day by day" with each new text or post.

Explaining how the platform works, Cutright said: "Teens use our Q&A platform as a means to express themselves through dialogue, so we have our finger on the pulse of how teens talk – be it in the form of acronyms, new definitions or the latest emoji."

Gone are the days when a simple LOL was deemed enough for one to belong to the cool and hip crowd. Once you have gone through the list below, you will probably be left feeling either smug (because you knew most of it), old (because you probably need to write it all down to remember what's on the list) or just plain bewildered (because you couldn't figure out why the acronyms were needed in the first place). In any case, here is the top 10 from Ask.fm:

OOTD – Outfit of the day. Teenagers are known to share pictures of themselves on the social networking platform looking to fashion suggestions and comments.

PAP – Post a picture. Users can request each other to post a picture when communicating on the social networking platform.

TBR – To be rude. Usually added before making a harsh comment.

DIME – An approval rating of sorts on a score of 1 to 10.

BAD – According to the Ask.fm team, bad is now the new good. Remember Paris Hilton's much-hyped phrase "that's hot"? Well, if Paris were a teen in today's confounding tech age, she would probably be switching to saying that's bad hot. (It does sound kinda catchy!)

SHIP – Short for relationships. This is probably what Henry Longfellow should have gone for instead of his classic "ships that pass in the night" lark.

IDEK – I don't even know. This is me at the moment.

IKR – I know right. Needs no explanation.

SMH – Shaking my head.

GOAT – Greatest of all time. I swear to god, I'm not making this up.

If you have made it through the top 10 without feeling like you have stepped into twilight zone, congratulations. To some others, it might seem like banging one's head against the wall.