Encrypted backup
A copy of data protected by encryption. Check who holds the key and the restoration conditions; encrypted conversations do not automatically describe how their backups are protected.
The glossary · 87 definitions
The social media glossary.
You do not need to speak in acronyms to feel at home.
Start with four essential ideas
Understand feeds, privacy, reliability and the rules of a space.
Synchronisation
Making data available across devices according to a service’s rules. It does not guarantee an independent copy: deletion or lost access may also affect what other devices display.
Recovery key
Secret information required for some restoration or access-recovery procedures. Keep it protected and accessible without your main device; do not publish it or send it to someone claiming to provide support.
DOI
A persistent identifier used to find a document, notably research. It helps identify a reference; it does not certify methodological quality or the validity of conclusions.
Preprint
A version of work made available before journal publication, often before peer review. State its status, date and version when citing it and check whether a published version exists.
Retraction
A notice withdrawing a publication from the reliable scientific record for reasons stated by the publisher. Read the notice and updates; do not continue citing the text as though its status were unchanged.
Account migration
Moving a social presence to another account or server. Followers, messages and media do not always move together: check export options before leaving.
Account verification
A process or status defined by a platform. Badge criteria vary; a badge does not certify that posts are accurate.
ActivityPub
Open protocol that lets some independently hosted social services exchange posts and interactions across servers. Support for particular features can vary.
AI agent
Software able to carry out a sequence of actions from a goal, such as searching, comparing and preparing a response. Check sources, permissions and consequences before approving an action.
Alternative text
A text description of an image, useful especially to screen-reader users. Describe what matters in context.
App permission
Permission granted to an app connected to your account, such as reading a profile or posting on your behalf. Review and revoke access you no longer use.
Audience
People who may see a piece of content. The group depends on account, group and sharing settings, and sometimes recommendations.
Bio
A short account introduction. It may explain an activity and provide a link, but does not prove the author’s identity.
Block
An action that generally prevents an account from contacting you or seeing certain interactions. Its exact effect varies by service and does not replace reporting abuse.
Blocklist
Set of accounts or domains prevented from interacting with you or a community, depending on the available tools. Review it as situations change.
Bot
An account or program that posts or replies automatically. A bot can provide a useful service, but can also amplify a message artificially or imitate a person.
Captions
Text timed to a video that conveys speech and, where useful, significant sounds. Review automatic captions before posting.
Chronological feed
A display ordered mainly by publication time. It does not guarantee that every post from every followed account appears.
Cloned account
Profile that copies the name, picture or biography of an existing account. Check its exact address and confirm requests with the person through another channel.
Community
People gathered around an interest or shared space, with their own habits and sometimes explicit rules.
Community notes
A system in which contributors add context to a post. A note can help assess a claim, but does not replace checking the cited sources.
Content creator
A person or organisation that regularly produces posts to inform, entertain, share expertise or develop an activity.
Content licence
Terms describing permitted uses of an image, video or text. Content visible online is not automatically free to reuse.
Content provenance
Information documenting the origin and edits of media, sometimes through Content Credentials. Missing provenance data does not prove that content is false.
Cross-posting
Publishing the same content across several services. Adapt the format, context and expected replies instead of copying each message unchanged.
Custom feed
A selection of content defined by criteria or a list of accounts and topics. Its logic may differ from the main feed.
Data archive
A downloadable copy of information linked to an account. Check its contents and keep it somewhere private before closing the account.
Data transfer
Moving or copying information to another service. Availability, formats and transferable categories vary.
Deactivation
Pausing an account under a service’s rules. It can differ from permanent deletion; read the conditions before confirming.
Deepfake
Synthetic image, audio or video that convincingly imitates a person or scene. Check the source, context and independent confirmation rather than relying on one visual clue.
Digital footprint
The traces associated with online activity: posts, comments, accounts, metadata and copies retained by other people.
Disinformation
False or misleading information spread intentionally to deceive. An error shared without this intention is misinformation.
DM / direct message
A message sent directly to a person or group. “Private” describes its intended audience, not necessarily its encryption.
End-to-end encryption
Protection that lets intended recipients read messages without the service being able to read their content in transit. It does not prevent recipient screenshots.
Engagement
Interactions with content: comments, shares, reactions or saves. The meaning of a rate depends on its denominator and the platform.
Ephemeral mode
An option limiting how long a message or media item is displayed. It does not guarantee deletion of every copy, backup or screenshot.
Event registration
The act of indicating planned attendance. Organisers should explain collected data, participant visibility and cancellation terms.
Federated discovery
Finding people or content hosted on other compatible servers. Results depend on the software, server and connections already established.
Federated handle
Account address usually made of a name and server domain. It can help you find a person beyond the service where you signed up.
Fediverse
An ecosystem of federated social services that can communicate, notably through ActivityPub. Mastodon is part of it.
Feed
A sequence of posts displayed to a user. It can be chronological, personalised or built from a chosen list.
Follower
An account that chooses to receive another account’s posts. Follower count does not measure real attention or the quality of a community.
