User:Sfrancoduque/Internet slang

Introduction
The use of internet slang can be seen in chat rooms, social networking services, online games, video games, online community, and oddly enough, in some cases through in-person interactions. Internet slang is not necessarily subject to use in merely only internet forms of communication, but in short, all forms used by humans.

Creation and Evolution
The primary motivation for using a slang unique to the Internet is to ease communication. However, while Internet slang shortcuts save time for the writer, they take two times as long for the reader to understand, according to a study by the University of Tasmania. Conversely, the use of internet slang is detailed to have oriented with the intent to save keystrokes and or to compensate for small character limits that are placed. On the other hand, similar to the use of slang in traditional face-to-face speech or written language, slang on the Internet is often a way of indicating group membership.

Around the World
To limit the use of Internet slang to just the English language, would be demeaning the large importance it plays in todays day and age. In actuality, many of these terms have been found and used informally through various languages around the world; in addition, some expressions are purely pictorial and thus effectively language independent.