What does ASL mean on TikTok?
Unsplash: collabstr.
If you’ve ever scrolled through your For You Page on TikTok, you may have encountered across the popular term ‘ASL’ or ‘asl’ — but what does it actually mean? Here’s everything to know.
As with any social media app, a whole new set of vocabulary has emerged from the many trends, memes, and inside jokes that populate TikTok, with whole comment sections sometimes being flooded with the same obscure phrase.
This can be confusing for people first starting out on TikTok, or even those who have been on the platform for a while, and you may be left wondering what people are talking about.
ASL or ‘asl’ is one such term that has been used on the short-form video app frequently, however, the acronym can take on a whole host of different meanings.
Unplash: Eyestetix StudioASL meaning on TikTok
First, it’s worth noting that some of the below meanings are not exclusive to TikTok, and which definition is being used in any given video or comment will differ depending on the context.
The latest definition that has confused a large number of social media users, is ‘as hell.’ When used in this context, it will usually be written in lower case. Some have taken to the abbreviation and have started using it in their posts both on and off TikTok, whereas others are less keen on the idea.
anytime i see someone type “asl” as “as hell” i read it as “age, sex, location”
— kayla ✨ (@kaylaseraphina) January 27, 2023
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
NO HOW IS "asl" SHORT FOR "as hell" WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU
— appamheimer (@superachnural) June 6, 2022
Many will know ASL as primarily meaning American Sign Language, and there is a wealth of content on the app relating to it, including lessons, tutorials, and song covers. Usually, in this context, it will be written in all caps.
Another popular meaning of the word is ‘age, sex, location,’ though this abbreviation could be considered outdated to some.
ASL is far from the only acronym or slang term that is confusing thousands of people across TikTok. Terms like POV, mid, and accountant all have their own specific meanings on the app.
If you are struggling to understand some of the most commonly used words on TikTok, then you can check out our slang guide here.