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=                             Algospeak                              =
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                            Introduction
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In social media, algospeak is the use of coded expressions to evade
automated content moderation. It is used to discuss topics deemed
sensitive to moderation algorithms while avoiding penalties such as
shadow banning, downranking, or de-monetization of content. It is a
type of internet slang and a form of linguistic self-censorship.
The term 'algospeak' is a portmanteau of 'Algorithm' and '-speak'; it
is also known as slang replacement or Voldemorting, referencing the
fictional character also known as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named".
Algospeak is different from other types of netspeak in that its
primary purpose is to avoid censorship, rather than to create a
communal identity, though it may still be used for such end.


                       Causes and motivations
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Many social media platforms rely on automated content moderation
systems to enforce their guidelines, which are often not determined by
users themselves. TikTok in particular uses artificial intelligence
to proactively moderate content, in addition to responding to user
reports and using human moderators. In colloquial usage, such AIs are
called "algorithms" or "bots". TikTok has faced criticism for their
unequal enforcement on topics such as LGBTQ people and obesity. This
led to a perception that social media moderation is contradictory and
inconsistent.

Between July and September 2024, TikTok reported removing 150 million
videos, 120 million of which were flagged by automated systems. In
addition, AI may miss important context; for example, communities who
aid people who struggle with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or past
sexual violence may inadvertently get caught in automated moderation.
TikTok users have used algospeak to discuss and provide support to
those who self-harm. An interview with nineteen TikTok creators
revealed that they felt TikTok's moderation lacked contextual
understanding, appeared random, was often inaccurate, and exhibited
bias against marginalized communities.

Algospeak is also used in communities promoting harmful behaviors.
Anti-vaccination Facebook groups began renaming themselves to “dance
party” or “dinner party” to avoid being flagged for misinformation.
Likewise, communities that encourage the eating disorder anorexia
nervosa have been employing algospeak. Euphemisms like "cheese pizza"
and "touch the ceiling" are used to promote child sexual abuse
material (CSAM).

On TikTok, moderation decisions can result in consequences such as
account bans and deletion or delisting of videos from the main video
discovery page, called the "For You" page. In response, a TikTok
spokeswoman told 'The New York Times' that the users' fears are
misplaced, saying that many popular videos discuss sex-adjacent
topics.


                              Methods
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Algospeak uses techniques akin to those used in Aesopian language to
conceal the intended meaning from automated content filters, while
being understandable to human readers. One such method draws from
leetspeak, where letters are replaced with lookalike characters (e.g.
$3X for 'sex'). Other similar adoption of obfuscated speech include
Cockney rhyming slang and Polari, which were formerly used by London
gangs and British gay men respectively. However, unlike other forms of
obfuscated speech, the global reach of social media has allowed the
language to spread beyond local settings.

Another method is where certain words may be censored, or in the case
of auditory media, cut off or bleeped, e.g., 's*icide' instead of
'suicide'. A third method involves "pseudo-substitution", where an
item is censored in one form, while it is present in another form at
the same time, as used in videos. Some methods involve intersemiotic
translation, where non-linguistic signs are interpreted
linguistically, in addition to further obfuscation. For example, the
emoji "🌽" signifies pornography by means of 🌽 → corn → porn.

In an interview study, most creators that were interviewed suspected
TikTok's automated moderation was scanning the audio as well, leading
them to also use algospeak terms in speech. Some also label sensitive
images with innocuous captions using algospeak, such as captioning a
scantily-dressed body as "fake body". The use of gestures and emojis
are common in algospeak, showing that it is not limited to written
communication.

A 2022 poll showed that nearly a third of American social media users
reported using "emojis or alternative phrases" to subvert content
moderation.


                        Impact and detection
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Algospeak can lead to misunderstandings. A high-profile incident
occurred when Italian actress Julia Fox made a seemingly unsympathetic
comment on a TikTok post mentioning "mascara", not knowing its
obfuscated meaning of sexual assault. Fox later apologized for her
comment. In an interview study, creators shared that the evolving
nature of content moderation pressures them to constantly innovate
their use of algospeak, which makes them feel less authentic.

A 2024 study showed that GPT-4, a large language model, can often
identify and decipher algospeak, especially with example sentences.
Another study shows that sentiment analysis models often rate negative
comments incorporating simple letter-number substitution and
extraneous hyphenation more positively.


                              Examples
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According to 'New York Times':
*'le dollar bean' - lesbian, as derived from the written form Le$bian
*'panini', 'panoramic' - a pandemic, especially the COVID-19 pandemic
*'accountant' - sex worker
*'(to) unalive, unalived' - to kill; killed, dead
*cornucopia - homophobia
*'leg booty' - the LGBTQ+ community
*'nip nops' - nipples
*'seggs' - sex
Other examples:


* 'tism' - autism spectrum conditions
* 'fork' - fuck (verb)
* 'grape' - rape
* 'Panda Express' - pandemic
* 'yt' - White/Caucasian people
* 'clock app' - TikTok
* 'blink in lio' - link in bio
* 'shmex' - sex
* 'opposite of love' - hatred
* 'camping' - abortion
* 'sewer slide -' suicide
* 'pew pew' - firearm
* 'cheese pizza' - child pornography
* 'ouid' - weed


                              See also
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* Internet censorship


                           External links
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*
[https://open.spotify.com/episode/67gUlcIdLrpSYj8uICV62U?go=1&sp_cid=6a617472a387d078d1676dd1c88c20e0&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop
'Fast Company' podcast] on Spotify.


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