.com—The most common extension on the World Wide Web, short for commercial website. Also known as dot-com.
#—The number sign or pound symbol is most commonly known as the “hash” mark or hashtag on social media. In 2007, Twitter user Chris Messina used the hashtag to organize an in-person meeting and inadvertently invented the social media hashtag.
3D printing—The act of using a fabricator that extrudes plastic into a physical space on a platform, creating a three-dimensional product.
4chan—Founded by Chris “moot” Poole, the site boasts dozens of image boards based on Japan’s otaku picture boards. It allows users to remain anonymous and post anything they would like on the boards. The forum has no archive, self-regulates, and is often the digital birthplace of many memes. See also Anonymous and Memes.
Advertorial—A mash-up word meaning a mix of advertising and editorial.
Algorithm—A problem-solving piece of mathematics that allows a computer program to expedite formulas.
Analytics—The system used to measure web and Internet data.
Anonymous—A loosely associated international network of hacktivists and activists who carry out well-publized hacking stunts, protests, and digital attacks on various websites. Also a user who desires not to use his or her own identity when using the web.
API—application programming interface—Software components given to users in order to specify how the platform may be used outside the original program.
ASCII—American Standard Code for Information Interchange—A 7-bit code language where each bit represents a unique character.
Auto-Tune—A tool used to make any word or sound into a musical note. Allows rappers and users to create music from regular sound content.
AVI—Audio Video Interleaved—Never referred to except as AVI, it is a Windows digital video extension.
Beta person—The type of character or individual most likely seen in early web series and vlogs. According to Stephanie Rosenbloom of the New York Times, these characters are anti-Entourage characters.
Big data—Data in extremely large sets. Referred to as “big data” to be analyzed to reveal how the data were created, including human behavior, interactions, patterns, and trends.
Binary language—The original language of digital media, where there are two digits, a 1 or a 0, meaning on or off, true or false, yes or no. The power button on computers is a symbol combining a 1 and a 0.
Bit.ly—One of the many URL shorteners designed to shrink long web addresses to fit into microblogging platforms such as Twitter. Also used in analytics to discover traffic and link clicks.
Branded entertainment—Also known as sponsored content, this type of entertainment seems like authentic material, but is actually a cleverly disguised commercial. Good examples are the Old Spice guy and OK Go music videos.
Broadband—The transmission of data via high-capacity connections.
Browser—Invented in 1993, this device reads HTML and allows users to access the visuals of the World Wide Web.
Citizen journalism—Any web or social media user using their tools to report information to be shared with the public.
Cloud computing—Also known as “the cloud,” this is when data storage is kept in several locations simultaneously over broadband-connected networks.
CMOS chip—complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor chip—Used as the image processor in small camera devices such as cellphones and digital cameras. A more current image-capture device than the charged coupled device (CCD) of older cameras.
CMS—Content management system—An online database that allows content to be organized and managed. WordPress is a blogging CMS.
Codecs—Derived from code/decode, a codec compresses data to be transmitted digitally and then decompressed on the receiving side.
Collaborations—Also known as “collabs,” these are a style of YouTube or online video production where two or more personalities team up for a similar theme, video fad, or cross-promotion.
Compression—Using a digital format to remove redundant information to create a smaller file size. Data can be compressed in lossless formats, where the information compressed is unseen, or lossy compression, where compression leaves artifacts and distortions.
Convergence—A term used for the trend of merging multiple theories and technologies for the benefit of advancement.
Cookies—Also known as an HTTP cookie or web cookie, this is a very small piece of data left on a user’s computer that allows websites to track web use.
Cord cutting—A trend of discontinuing cable or traditional media subscription services for Internet-based streaming or downloads of media.
cPanel—control panel—A Linux-based control panel for website backends that allow users access to code, files, directories, databases, and host management of websites.
Creator—The term for a content producer in the online space.
Cross-posting—Using a social media post on other platforms simultaneously, through shared services.
CSS—cascading style sheets—Part of the hypertext language that allows for marking up code for the style and the look and interface of a website.
Developer—A programmer who designs, creates, and advances products for the World Wide Web and applications.
Digital footprint—Your overall data impression online, a culmination of all created content and searchable material from search engines.
Directories—Kept inside the root directory to create a more organized system for the web designer. Also known as a folder.
Divs—Part of the HTML5 syntax that allows the coder to write separate website properties into a page with unique CSS.
DNS—domain name server—Setting your domain name to the host, which points the domain to your directory.
Doge meme—A popular meme where the text is written in Comic Sans and the words are part of a dog’s internal monologue.
Doge speak—An Internet dialect based on the doge meme vernacular.
Domain name—Also known as a mask. Uses a word-based web address to disguise the IP address and directs users to your root directory.
Embed—To borrow the code from a piece of content (video, image) from another user or website and paste it onto your own digital platform (website).
Emojis—Originally based on emoticons, small iconographic faces and icons that assist in digital messages.
EXIF data—Exchangeable image file format—A digital standard for digital cameras that contains all data from the image such as technical data, GPS information, and settings.
