Algorithmic Censorship and Language Evolution
Author: Adam Aleksic
The emergence of slang on social media is a response to algorithmic censorship, as users find ways to circumvent strict content policies.
- Nipples are referred to as "nip nops"
- A picture of an eggplant can symbolize a penis
- Killing someone is rephrased as "unaliving" them
- Suicide is euphemized as "kermit sewerslide"
Everything slightly risqué or unpleasant becomes baby talk.
This phenomenon, known as "algospeak," is a result of social media platforms adopting policies to appease advertisers and politicians, leading to subtle censorship and content manipulation.
Book: Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language, by Adam Aleksic, Knopf, 256 pages, $29
Author's summary: Algorithmic censorship shapes online language.