Glossary on the Internet and social media
Digital tools and the internet are part of modern life. Every day, they evolve and create new concepts and vocabulary for a new era. If words like «troll», «MMORPG» or «Neknomination» mean nothing to you, don't panic, we'll help you understand them better.
Here is a glossary, lexicon and vocabulary of the web, because mastering digital tools safely means knowing the language.
away from keyboard
Away From Keyboard French equivalent: I am no longer at the keyboard or I am away.Anon IB
Nicknamed «the web's dustbin», this website allows internet users to anonymously publish any type of photographic content, most often of a pornographic nature... Stolen photos of celebrities, revenge porn (i.e. ex-boyfriends publishing explicit photos of their former conquests... without their consent)... the only rule is not to publish photos of minors. Needless to say, this is alarming, and we need to educate our teenagers about the risks associated with sexting and revenge porn.ASAP
As soon as possible or the equivalent French phrase «dès que possible»Ask.fm
Social network that allows users to ask questions about other users« profiles. The person asking the questions can choose to ask them anonymously.ASL
French equivalent ASV/asv («age, sex, city»). Example: Give me your asv?
Bashing
Bashing (a word that refers to hitting violently or inflicting a beating) is a neologism of English origin used to describe the «game» or form of venting that consists of collectively denigrating a person or subject. When bashing takes place in the public arena, it can sometimes resemble a «media lynching». The development of the internet and social media has provided bashing with a new arena, allowing many more people to participate anonymously in this collective activity.
Battle
Battle: Battle in English.
This term refers to a game mode in which the player faces an opponent in an arena.
The objective is to earn as many points as possible by striking or killing your opponent.Beat them all
Literally: Beat them all.
This type of video game pits one or two players against a large number of enemies. The aim is to defeat as many enemies as possible in record time in order to earn the most points. It requires lightning-fast reflexes, with the difficulty level increasing as the game progresses.
It differs from traditional fighting games, which imply a «duel», whereas «Beat Them All» involves a multitude of opponents.Beta
We refer to a game as being in beta or undergoing beta testing when it is about to be released and we want to test it.
Blogger
Name for a person who maintains a blog.
Blue whale challenge
The Blue Challenge The Blue Whale Challenge is a new challenge that originated in Russia and is mainly carried out on Facebook. It is led by a mentor who sets a challenge for the participant every day, with the final challenge being to take their own life. Legend has it that if the participant gives up on the challenge along the way, the mentor will come in person to end their life.
BRB
be right back (FR: I'll be right back), similar to AFK
Bullying
See also. harassment
Webcam blackmail
Webcam blackmail is when someone threatens to share an intimate photo or video of you unless you pay them money.
Chat
«Chat room», an Internet discussion forum in which participants converse using instant messaging tools, with responses usually being public.
GPT CHAT
It is a chat system based on the GPT-3 artificial intelligence language model, developed by OpenAI. It is a model with over 175 million parameters, trained with large amounts of text to perform language-related tasks, from translation to text generation. It is an artificial intelligence that is trained to have conversations, so all you have to do is ask it questions in a conventional manner and it will understand them.
Cloud
The cloud is the practice of using remote computer servers hosted on the internet to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or personal computer.
Terms and conditions of use
Contract that you sign with the website you register on (all websites have terms of use). These terms detail what you are and are not allowed to do on the website, but also explain what personal information the website collects from its users and what it does with it.
Parental control
Parental control or filtering is a type of system that allows parents to automatically restrict their children's access to media (the Internet, television, game consoles) by limiting it to certain categories of content in order to protect them, particularly from the risks of paedophilia and content considered inappropriate for their age (pornography, violence).
Cookie
Small files stored by websites visited on users' computers. They have a technical advantage (staying connected even when the page is closed, faster page loading, etc.) but they also have a commercial advantage for websites, which record user activity on their sites and then display targeted advertising related to previous activity.
Curse word
Communication software dedicated to video games (however less popular than its competitors)
Cyberbullying
cf. cyberbullying
Cybercrime
This refers to all crimes and offences committed using new technologies (web scam, online harassment, etc.). In France, the police authorities grouped together in the OCLCTIC (Central Office for the Fight against Crime linked to Information and Communication Technologies) handle reports of these crimes and offences: http://www.internet-signalement.gouv.fr
Cyberbullying
The cyberbullying is a form of digital violence characterised by harassment, which can be carried out through various digital channels (social networks, websites, instant messaging).
Daylimotion
competing site of YouTube (same principle) but less popular.Dedipix
Dedipix is a dedication through images. Users post a photograph of themselves with a pseudonym written in marker on a part of their body or on a piece of paper. In return, other users post comments. The more «naughty» the image is considered to be, the higher the number of comments.DickPick
A dick pic is a photograph of a penis sent over the internet. This exhibitionist sexual practice can be considered sexual cyberbullying when sent to someone without their consent.Discord
Communication software dedicated to communities (video game, manga, film, series communities, etc.).Doxxing
The disclosure of personal data, known as doxing, is a practice that involves searching for and disclosing information about an individual's identity and private life on the internet with the aim of causing them harm.Digital Rights Management
Digital Rights Management: Management of digital rights. DRM refers to the protection of digital data and aims to combat piracy.
e-Reputation
The image we present of ourselves on the internet. Whether on our own social media accounts, through company websites, or through what other people may post online.