Fair Use—US copyright doctrine that allows some material to be used, under certain circumstances, without permission of the copyright holder.
Fandom—Groups of dedicated fans who collectively create a subculture around a specific topic.
Follower—A user who subscribes and connects with you on social media platforms.
GIF—graphic interchange format—A lossless raster image format that is used primarily as an animated loop.
Google Analytics—A service to monitor your website traffic.
Guy Fawkes masks—Based on the James McTeigue/Wachowski film V for Vendetta, the mask is used to disguise Anonymous activists when they protest in the physical space.
Hacktivist—Internet user who uses group tactics and online tools to promote political issues, protests, and human rights campaigns. Often used by the group Anonymous.
Hashtag (see also #)—Created by Chris Messina, using a label or subject to categorize content, it began on Twitter and has followed on other social media sites since. Also used as a research tool for trending topics in the news, events, and other areas.
Hosting—A hard drive that stores all of your content and files for your website. You can rent hosting space online or create your own server to host other people’s files.
HTML5—Current iteration of the main web language, it makes websites more responsive as well as offering compatibility across multiple devices.
Hypermedia—Text and media that can be conformed to the user’s screen and interacted with.
Hypertext—A software-based system that allows the web to work, showing images and text through a browser interface.
ICANN—Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers—A nonprofit organization created in 1998 that organized and standardized the system so that users who made websites could potentially rent any domain and extension available.
Image macro—A type of meme where a digital image includes an amusing and entertaining caption or message.
IP—Internet protocol (IP address)—the location of the data and files that hold the website you want to visit.
ISP—Internet service provider—A company that customers pay a fee to in order to have Internet service in their homes (through broadband or DSL connection).
Javascript—A programming language that animates code to display dynamic content on web browsers.
JPEG—Joint Photographic Experts Group—The most common image format used on the web, owing to its use of an advanced algorithm that discards “extra” data and duplicates simple data.
jQuery—Open-source JavaScript language used by thousands of websites, written to help users add extra features to their site with ease.
Jump cuts—The act of editing out unnecessary information on your video without covering up the edits with other footage or b-roll. Usually used stylistically.
Juxtaposition image meme—A remix meme that takes a facial expression or an act out of context and inserts it into an image that deserves the punch line.
Landing page—An introductory page that lets the visitor know who you are and what your site is about.
Lolcats—A popular image macro or meme using one or more cats, with lolspeak text embedded.
Lolspeak—A community-organized language (designed to be coming directly from the cat’s mind) that, through the act of the meme, has created its own remixable products.
Machinima—Also known as machine cinema; a narrative mash-up of video games and cinema, often using multiplayer games or first-person shooters, to create narrative films.
Makers—People who are creators in the physical space using digital media tools. Also known as the “Maker Movement,” where people are using computer programming to make open-source materials to help advance the way the web works and how we participate. A few examples include 3D printing, Raspberry Pi, Oculus Rift, among others.
Mash-up—Combining two or more existing pieces of content to create a new, transformational piece.
Memes—An idea utilizing an image, video, GIF, or other form of media that spreads between the online audience, changing meanings and messages between users.
Metadata—Parts of web code that remain invisible to the viewer on the web browser or screen.
Microblogging—Short, frequent posts consisting of only a text, image, etc., commonly found on Tumblr, Twitter, and other social media networks.
Microenvironment—A small environment, platform, or community found on the web.
MMORPG—massively multiplayer online role-playing games—Web users form guilds and teams with other players in order to win battles against other teams. An example of an MMORPG is World of Warcraft.
Moore’s Law—Gordon Moore observed that transistor technology was increasing exponentially in both storage and physical size. He posited that the computer speed and storage would double every 2 years; today, we call it big data.
Multichannel networks—In order to help online platforms, web producers assist with collaborations, promotions, and funding to create content. In some cases, the channels can team up and profit share, similar to a corporation.
Native advertising—A brand name clearly embedded in the content, also known as sponsored content.
New media—Any emerging technologies that affect you both socially and culturally.
Non-fiction communities—Fans of books, television shows, and other forms of content connecting together in online communities to discuss and create additional content of their favorite stories.
NSFW—not safe for work—A commonly used message board on 4chan or a hashtag when viewing an image or video that is not appropriate for viewing at one’s job or around others.
Occupy Wall Street—In the fall of 2011, citizens gathering in the physical space as well as on social media networks to protest the economy and income inequality, among many other issues.
Online audience—Creating authentic content that the audience wants to view and share; building an audience that regularly follows your brand.
Online brand—A focused and structured digital presence that represents who you are online by arranging all of your information, content, and digital profiles in an organized manner. A user’s personality, goals, and interests are clearly defined online and connected on all platforms.
Online communities—Environments found on the web such as message boards, databases, and social media sites that offer digital interaction with other online users, discussing content through text, images, and sound that capture the imagination of all web users.
Online identity—A name, personality, or subject you wish to establish and present to the public through the web, including social media platforms.
