Why Do We Keep Abbreviating Serious Stuff Online?

Okay, so playing with language is nothing new. 

Brits and Australians, in particular, have always enjoyed adding suffixes like "-o," "-ie," or "-y" to the end of words.

Still, 2023 was a bumper year for new internet-fuelled abbreviations. 

Gendy nooch. Senny overload. And, of course, the infamous cozzie livs. All emerged online. 

But why? 

Well, informal abbreviations can serve as coping mechanisms — especially if they lighten the perspective on otherwise serious stuff. 

Their use is a sort of linguistic resilience, empowering people to discuss tough topics with humour or irony.

And not just that. 

It’s also about community. 

Abbreviations like cozzie livs act as a form of in-group language — helping people connect with those facing similar challenges through shared understanding.