Facebook
Facebook is an online service for social networking, which allows its users to publish content and exchange messages. It now has over a billion active users and is the second most visited website in the world after Google.
Fake
A person who posts a photo of a «beautiful» person on social media and pretends to be that person is engaging in something that is fake. See also Fake news
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions, literally «questions frequently asked» or FAQs.
FB
Facebook social network
Flood
It means flooding forums or chats with useless messages.
Follower
Literally translated as «follower», this is a person who follows another person's posts. A term commonly used by Twitter users.
FYI
For your information equivalent in French: pour ta gouverne or à titre d’information.
GIF
Digital image format for creating animated images.
Google+
Google+ is a social networking service developed by Google.
Gossip
Gossip means «rumour». It is an application that allows users to exchange and spread rumours anonymously. You must be at least 17 years old to download this application.
Grooming
Contact made by an adult with deviant sexual interests with a minor via the Internet
GRWM
Acronym for Getting Ready With Me. Also known as morning routine or night routine. The YouTuber allows you to follow them step by step through their morning routine, from breakfast to applying make-up and choosing their outfit.
Hacker
Name given to users who visit and hack into databases and websites.
Happy Slapping
The happy slapping Video lynching or video assault is the practice of filming the physical assault of a person using a mobile phone. The term applies to acts of varying intensity, from simple harassment to the most serious forms of violence, including sexual violence. The English term, which literally means «to slap happily», is a play on words on the expression «slap-happy», which denotes a cheerful and good-natured attitude.
Bullying
Harassment is a series of hostile acts whose repetition psychologically weakens the individual who is the victim. This type of behaviour can be habitual and involve social and physical status. It can take the form of psychological harassment, such as insults or threats, or physical assault against one or more individuals, sometimes based on their skin colour, religion, gender, sexuality or other factors such as physical or mental abilities. When harassment is carried out by a group, it is referred to as mobbing.
Hashtag
Keyword on social media, enabling quick and easy searches.
Haul
It is the act of showing off one's latest purchases in videos.
IMM
Means «In My Mailbox» in English. Presentation of the latest letters received on video.
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing application and service available on mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.
KakaoTalk
Kakao Talk is a smartphone (and computer) application that allows users to send text messages and make calls for free.Kicker
To kick someone out is to exclude them from a discussion.KIK
Instant messaging application for mobile phones. Very similar to WhatsApp in how it works, it allows users to exchange messages, photos, drawings, voice recordings and other types of content. This service is considered more confidential than its competitors, particularly because all contact is made using a pseudonym rather than a telephone number, as is the case with WhatsApp.
Like
Liking a post on Facebook. Liking a prohibited post makes us an accomplice to the person who posted that content.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional social network. Its aim is to enable you to build your professional network, facilitating contact between members of that network.
Meerkat
Meerkat is a free application that allows you to broadcast a live video on Twitter with just one click.Meet-up
Meet-ups organised between YouTubers and their subscribers.massively multiplayer online role-playing game
MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) are video games set in persistent worlds where players take on the role of a character that they develop over time. What makes them unique is that players are not alone: these games are multiplayer, meaning that they welcome internet users from all walks of life simultaneously and in the same game. World of Warcraft, Elder Scroll Online and the French game Dofus are popular MMORPGs.MOBA
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. These games are currently very popular among young people, in which two groups of characters battle each other to destroy objectives. Be warned, these games are highly addictive.Bullying
Moral harassment or psychological terrorMP
Private messageMYM
MYM.fans is a premium social media site. User profiles consist of both public content and content that is locked behind a paid subscription. In order for a fan to view your locked content, they must pay a monthly fee that you can set. Followers can also request personalised content, which the user can choose to create or decline.
Neknomination
Trending since February 2014. A person drinks alcohol in front of their webcam and nominates three people who must then do the same thing.
OnlyFans
OnlyFans is a content sharing platform (photos, videos, etc.). It allows professional and amateur content creators to get paid by their audience through a subscription system or based on the number of views. This site mainly hosts erotic and even pornographic content, as well as fitness content, musicians, and other creators who regularly publish online.
Peer-to-peer
A network system that allows computers to exchange files without going through a server. Alongside pirated films and free music, viruses and sexual content are also distributed.Periscope
Periscope is a Twitter application that allows users to broadcast live streaming videos on the web using their smartphones without going through Dailymotion or YouTube. This application requires a Twitter account and allows users to share events from their daily lives with their followers. Users who share a video on Periscope can save it so that it can be viewed online for 24 hours.Pheed
This application allows users to share content published by its members by adding a copyright notice... which is its main difference from its competitors: users who are present on the site find features that are very similar to what Facebook offers today.Phishing
Phishing is a technique used to steal personal information (such as passwords, credit card numbers, etc.).minutes
term referring to private messages. Example: «Come and chat in PM.» PM is translated as MP in French.
