A Weird Term You’ll See On TikTok: Defining “/p”

You’ve used LOL and BRB for decades. You’ve figured out the meaning of “delulu” and “rizz.” You even understand acronyms specific to social media, like “GRWM” and “POV,” and TikTok-specific ones like “FYP.”

But then you run across “/p” in a TikTok post or comment, and you’re baffled.

No worries. It’s a reference that’s easy to understand, and we’ve got you covered.

What Does /p Mean on TikTok?

The Internet has changed life dramatically.

We now have greater access to information than at any other time in history. The Internet has driven economic growth, changed the way we shop, and made life more convenient in many other ways. It also allows us to communicate with each other instantly, no matter where in the world we may be.

There are many negatives to consider as well, and one of them is the lack of precision often found when we communicate on social media platforms. The “online” language that has evolved since the 1990s prizes brevity, highlighted by the widespread acceptance of the acronyms, abbreviations, and other strange terms that are now part of everyday conversation on TikTok.

Short, concise TikTok posts and comments save time and effort, but they’re also easily misunderstood. Case in point: “I love you” (or “Luv ya”).

That could be a heartfelt expression of deep love or affection. It could also be a throwaway line closing a DM conversation, or even a sarcastic response to mean or offensive TikTok content.

The context of the post or conversation may easily make the true meaning of the phrase clear to many people — but neurodivergent TikTok users, among others, may not be able to discern the true meaning of the shorthand phrases common on the app. That’s where “/p” comes in.

When appended to an apparent declaration of love, deep feelings, or compliments, “/p” is what’s known as a “tone indicator.” It stands for “platonic,” indicating to those who have trouble understanding context that the expression was meant in a friendly way, not in a romantic way.

In short, someone responding to a TikTok post in which you show off a new dress with “You look great! /p” means the compliment literally. They’re not coming on to you.

(“/p” is different than the term “pushing P,” often shortened to pushing 🅿 or pushin’ 🅿️, which is meant to stand for “pushing positivity” or “keeping things real.”)