You are scrolling through posts and captions on Instagram, and all of a sudden, you see something like SMH or IMHO. Pretty sure you are squinting your eyes to make sure you’ve read that right.

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And as typical humans, you try to crack the code and find what TBF or SMH could stand for, juggling with words and doing all sorts of permutations and combinations. But, it’s of no avail. 

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The scenario is too specific, and yet very relatable. We all remember the time when internet jargon like Lol, Lmao, etc, were making strides. You must’ve felt great when you cracked these terms and were able to use them in the right context. 

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Unfortunately, for people like me, with limited social vocabulary, the game has gotten harder. There are hundreds of internet acronyms swimming in the sea of texts and posts, and there is no helpful dictionary. 

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So, in today’s episode of “Necessary Things to Sustain Life,” we will help you with tbf, dm, idgi, and many other popular acronyms you struggle with. 

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TBF Meaning: To Be Fair

TBF is short for To Be Fair. People use it more commonly when introducing a statement, a perspective, or an honest opinion. You can use it to present a counterpoint in an argument or acknowledge someone else’s perspective. 

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For instance, let’s say you went to watch a movie with friends. They enjoyed it, but you didn’t, maybe because you were exhausted from work. 

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So, you can say - 

“I didn’t enjoy the movie much. TBF, I was beat from work.”

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You can also use it in the context of acknowledging a different viewpoint -  

“I know you are angry, but tbf, he did try to call and warn you.”

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Getting confused with tbf’s meaning or any other acronym for that matter is quite natural. You have to get the context and nuances right. 

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FR Meaning in Chat

FR stands for For Real. You will often see ‘for real’ in chats when people want to express confirmation or agreement. It puts more emphasis on the truthfulness or seriousness of a statement. 

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For instance, 

“The next two weeks are going to be the end of me!”

“FR, it’s an open season on exams and assignments.”

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People often use FR to confirm the honesty or accuracy of a statement. 

“Kanye is going to perform at our college next week.”
“Wait, fr?!” 

It reinforces excitement as well. 

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If you ever make a bold statement or vow to do something and your friend has used FR in a dry tone, leaving you wondering the fr meaning in chat, I can absolutely guarantee he doesn’t believe in you. 

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“I am joining the gym next week. In 4 months I will get shredded.”
“Are you fr?” 

Don’t miss the dry tone. 

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IDGI Meaning

If I used idgi mid-sentence, you would probably say, “Wait, I don’t get it.” And you couldn’t be more right. 

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Idgi is short for ‘I don’t get it.’ When you want to indicate that you are confused or out of the loop, idgi is your go-to acronym. 

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“Everyone’s talking about the meme, idgi.” 

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In the example, idgi means that you did not understand the meme and are looking for some clarification. 

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Also, if you are a FRIENDS fan like me, you might have to use igdi during Chandler’s jokes every now and then because context is very important (It’s a 90s show!).

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DM Meaning

DM refers to direct message. It’s a private chat between users on online platforms - within your inboxes. You opt for dm when you want to take the conversation off the public timeline. 

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“When I have the file, I’ll send you a dm.”

The statement clearly expresses that the speaker wants to share the file privately. 

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People use ‘dm’ so often that it has become a verb. 

“I will dm you the address in 10 minutes.” 

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So, the next time you see a post on social media saying, “Please dm me if interested in the job,” don’t comment “Interested” on the post. Send them a private text. 

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Why Internet Acronyms Matter More Than You Think

What’s the point of knowing TBF meaning or dm meaning? Terms like BRB, IDGI, TBF, etc, aren’t academic jargon that you must know. 

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But social media marketers seem to be obsessed with these acronyms. Why?

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The truth is, we’re living in a world where attention span is shrinking and digital conversations are becoming lightning fast. You can’t put a finger on user emotions with so many internet acronyms flying around. 

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But you have to get used to it. People use acronyms because it's simpler and faster. It’s more convenient to express a lot with a few characters. But convenience isn’t the only factor. 

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Internet acronyms reflect a generational shift in communication styles, or you could say, in digital subcultures. Knowing the meaning of tbf isn’t just about keeping up but also belonging with your audience. 

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And it’s not limited to acronyms. As brands, you need to understand the internet slang like delulu and other linguistic shorthands your users use. 

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As a social media manager, your job is not just crafting carousels, statics, or coming up with cool CTAs and captions. You need to take a deeper dive and listen to user sentiments behind these acronyms. You have to understand the FR meaning in chat. 

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Think of it this way,  when you speak the language of your users, the communication barrier dissolves. Your content is more personalized. Users will relate more to your content, responses will increase, and eventually, they will be interested in the products and services you provide. 

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But to use internet lingo at its full potential, you need to know what’s in trend. For that, you can leverage social listening.  

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So if you, as a business, haven’t been on any demo calls with social listening tools yet, I would probably say, “Are you FR???”

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