Language changes rapidly – and, in the digital era of texting and communicating via the internet, shorthand is conquering the globe. Lol (or lolz) is a popular and long term online slang word. Whether you’re commenting on a meme or LOL-ing drunken funny clips, you have, no doubt, heard LOL half a dozen times more times than you count fingers. But what does it know, how did it begin and when is the correct moment to do it? Let’s embark on a journey through the LOL full form, its history, and its usage in the digital age.
LOL Full Form
LOL stands for “Laugh Out Loud.”
It is a commonly used Internet acronym used humorously or in place of laughter in online discussion boards. The way that the person who used LOL was intended to signify that the preceding spoken or written expression was something that fell into the category of something funny or entertaining – the reader did not have to literally type a full sentence like, “That’s so funny!” or “I can’t stop laughing!”
Originally, LOL emerged as a reaction to an online emotion and over time has taken on a different meaning of response. It is informally used through texts, comments and even by word of mouth in workplace in order to reduce the chord.
The Origin of LOL
LOL dates back to the early days of internet chatrooms and instant messaging. It was used, and initially developed by the early internet users in the 1980s, as a shortcut system in order to save time while typing.
The first time LOL was used in a documentary was in 1989 (reportedly in a FidoNet newsletter) and was used as LOL “Laughing Out Loud.” It was getting a lot of attention in the 1990s and 2000s with the introduction of MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Chat, etc.
Immersed in the parlance of the Internet, LOL has become part of the vocabulary as social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter (now X) and Instagram, and others grew in popularity.
In fact, in the year 2011, the Oxford English Dictionary has officially incorporated this into the contemporary English Language, which officially proves the existence of LOL.
How to Use LOL Correctly?
Using LOL is an easy thing to do, but you have to take context into thought. These are only some ways it can be used in a proper manner:
1. To Show Amusement
When somebody makes a joke or sends you a meme that makes you laugh, you can reply with a lol to indicate that you find what they sent to be funny.
2. To Soften a Message
Sometimes, people will append LOL at the end of their message to make the content less serious or gruesome.
3. To Hold Discussions
Someone can sometimes say or type LOL in a chat room as a joke, or to be less serious, but sometimes it may also be typed as LOLO.
4. To Break Awkward Silence
On the other hand, if the conversation begins to stray from its usefulness with pointless or bizarre comments, a brief “LOL” may help re-establish the tone of the conversation.
When Not to Use LOL
The use of this LOL is universally accepted everywhere in the world and the net space, though there are certain situations when its use should be avoided:
For Formal (Professional) eMails only:
So now you know, do not use LOL in formal communications unless you are communicating very informally with colleagues that you know well. Instead: What brought a smile to my face or that’s funny.
In sensitive conversations:
In fact, inventing code words (LOL) for the serious discussion may be seen as rude or dismissive.
Excessively:
Overusing LOL will make it seem like the sender is being unwarranted. It can be used with other phrases such as “That’s hilarious” or emojis.
LOL More Than Texting-Pop Culture and Memes!
LOL is not merely a slang term used during texting but it has become a part of pop culture.
- Memes: There are ample memes and viral videos in which they have LOL written in the text part of the caption.
- Games and Apps: The acronym LOL has been casual shortened, but it is an altogether different term, to refer to the very much popular video game called League of Legends (L.O.L), and Sportz LOL.
- Merchandise: LOL merchandise, ranging from t-shirts to mugs, is available worldwide as a symbol of humour and internet culture.
Why LOL Became So Popular
The secret to LOL’s success is pretty obvious – it’s short and universal and expressionistic. Some of its leading reasons being a people’s pick is:
- Time Savings: Rather than typing out sentence structures, one acronym is equal to saying out the full sentence.
- Emotionally expressive: Emotion appears through writing done via tone and friendliness, which can’t be done on e-oral communication.
- Cross-generation: Gen X to Gen Z everyone knows what LOL means.
- Universalization: Even non-English-speaking individuals do know what is meant by them while viewing it in the virtual world of the internet.
Today, LOL is not only part of internet culture but it is an everyday conversation – LOL is used in messages, captions, comments, and even in face-to-face interactions.
Fun Fact: That Means People Are Not Laughing All the Time
An interesting fact is that most LOL users don’t laugh out loud that much.
According to data analyzed by Facebook’s data team, LOL as a word is not unusual in English communication to mean “friendliness” as opposed to “laughter” (lol). In fact, digital expressions of emotions or sentiments, such as emojis (face [emoji: laughing:grinning] that translates into “haha”) are increasingly becoming a representation of real humor.
However, LOL is one of the best replies on its own, an easy reply of “I’m in this and I’m having fun with this conversation.”
Conclusion
LOL full form could simply be just another internet abbreviation, but it is a lot more than understanding the acronym – it is the digital equivalent of human emotion. It is a symbol for the communication revolution in the on-line world: fast, fun and passed seamlessly across the globe.
Whether you use it to genuinely laugh, as shorthand used in a message to lighten the load or simply to keep a conversation going, LOL is one of the most timeless pieces of internet slang ever invented.
So next time when you get a joke on a text message you now know what you can write back: LOL
Also Read: What is the Definition and TBH Full Form?