OK, What Does 'S/U' Mean on Social Media, Exactly?

With each generation, abbreviated words and terms can take on new meanings. It can leave people who aren't familiar with the terms scratching their heads. Whether it's via text or on social media, not knowing what a few letters stand for can leave you feeling left out in the cold.

The slang term S/U, which can also be written SU, is a perfect example—what's SU's meaning? It ranks right up there with IKR (I know, right?), OOMF, IYKYK, YOLO (you only live once), FWIW, TFW and a host of others. What makes S/U stand out is that the abbreviation can take on different meanings, depending on the context where you use it.

We're offering up a couple of the most popular explanations, though there could be others. After all, the meaning behind the words is constantly evolving, YKWIS? Here's a look at S/U.

Related: What Does 'TL;DR' Mean? Plus, Here's When You'll Definitely Want To Avoid Using It

What Does S/U Mean on Snapchat?

If you see the S/U acronym on Snapchat, it means “swipe up." When putting a story on the platform, posters can include a link. A user who swipes up on that story will open up the link. If a user swipes up on a story that doesn’t have a link, Snapchat leads you to send a message to the original poster.

What Does S/U Mean on Instagram and TikTok?

Incidentally, Instagram and TikTok also use S/U, which can mean "swipe up" or "scroll up." As with other social media platforms, the acronym is an easy way to let others know there is more content to engage with (if they swipe up the screen).

Related: 70 Texting Abbreviations Everyone Should Know

What Does S/U Mean in Texting?

Texting is full of slang and abbreviated terms. After all, texting is already the quicker way to communicate. Who has time to read more than they need to?

When someone is using that shorthand while typing a message, S/U usually means "shut up." It's often used in a lighthearted, teasing way. But if you're in the midst of a heated conversation, you may want to reconsider what that "shut up" means.

S/U can also mean "see you" as in "see you later."

Related: OK, Wait, What Does 'TTYL' Mean in Texting?

Examples of How To Use S/U

Like most abbreviated slang terms, S/U can be used easily and informally. For example, on Snapchat, an influencer could write "S/U for my code to save on this item." Swiping up will give you their affiliate code to get a discount on your purchase. An Instagram user may say, "S/U for more pix from the event." Scrolling up gives the user a better look at all the pictures. Friends parting ways may say, "I had fun! Thanks. S/U," as in, "see you later."

When it comes to using acronyms in texting and social media, there are no hard and fast rules. Here's to hoping those two short little letters make things easier for you. TTYL!

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