Are You Keeping Up?

Technology has shaped language,  introducing new words and altering the meaning of well-known words. While many of us are aware of the differences between tablets and laptops, texting and e-mailing, websites and blogs, we may not be too familiar with more subtle linguistic changes.

To mark the occasion of its 20th birthday, Dictionary.com has compiled a list of words whose meanings have changed in the past two decades.

How many of these meanings do you recognize?

Bump

To move an online post to the top of a list by adding a new comment or post to the thread.

Block

To prevent someone from contacting you on Twitter or other social networks.

Canoe

A twitter conversation that has picked up too many user names for an actual conversation to take place.

Catfish

A person who sets up a false personal profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes.

Cloud

Parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data.

Firehose

A very large stream of data.

Footprint

A unique set of characters or actions that leaves a trace and serves as a means of identification.

Friend

To add a person to one’s lists of contacts on a social-networking site.

Follow

To subscribe to a person’s updates on social media.

Handle

Your screen name. i.e. The name you go by on the Internet.

Like

To indicate enjoyment, interest, or agreement with content on social media.

Meme

A cultural item in the form of an image, video or phrase that is spread via the Internet.

Ping

To contact someone by sending a brief electronic message, such as a text message.

Profile

Personal details, images, and other items associated with a username or online account.

Sandbox

An environment in which software developers or editors can create and test new content, separate from other content in the project.

Swipe

Move the fingers across a touch screen.

Tablet

A general-purpose computer contained in a touch screen panel.

Tag

To link to someone else’s profile in a social media post.

Text

To send a message.

Timeline

A collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social-media account, in reverse chronological order.

Troll

A person who starts arguments or upsets people on the Internet.

Tweet

A short message posted on the Twitter website.

Unplug

Refrain from using digital or electronic devices for a period of time.

Viral

Becoming very popular by circulating from person to person, often through the Internet.

My score – 21/24

New meanings (for me)  – Canoe, firehose, sandbox

 

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