How An All-New Internet Language Is Connected To The Historic Fight For Women’s Voting Rights

Terms such as "unalive" for "dead" or "seggs" for "sex" are part of a new internet dialect. 

The emerging vocabulary — “algospeak” — is mainly used on TikTok. 

And these alternative words or phrases aren’t just a new form of online slang. 

Algospeak is, in fact, a coded language. 

Social media platforms enforce strict terms of service to cater to advertisers and avoid controversy.

So, creators adopt algospeak to bypass content moderation systems and evade algorithmic red flags.

But what’s that got to do with women getting the vote?

Well, coded language is nothing new. 

In the 18th century, The Women's Social and Political Union —  invented its own vocabulary to avoid unwanted attention. 

Files in the National Archives show that they used alternative words, such as “cotton” for “meet” and “tortoise” for “wait,” when sending telegraphs. 

The secret messages helped the women’s suffrage movement communicate freely and rally supporters to its progressive cause. 

Today, algospeak is commonly used by marginalised groups online for similar reasons. 

Algorithmic penalties often limit creators’ ability to discuss important issues openly. 

So, the creative misuse of language enables them to share their experiences without facing platform violations.