Online participant—An active user of digital media, both as a participant and content creator.
Open collaboration—People who are loosely connected, with a common goal to improve products.
Open source—Code or content that anyone has access to for personal use, when the owner offers the material for free.
OTP—one true pairing—Associated with fandom; after characters have been “shipped” from original stories, fans write and create content in their own narratives.
Permalink—A hyperlink or URL that is associated with your webpage or a blog post on your website and is based on words and easy to search.
Photo fad—An image that becomes a popular meme or a style of photo that becomes a trend, such as a selfie.
PHP—A database web language where a website’s files stay on the host computer while you browse on your computer.
Physical memes—A meme that is performed and participated in by the online audience and is usually a strange act, such as owling or planking.
Platform—A website, social media site, or digital environment where users meet to post, create, and build an online community.
Plug-ins—Extensions to your website theme such as audio players, widgets, slide shows, galleries, and other features.
Podcast—An audio file that is typically an interview series found on the web, which users download or subscribe to on their mobile devices or computer, through iTunes or directly from audio companies such as Podcastone.
Popular culture—Content (images, videos) that is greatly influential in our media and popular within our society.
Post—Each time a user of the web writes a blog, adds an image, shares a video, or other pieces of content, to their social media profiles or websites.
Profile—A user’s unique page on a social media site, consisting of their personal information, pictures, videos, interests, and activities.
Prosumer—A user who creates short-form video content and posts it on the web with intent to interact with the online audience and community, but in turn creates a successful venture and turns their product into profit.
Public brand—Also known as public identity, where individuals who create an online brand keep all of their social media sites and content public for a variety of reasons, such as attracting potential employers and increasing followers of their pages.
RAW image—JPEG, TIFF, and PNG image files before compression that contain a large amount of data, because they account for all of the information on the chip, including each pixel.
Reblogging—The act of reposting a blog or microblog (tweet) created by another user onto your profile or site, but crediting the original source (creator of the content).
Remix—A type of meme where users manipulate images of original photos, telling their own version and story with creativity and wit. Examples include “Disaster Girl,” “Sad Keanu,” “Bubbles Girl,” among others.
Retweet—A user reposting another user’s tweet on their profile.
Rick Roll—A bait-and-switch Internet prank started on 4chan, where users boast about something worth looking at, leading to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987) music video.
Search engine optimization (SEO)—Making sure one’s content or website is viewed by as many Internet users as possible by ensuring it will appear high on the list of search engine results. There are companies that help guide websites to optimize their content, such as Google Analytics.
Selfie—When a user utilizes their mobile device camera, flipping it around to take a self-portrait of oneself, showcasing their personality, emotions, and feelings at that exact moment.
Share—A participant or creator offering content to be downloaded, viewed, and interpreted in a variety of ways through social media.
Ship—To create a relationship between two existing characters that were not intentionally paired in the original concept and making them a “One True Pairing” or OTP.
Short message service (SMS)—A short text message commonly used on mobile devices for communication.
Social commentary—Commonly found when remixing video content, exposing and analyzing overlooked scenes in popular media with narration over the content.
Softaculous—Located in the cPanel of your website backend, it enables users to install applications such as WordPress.
SOPA—Also known as the Stop Online Piracy Act, this was a bill introduced by the government in 2012 to enforce copyright laws on the Internet.
SoundCloud—An audio distribution website that allows users to upload and share sounds such as music and podcasts.
Sponsored content—Also known as branded entertainment, produced material (such as a web series) that is supported and funded by an outside company. This company will be mentioned and seen throughout the material. An example would be Acura sponsoring Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee by Jerry Seinfeld.
Tagging—Commonly associated with users of social media sites who identify themselves and others in pictures and images.
Tags—Keywords for your blog post or video that are used as search terms, increasing the chances of the content being found on search engines such as Google. Also widely used on images in social media platforms.
TCP—transmission control protocol—A device, most commonly a modem, that increases the size, volume, and speed of the web.
Themes—All the design elements for the layout and presentation of your website.
Transmedia—Storytelling content developed for more than one medium, such as television, websites, social media, among other platforms.
Trolls—Users who post information and use the web in destructive ways.
Trope—A figurative use of an expression or word.
URL—uniform resource locator—The web address or domain name for any website.
Venture capitalism—When major corporations and entrepreneurs invest in start-up companies with the potential to grow into a money-making venture. Digital media have been at the forefront of this, as many social media, mobile, and emerging technologies have been approached by venture capitalists.
Viral seeding—Companies helping brands increase views, shares, and mentions quickly on video-sharing sites.
Vlog—A video blog, popular on YouTube, where a user talks directly to the audience, with creative editing typically using jump cuts.
YouTube Creators Playbook—Explains the most effective ways of running your channel, with thorough details of when to upload your content and how to create content people want to watch. The goal is to create a strategy of programming for long-term content creation and community engagement.
YouTube Editor—Allows users to edit, enhance, and customize their uploaded videos directly within the platform itself. Video creators have the ability to trim, add music, and quickly republish to the site.