Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps in the world. With over 1 billion active monthly users, Instagram has turned out to be a popular choice among teenagers and adults. Gen Z kids have been using the social media app vastly for messaging their loved ones. If you regularly use Instagram for messaging, you must have come across text such as TBH, DM, FOMO, LMK and many more. These words are used very frequently in conversations, captions and stories. What do these abbreviations mean? They are actually very common abbreviations and slang used during conversations to make the long text short such as TBH which means ‘To Be Honest’. TBH also has some other meanings as well. Let’s know more about TBH and other acronyms in detail.
What is the Meaning of TBH (To Be Honest)?
TBH stands for, To Be Honest, its a slang used by the user to describe their views honestly on the social media app. This opinion can be about either on a post or people. It is also used to describe the change in opinion during conversations. While this term mostly refers to positive thoughts, there can also be negative opinions about that specific thing. TBH needs to be written in all caps like TBH and not tbh or Tbh. TBH is primarily used to ensure that a person is expressing their opinion with full honesty.
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This slang is widely used during conversations, especially on Instagram. Teens use TBH mostly on their posts, comments and stories. You must have seen Instagram stories such as ‘Reply for a TBH’ or ‘Send heart for TBH’ or comments like ‘TBH cuz I am feeling bored’. When someone asks for TBH, they reply with “You’re funny” or “I have a crush on you”. Below is an example of using TBH in a conversation:
S: Hey, are you alright? You were looking sad today
A: TBH, I failed my test.
How the Meaning of TBH Changed Over Time
While TBH means ‘To Be Honest’ or ‘To Be Heard’, the meaning of TBH has changed a lot over time. A recent report from Washington Post on a 13-year-old girl clearly explains how the meaning of TBH has changed. She explains how she uses TBH on Instagram as a technique to get more likes and comments.
She posts ‘Like all my pictures for a tbh, comment when done,'” and here followers start liking and commenting on her post for TBH. This increases the engagement rate of her account. While TBH means ‘To Be Honest’ she will write some positive comments for her followers and they will participate again in the next post.
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Similarly, TBH is also used to start a conversation with those whom you don’t know properly. An unknown person will not message you without any specific reason, but if you give them a TBH or they give you a TBH, it becomes easy for them to start a conversation by replying to them. Many teenagers use it to start a conversation with their crush.
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Nowadays, TBH is used as ‘TBH and Rate’, rather than writing some lines, the user chooses to score them with a number as per their liking. This method is used to rate someone on a scale of 10.
Actually, there are no limits to the slang and acronyms, the social media users use daily. Instagrammers have been using these terms to make a new term, here are some important terms which you can use during conversation.
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Popular and Trending Terms Commonly Used on Instagram, Their Full Forms
Not only TBH, but there are actually hundreds of acronyms used by teens or adults on social media apps such as Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. IMO, TBH, FOMO, PM are some of the commonly used abbreviations between conversations. If you are someone who uses these social media apps regularly, you should be aware of these terms. Here’s a full list of popular and trending terms that are commonly used on Instagram with their full forms:
DM – Direct message
PM – Private message
AFAIK – As far as I know
AMA – Ask me anything
BRB – Be right back
BTAIM – Be that as it may
BTS – Behind the scenes
BTW – By the way
DAE – Does anyone else?
DYK – Did you know?
FBF – Flashback Friday
FF – Follow Friday
FOMO – Fear of missing out
FTFY – Fixed that for you
FTW – For the win
FYI – For your information
G2G or GTG – Got to go or Good to go
GG – Good game
GTR – Got to run
HBD – Happy birthday
HIFW – How I feel when
HMB – Hit me back
HMU – Hit me up
HTH – Happy to help
ICYMI – In case you missed it.
IDC – I don’t care
IDK – I don’t know
IKR – I know, right?
ILY – I love you
IMO – In my opinion
IRL – In real life
JK – Just kidding
LMK – Let me know
LMS – Like my status
LOL – Laughing out loud
MCM – Man crush Monday
MFW – My face when
MTFBWY – May the Force be with you
NBD – No big deal
NM – Not much
NSFW – Not safe for work
NVM – Never mind
OMW – On my way
OOTD – Outfit of the day
PPL – People
ROFL – Rolling on the floor laughing
SFW – Safe for work
SMH – Shaking my head.
TBH – To be honest
TBT – Throwback Thursday
TGIF – Thank God it’s Friday
TIL – Today I learned
TL;DR – Too long; didn’t read
TMI – Too much information
WBU – What about you?
WBW – Way back Wednesday
WFH – Work from home
YOLO – You only live once
Do you have any other acronyms that you use daily? Don’t forget to tell us in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do TBH mean on Instagram?
TBH stands for “to be honest” on Instagram. Instagram users use it to show an opinion about someone or something. It is used at the beginning and end of sentences.
What is a TBH post?
The TBH acronym is usually used in posts voicing an opinion or being honest about something or someone. A TBH post is when someone writes honestly about someone or something.
What’s a TBH example?
Here are some examples with TBH:
- TBH, I’m not sure what to do in this situation.
- TBH, I’m not a big fan of horror movies.
- That outfit looks great on you, tbh.
- TBH, I’m not really into Cricket.
How do you reply to a TBH on Instagram?
When someone uses TBH in their posts, you have to respect their opinion and reply with your honest opinion on that.
Is TBH still a thing?
TBH is still used widely by social media users all over the world.
What is the difference between TBT and TBH?
TBT and TBH are different. TBT means Truth Be Told; TBH stands for, To Be Honest. Both are similar to each other in a casual setting.