Geolocation
Data indicating a precise or approximate position. It can come from a phone, photo, IP address or a place added voluntarily.
Hashtag
A word or phrase preceded by # to identify a topic. Its role in discovery depends on the platform.
Identity impersonation
Deceptive use of a person’s or organisation’s name or image to appear legitimate. Preserve evidence and use the relevant reporting route.
Instance
A server of a federated service. On Mastodon, choosing an instance includes choosing an account host and community rules.
Interoperability
The ability of different services to exchange data or communicate. In social networking, it can allow someone to follow an account hosted elsewhere.
Invite link
Address that grants access to a group, room or sometimes a server. Check its origin and the space’s rules before sharing it.
Keyword filter
Setting that hides or reduces content containing selected words. It can help manage a feed, although spelling variations can bypass it.
Limited replies
Setting that restricts who can reply to a post. It may reduce some abuse, but cannot prevent screenshots or discussion elsewhere.
Mention
A reference to an account in a post or comment. It may notify the person and make the content easier to find.
Misinformation
False or inaccurate information shared without an intention to deceive. Disinformation involves a deliberate attempt to mislead.
Moderation
Applying a space’s rules: handling reports, restricting content or intervening with accounts. It may combine human and automated work.
Multifactor authentication
Login verification using several factors, such as a password and a security key. It adds protection to account access.
Newsletter
A publication delivered regularly to subscribers, often by email and sometimes archived on the web. Its value depends on a clear promise, valid consent and a sustainable schedule.
Notification
An alert sent by an app to report an interaction or encourage a return. Setting priorities helps reduce interruptions.
Passkey
A sign-in method based on a key held by a device or password manager. Availability and recovery options vary by service.
Paywall
A restriction that reserves some or all content for subscribers or paying users. Terms, renewal and cancellation options should be clear.
Phishing
An attempt to obtain a password, code or sensitive data by imitating a trusted service or person. Check the address and open the service through your own route.
Photo metadata
Information associated with an image, such as date, camera, rights and sometimes location. Review it before public publication.
Photo sharing agreement
A person’s agreement to a particular use of their image. Asking where and how a photo will appear helps avoid misunderstandings.
Pinned post
Content chosen to remain near the top of a profile or space. It often introduces the account to new visitors.
Private account
An account whose posts require audience approval. This limits the intended audience but cannot stop an approved recipient keeping or sharing a copy.
Reach
The number of distinct accounts shown content according to the service’s measurement. It does not necessarily equal complete views or reads.
Recommendation algorithm
A system that selects and orders content using signals such as your interactions. The resulting feed is a selection, not a complete view of the world.
Recommendation signal
Information used to rank content, such as a follow, interaction or viewing time. Its weight differs across platforms.
Report
An action bringing an account or content to a moderation team’s attention. It does not guarantee automatic removal.
Reposting consent
Permission to publish someone’s content again in a specific context. A public image does not mean its creator or the people shown agree to every reuse.
Screenshot
Image of what appeared on a screen at one moment. Useful as evidence, it can also expose private information: hide that information before sharing.
Server domain
The part of a federated account address after the @ sign that identifies its server. It distinguishes accounts with the same name on different servers.
Social graph
A representation of relationships between accounts, groups and interactions. Platforms may use it to suggest contacts or order content.
Social listening
Organised observation of public conversations around a topic, organisation or risk. It should respect people, service rules and data protection.
Sponsored content
A post whose creation or distribution is funded by a brand or organisation. Its commercial nature should be clearly identifiable.
Story
A publishing format that is often temporary. A limited display period does not guarantee every copy disappears.
UGC / user-generated content
Content created by service members rather than the platform itself: posts, reviews, photos, videos or comments.
Virality
Rapid content distribution through recommendations and repeated sharing. Going viral does not prove accuracy, usefulness or approval by everyone who sees it.
Visibility restriction
A reduction in distribution for an account or post, whether disclosed or not. Lower reach can also result from audience, topic, timing or recommendation changes.
Voice room
Live audio discussion space with listening and speaking roles. Access and recording rules depend on the service.
Watchlist
A personal list of films, videos or other content intended for later viewing. It records an intention and is not necessarily a recommendation.
WebFinger
Discovery mechanism that lets some federated services find public information associated with an account address.
Unlisted video
A video accessible by link without being displayed as a public publication in the main discovery areas. Recipients can forward the link; this mode does not guarantee restricted access.
Linked device
A device authorised to access an account or conversations. Review recognised devices and remove unused access, especially after loss or replacement.
Git repository
A collection of files and their change history managed with Git. GitHub can host it and add collaboration tools; Git and GitHub refer to different things.
Minimal reproducible example
An example reduced to the elements needed to reproduce a problem. It describes the expected result, actual result and test conditions without secrets or personal data.
Viewing diary
A dated history of film viewing sessions. On Letterboxd, it differs from simply marking a film watched and may contain repeat viewings.
Map visibility
A setting determining which portions of a route others can see. On Strava, hiding a map and limiting activity audience are separate controls.
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Educational definitions written for this portal. Names and measurements may vary by service. About & methodology.