Thanks to Twitter, our generation is constantly keeping up with one another. At any time, we can open the little blue app on our phones and read 140 character blurbs from our friends, exes, high school frenemies, celebrities, and possibly even our parents (scary). And while everyone develops their own tweeting style, one species of tweets stand out amongst the others in the Twitter world -- the subtweet.
subtweet - /səbˌtwēt/ - noun - informal
a. (on Twitter) a post that refers to a particular user without directly mentioning them, typically as a form of a furtive mockery or criticism.
b. the shortening of "subliminal tweet" which is directly referring to a particular person without mentioning their name or directly mentioning them, basically talking about someone behind their back but sort of in their face via Twitter
Occasionally, subtweets may be released by Tweeters into the world of social media in a moment of annoyance and without much thinking -- pretty much like a rant to all of their followers. Other times, individuals' subtweets may be intentional and used as a tool in hopes of grabbing another specific Tweeter's attention. So, how can you identify one type of subtweet from another? Let's see...
1. The Subliminal Lyric Subtweet
As one of the two not so aggressive subtweets, the subliminal lyrics subtweet can be used to express positive or negative feelings towards a fellow tweeter and in a variety of situations. Using song lyrics as subtweet basically allows a tweeter to use someone else's well-crafted words as their own, expressing an emotion that may have not been able to find the words for themselves.
Example: "Come and take a walk on the wild side. Let me kiss you in the pouring rain -- Make you go insane."
Using these Lana Del Ray lyrics from "Born to Die" as a tweet allows the tweeter to (possibly and hopefully) send a subliminal message to a person of their romantic interest, but if the intended person doesn't catch on.. Hey, the tweeter just loves Lana.
2. The Subliminal Quote Subtweet
Much like the subliminal lyric subtweet, the subliminal quote subtweet allows tweeters to use another person's words to potentially grab someone else's attention. And always, if the intended person actually catches on to the subliminal tweet and asks, the tweeter can always use the excuse that they just really like the celebrity or were watching the movie or show that they quoted.
Example: "Three words. Eight letters. Say it and I'm yours."
By tweeting this popular line from "Gossip Girl," we would know that the Tweeter was either trying to send a really strong message to someone or possibly just binge-watching "Gossip Girl" on Netflix.
3. The Overly Obvious Lyric or Quote Subtweet
The overly obvious lyric or quote subtweet is used by those tweeters who definitely want a specific someone to catch on to the message they're trying to send. But at the same time, by using the overly obvious lyric or quote subtweet, the tweeter still has a (somewhat unbelievable but) valid excuse if they get called out.
Example: "Hey hey! You you! I don't like your girlfriend!"
By tweeting these Avril Lavigne lyrics, a tweeter would obviously be trying to tell someone that they're not a fan of their girlfriend because they want to be their girlfriend. (This isn't rocket science, people).
4. The "I Don't Give a *Bleep*" Subtweet
I don't give a *bleep* subtweets are only tweeted by a certain kind of person. One who is definitely not scared of any kind of confrontation or of what others think of them and their attitude. Those who are ballsy enough to choose to tweet I don't give a *bleep* subtweets are probably hoping the tweet works as a tool to start further, sassy confrontation.
Example: "Congratulations on your downgrade. She's one hell of a 5."
Clearly, if a tweeter was to tweet that stab, they would be trying to intentionally grab the attention of their ex and their ex's new significant other. At the same time, they would also end up grabbing the attention of their other followers who would most likely point the tweet out again to their ex. And in their book, that's a win.
And there you have it, a guide to decoding all those petty subtweets floating around in the Twitter world. Have fun.
