How Teens Are Using ‘Algospeak’ to Outsmart Censorship Online

The internet used to be a place of unfiltered expression. But in 2025, saying the wrong word online can mean instant demonetization, shadowbans—or worse, getting your account taken down. In response, today’s teens aren’t fighting back with protests or petitions. They’re doing something much smarter: inventing a new language to fly under the algorithm’s radar. They call it “Algospeak.”

What Is Algospeak?

Algospeak is the creative code Gen Z (and some savvy Millennials) use to bypass content moderation algorithms on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Instead of saying “suicide,” they say “unalive.” Instead of “lesbian,” they might use emojis like or code words like “leg booty.” Words like “sex,” “kill,” “drugs,” “abuse,” and more are cleverly disguised to evade the ever-watching AI systems that filter and flag content.

It’s not just for fun—it’s survival in the digital age.

Why Teens Are Speaking in Code

Social platforms claim these algorithms are designed to keep users safe. But many content creators argue the rules are inconsistent and sometimes even discriminatory. Videos about LGBTQ+ identity, mental health, or political unrest are often taken down or hidden from search—not because they’re harmful, but because they trigger the algorithm.

So what do smart, digital-native teens do? They adapt.

Instead of complaining, they create phrases like:

"Corn" for adult content

"Panini" for the pandemic

"Seggs" instead of “sex”

“Die-d” or “unalive” to talk about death or suicide

"Algebruh" for controversial academic discussions

These substitutions let them talk about real, serious topics—mental health, identity, current events—without getting silenced.

Real Conversations, Hidden in Plain Sight

A 17-year-old TikToker named Luna posted a video about surviving depression, saying:

“I was feeling really unalive last year… but I got help.”

In the comments, people knew exactly what she meant. Others joined in:

“Same. It’s been a tough time but I’m healing too.”

Without Algospeak, Luna’s story might’ve never been seen. The word “suicide” could have gotten her flagged, restricted, or removed from the platform. But with coded language, she reached people who needed to hear her.

The Double-Edged Sword

While Algospeak protects freedom of speech, it also raises questions. Is it encouraging misinformation or hiding dangerous content? In some cases, code can be used to spread hate or bypass legitimate moderation—making it harder for platforms to detect real threats.

Still, most teens using Algospeak aren’t trying to be harmful—they’re trying to survive digital censorship and keep conversations alive in a filtered world.

A Language of Resistance

Algospeak is evolving constantly. New slang appears weekly. It’s not just a trend—it’s a language of resistance, an evolving dialect of the internet.

Some linguists even compare it to hip-hop’s coded lyrics or historical Black slang used to outwit oppressors. Others see it as the future of digital speech—where freedom means flexibility and creativity becomes the key to survival.

As one 16-year-old put it:

“If the algorithm’s always listening, we just have to whisper in a way it can’t understand.”

Final Thoughts

We’re watching a quiet digital revolution unfold—one TikTok, comment, and emoji at a time. Algospeak is proof of Gen Z’s resilience and wit, a playful yet powerful response to the restrictive nature of automated censorship.

It’s not just about going viral or avoiding demonetization. It’s about preserving free expression in the age of machines.

So next time you see someone talk about “spicy eggplants” or say they’re feeling “a little cloudy upstairs,” know this:

They’re not confused.

They’re navigating a new world—and rewriting the language to survive in it.

Have you noticed Algospeak in your feed? Drop your favorite coded word or emoji below!

Let’s decode the internet together—because language isn’t dying, it’s evolving.

Share this story if you’ve ever spoken in code online!

By [Kevin]