Slop, Clickbait, Shadowban: Internet Terms Shaping Online Culture

Recent years have seen several internet terms gain widespread use as digital platforms evolve and new types of content emerge. Understanding these terms helps clarify how online interactions and content are shaped by current trends and technologies.

“Slop” has become a common term for digital material that is produced rapidly and in large quantities, often with the assistance of artificial intelligence. This type of content is typically designed to generate engagement or clicks rather than provide substantial value to users.

The word “slop” began appearing more frequently in mainstream discussions in mid-2024. Programmer Simon Willison was among the early adopters of the term in May 2024, contributing to its broader recognition within internet culture.

Merriam-Webster included “slop” as its Word of the Year for 2025, reflecting the term’s prominence in discussions about online content and artificial intelligence. The selection highlights the growing awareness of mass-produced digital material and its impact on web experiences.

What the numbers show

• “Slop” saw early mainstream use in May 2024
• Merriam-Webster named “slop” Word of the Year for 2025
• The term “burner” dates back to the late 1990s and early 2000s

Another widely used term is “clickbait,” which refers to online content that employs sensational headlines or thumbnails to encourage users to click. This approach often relies on creating a sense of curiosity without providing complete information in the initial view.

Clickbait strategies are designed to exploit what is known as the “curiosity gap.” By offering only partial details, these headlines or images prompt users to seek out more information, resulting in additional web traffic for the publisher.

Social media platforms also use practices such as “shadowbanning,” where a user’s content is made less visible or hidden from searches and feeds. This process typically occurs without informing the affected user, making it difficult to determine when or why visibility has been reduced.

Shadowbanning can involve either blocking or partially restricting a user’s posts in a manner that is not immediately obvious to them. This approach is used by platforms to manage the visibility of content without direct notification to the account holder.

Another term, “burner account,” describes a temporary and often anonymous online profile. These accounts are created for short-term use and then discarded, allowing individuals to separate certain activities from their main identity. The concept of “burner” originated with phones in the late 1990s and 2000s and later extended to digital accounts.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.