It’s almost impossible to communicate on TikTok and other social media platforms unless you speak “fluent acronym.” The shorthand terms are everywhere, partly because they conserve space but also because many acronyms (like LOL, OMG, DM, and BRB) have become ingrained in our online culture.
Many of the ones most commonly seen on TikTok are used in humorous or sarcastic contexts, even though some may have originated well before social apps were invented. “FML” (“f—k my life”), “IDC” (“I don’t care”), “FAAFO” (f—k around and find out”), and SSDD (“same s—t, different day”) are just a few.
Other modern acronyms used on the app are more matter-of-fact, including “TFW” (“that feeling when”), “GRWM” (“get ready with me,” a video genre), OP (“original poster”), and “NSFW” (“not safe for work,” a warning label for content).
One, however, may be cause for alarm if you hear it in a TikTok video or see it in a comment.
What Does KMS Mean on TikTok?
This acronym stands for “kill myself.”
It’s important to note that many TikTok users are clearly trying to be funny, sardonic, or hyperbolic when adding this term to another thought. “Didn’t get into Harvard, KMS lol” in TikTok content about intelligence or college admissions, or “god I’m so bored KMS” as an offhanded rainy-day comment, are unlikely to be threats by users to do self-harm.
Those usages, particularly when nothing else in someone else’s video or TikTok profile indicates severe unhappiness or depression, should usually be taken in the offhanded manner in which they’re intended.
However, some people may have few available ways to express suicidal feelings they might be experiencing, particularly these days when virtually all Gen A, Gen X, and millennial users are perpetually online. A “KMS” TikTok post or comment might be the only outlet they believe they have to reach out for help.
When the context indicates that someone is in serious distress, it’s not a mistake to take them seriously.
If you see “KMS” used on the app by a user who appears to be crying for help, it makes sense to immediately reach out to TikTok support by tapping the “Flag” icon on the content screen. That opens the “Report” screen, where there’s an option near the top of the page for “Suicide and self-harm.”
The platform has moderators trained in dealing with these types of situations, and they’ll respond to the poster as a priority. In cases that seem immediate, you can also reach out to mental health hotlines (in most areas of the US, you just text “988”) to see if they’re able to intervene.
There’s one important, final note we have to mention.
Most TikTok posts, even the sarcastic or dark ones, are meant in good humor. That doesn’t really cover the use of “KMS” or other terms referring to suicide in any context, though. Even if the reference isn’t intended to be taken seriously, it could trigger emergency responses, worry some of your family or friends, or negatively influence younger users on the app.
In short, self-harm isn’t a joking matter — no matter how funny you think your KMS video might be.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.