As social media platforms ramp up content moderation, teens have developed a new digital language: algospeak. This evolving lexicon allows them to discuss serious topics like mental health struggles, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, or sexual assault; without triggering automated filters or platform interventions. Understanding algospeak is essential for parents, educators, and mentors who want to recognize subtle cries for help online.
What Is Algospeak?
Algospeak refers to modified words, euphemisms, or creative spellings used to bypass moderation algorithms while still conveying meaning to peers. It’s a survival mechanism for teens who want to express their feelings safely in a public or semi-public space.
Unlike traditional slang, algospeak evolves quickly. Terms that bypass one platform’s filters may be replaced with new variations as moderation policies change, making it a fast-moving digital language.
Why Teens Turn to Algospeak
- Avoid content removal or censorship
Platforms often remove posts referencing self-harm, suicide, sexual assault, or disordered eating. Algospeak lets teens communicate without being flagged. - Maintain peer support networks
Even when content is hidden from adults, peers recognize these euphemisms, helping teens feel less isolated. - Protect privacy while expressing vulnerability
Algospeak allows teens to hint at struggles without fully exposing themselves publicly. - Normalize conversations in safe spaces
Some teens use algospeak humorously, creating shared language that lowers the stigma around mental health discussions.
Where Algospeak Appears
Algospeak spreads across social media and private messaging apps:
- TikTok: Captions, video text, and hashtags often feature euphemisms like “unalive” or “sewer slide.”
- Instagram & Reels: Teens embed algospeak in captions, stories, and comments.
- Snapchat: Private messages or group chats frequently use these codes to signal distress.
- Discord & Gaming Chats: Server conversations and meme channels often include algospeak terms.
- YouTube Shorts & X (formerly Twitter): Teens repurpose trending phrases or hashtags across platforms.
- Private Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Messenger, and iMessage remain key spaces for peer-to-peer support using coded words.
Common Algospeak Terms Teens Use Online
| Algospeak Term | Meaning | Notes / Context |
| unalive | Suicide | Widely used on TikTok, Discord, and private chats; avoids moderation filters |
| sewer slide | Suicide | Phonetic euphemism; often paired with dark humor |
| menty b | Mental breakdown | Can appear jokingly, but frequent use may indicate genuine stress or anxiety |
| segss | Sex | Avoids moderation on platforms that restrict sexual content |
| SA | Sexual assault | Shorthand often used in private messages or peer groups |
| i’m done / finishing | Thoughts of giving up, potential self-harm | Context and repetition are critical |
| 2/3 | Reference to self-harm methods (context-dependent) | Often appears in code within private chats or gaming communities |
| kys | “Kill yourself” | Sometimes used jokingly in meme culture but may signal risk when serious |
| drip / drip code | Discussing prescription drugs or self-harm substances | Often hidden in memes or captions |
| bpd / cptsd | Mental health conditions | Teens may use abbreviations to signal struggles |
| vent / v | Emotional venting | Indicates a need to talk about feelings privately |
| stressed / meltdown emojis | Emotional distress | Emojis like 🥺👉👈, 💀, 🫥, 🫠 often accompany algospeak |
| sleepy / tired | Emotional exhaustion, depression | Repeated in captions, status updates, or stories |
| help me / HM | Seeking support indirectly | Used in memes, captions, or group chat threads |
| unwell / uw | Anxiety, depression, or illness masking emotional pain | Often combined with other coded terms |
| void / lost / empty | Feeling numb, hopeless, or socially isolated | Appears in posts, bios, or group chat discussions |
| slipped / falling | Struggling emotionally, self-harm ideation | Sometimes paired with memes or visual references |
| ghosting self / disappearing | Thoughts of isolation or self-harm | Euphemistic references to not being “seen” or wanting to vanish |
| sad boi / sad girl / sg / sb | Expressing depression or emotional fragility | Popularized through meme culture; often paired with music clips or trends |
| unplug / reset | Desire to escape reality or disconnect | Indicates withdrawal from social interactions |
| alone / alone time | Emotional isolation | May signify social withdrawal or loneliness |
| dark humor memes | Masking distress | Frequent use can normalize emotional pain among peers |
| ana | Anorexia / eating disorder behaviors | Often glorified or coded in pro-ana communities; may indicate restrictive eating |
| mia | Bulimia / purging behaviors | Used online to discuss vomiting, laxative use, or hiding behaviors |
| thinspo / thinsta | Thinspiration images / Instagram accounts | Teens share content to reinforce disordered eating goals |
| fast / fasting / restrict | Food restriction behaviors | Often used in captions or private messages as part of a diet-control code |
| binging / purge / BP | Bingeing and purging behaviors | Teens may discuss cycles without explicit terms to avoid moderation |
| ED | Eating disorder | Broad abbreviation covering anorexia, bulimia, or other behaviors |
| cal counting / macros | Obsessive dieting behaviors | Normal terms turned into coded discussions of restriction or obsession |
| reward / treat / cheat day | Manipulated food terminology | Often signals compensatory or restrictive eating behavior |
Key Takeaways:
- Algospeak meanings depend heavily on context, peer group, and platform.
- Look for patterns, combinations, and offline behavioral cues rather than isolated uses.
- Gentle curiosity and open-ended questions are more effective than assumptions.
- If multiple terms suggest self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or disordered eating, seek professional help immediately.
How to Support Teens Who Use Algospeak
- Stay informed – Spend time learning the latest euphemisms and slang.
- Ask open-ended questions – Example: “I saw your post about ‘unalive.’ Can you tell me more about how you’re feeling?”
- Observe patterns, not one-offs – A single post might be a joke but repeated or escalating use is significant.
- Provide safe spaces – Teens are more likely to open up if they feel they won’t be judged or punished.
- Connect to resources quickly – Crisis hotlines, school counselors, or mental health professionals should be contacted if distress is evident. Check out our Resource & Conversation Starters in our blog How to Talk to Your Teen About Mental Health
Algospeak: Teens Make Their Voices Heard
Algospeak illustrates both the creativity and vulnerability of teens online. What looks like playful language or a meme may be a lifeline. By understanding these coded expressions; including mental health, self-harm, and eating disorder slang, adults can bridge the gap between online signals and real-world support, listening carefully, observing patterns, and responding with empathy.
Because sometimes, what seems like clever slang is actually a subtle plea for help.