Don’t Jump To Conclusions When You See “FTP” On TikTok

Some acronyms that you regularly see on TikTok or other social media platforms mean exactly what you assume.

No one has to guess what “LOL” stands for when they hear it in TikTok content or see it in a comment. There’s no hidden meaning to the acronyms BTW, IMHO, or DM. Virtually everyone understands them immediately.

However, other terms can have very different meanings depending on the context of a TikTok video. An excellent example is FTP, which can be a positive affirmation, a polite request, or even a technical specification.

Most often, though, FTP is used on TikTok to express anger at a specific group of people. Let’s dig into the subject.

What Does FTP Mean on TikTok?

As you’ll quickly learn, “FTP” can have such widely varying meanings on the app that it’s impossible to come up with a definitive answer to the question.

• Positive Meanings: FTP is sometimes used on TikTok to stand for “For the People,” a mission statement emphasizing a dedication to charitable or community work. It can mean “Forget the Past,” an exhortation to live in the moment that’s sometimes used in conjunction with mindfulness or mental health. FTP might also be a mantra cited by athletes or workout warriors, exhorting others to “Feel the Pain” as they push through obstacles to achieve their goals.
• Polite Request: “FTP” is often appended to TikTok posts to mean “Follow This Profile.” It’s used to suggest a new TikTok account to follow when a content creator has cooperated with another producer or is endorsing a brand.
• Technical Meaning: For decades, FTP had just one meaning on the Internet: File Transfer Protocol. It’s a common network protocol that’s still used to transfer or upload files.

That brings us to the “angry” meaning of FTP on TikTok. The “F” stands for a common curse word, and the “P” can represent the group that the video creator is condemning. It’s usually used as an acronym for “F**k the Police,” “F**k the People,” or “F**k the Population.”

The first meaning, of course, has been around for decades. It was most notably popularized by the 1988 N.W.A. hit song of the same name, and is most often seen on TikTok in connection with protest or activist movements (and accompanied by the hashtag #FTP). The other two uses are often meant to express general dissatisfaction with the state of society or the world.

The vast difference between these meanings serves to emphasize an important lesson about TikTok and social media. Don’t assume what someone or something means, and never respond, until you understand the context. You could make an embarrassing mistake.