QR Code
it’is a type of two-dimensional barcode consisting of black square modules arranged in a square on a white background. These dots define the information contained in the code. This machine-readable design can be viewed on the screen of a mobile device or printed on paper.
Virtual Reality
The generic term virtual reality (VR) refers to content that can be viewed on headsets or smartphones. This may be a film recorded with a 360° camera or an interactive 3D simulation, such as a video game.
Retweet
Twitter's Retweet feature allows users to quickly share a Tweet with all their followers You can retweet your own Tweets or those of others. RT is short for retweet.
Revenge pornography
The Revenge pornography consists of publishing compromising photos or videos of one's ex-partner on the internet, often on dedicated websites, as revenge after a break-up.
Ribcage Bragging
A trend among teenage girls that involves starving themselves so they can show off their ribs on Instagram or other social media.
RootKit
The term rootkit refers to a set of tools used by hackers to infiltrate your computer and take control of it, while remaining as discreet as possible.
Selfie
(Photography) A self-portrait taken using a camera or smartphone, usually for posting on social media.Sexting
Sexting, a portmanteau word formed from sex and texting, is the act of sending sexually explicit texts or photographs electronically, especially from one mobile phone to another. In the United States in 2009, this activity was mainly practised by young adults and teenagers. In France and Quebec (where text messages are known as «textos»), the term «sexting» has given way to "sexto".Sextortion
sextortion is a form of blackmail. This is when an internet user threatens to send an intimate photo or video of you to other people if you refuse to send them money or other intimate images.Shots of Me
Shots of Me is a smartphone app that allows users to share what they are doing through photos, particularly selfies. It is important to remember that teenagers are very fond of this type of content and that they need to be made aware of the risks involved when they post (or send) photos of themselves.Report
Button available on all social networks that allows users to report abusive content to the social network in question.Skype
Social network for instant messaging, with keyboard, microphone and/or webcam.Slut Shaming
Slut-shaming is a concept originally proposed by Canadian and American feminists. This expression, which can be translated into French as «intimidation (or humiliation) of sluts» or «shaming sluts», encompasses a set of individual or collective attitudes that are aggressive towards women whose sexual behaviour is considered «outside the norm». Slut-shaming, understood as such, therefore consists of making a woman feel guilty or inferior because her attitude or physical appearance is considered provocative or overly sexual, because she is seeking an abortion, or even because she has been raped.Snapchat
is a free photo and video sharing application. Originally, each photograph or video sent (« snap ») was only visible to the recipient for one to ten seconds, but it is now possible to send snaps without time limit. All snaps expire after being viewed, but can be saved by taking a screenshot.Swap
To swap: to exchange in English. Among YouTubers, this refers to an exchange of parcels between them. The parcels received are opened live on camera.Swatting
Swatting involves convincing the SWAT police unit, the American GIGN, to come to someone's home on the grounds that this person is in imminent danger or poses a danger to others.Swipe
The action of swiping right, left, or down on certain mobile applications such as Yellow, Instagram, etc.
TeamSpeak
Similar to Discord but dedicated to video games (colloquially referred to as TS).Telegram
It is a freemium, cloud-based, multi-platform instant messaging application and service. Users can exchange messages, photos, videos, and documents without size limits.Thigh Gap
The thigh gap refers to the space between the thighs. An increasingly widespread phenomenon among young women and teenagers, it is perceived as a criterion of beauty. Imposed by the tyranny of thinness, this new obsession is proving to be quite dangerous.Tweeps
A combination of the words Twitter and people to describe Twitter users.Twitch
platform for live streaming video gamesTwitter
Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) is a microblogging tool managed by Twitter Inc. It allows users to send short messages, called tweets, free of charge via the internet, instant messaging or SMS. These messages are limited to 140 characters.
Viber
Viber is an application that allows you to call, send text messages, or even photo and video messages to your friends, wherever they are in the UK or abroad. This free software claims to have 300 million registered users worldwide.Video lynching
The act of filming or photographing the physical assault of a person and disseminating the images via social media.Vine
Vine is a mobile application from Twitter that hosts short, 6-second videos that loop and can be shared with followers.
We heart It
A smartphone application that allows teenagers to display photos based on their current mood, as well as search for and share photos.Webcam hacking
Webcam hacking or webcam spying. A hacker breaks into a computer to install a RAT (Remote Access Tool), which allows them to control the computer remotely. Once this has been done, they can activate the webcam remotely without the victim noticing.WeChat
WeChat is a mobile instant messaging application that allows users to exchange text, photos, audio, videos, and more, as well as geolocate their virtual «friends.» Extremely popular in China, where it originated, WeChat has already attracted 600 million users worldwide.WhatsApp
Mobile phone social network for instant messaging.Whisper
Whisper is a new social app where users can post any kind of content (secrets, confidences, confessions, but also shameful revelations and even accusations) anonymously.
YouTube
Social network for sharing videos (owned by Google) Source: (Wikipedia sources)
Yubo
Yubo is a social media app that encourages teenagers to find new friends. Users can use video, audio or live chat to meet other people or play games. Users can participate in these live sessions based on a chosen theme or a particular nationality.
ZT
Download Zone: Website for illegally downloading films, video games, etc.
