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People who spend a lot of time in tech-related activities have a unique list of slang, and it doesn’t belong only to the tech-savvy community. Every digital activity becomes a part of what we call the tech world, and even if you’re just a passive Instagram doomscroller, you’re already in that world. What is doomscrolling? Keep reading.
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Prox (Proxy Server)
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Prox is a casual shorthand for a proxy server, a tool that becomes more and more valuable for internet users as privacy concerns rise. In practice, using a proxy means your web traffic is routed through another server, hiding your real IP address and identity.
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Techies might say “I’ll use a prox” when they plan to channel their connection through a proxy server for anonymity or to bypass geo-blocks. The term likely emerged simply as an abbreviated form of “proxy,” reflecting how quickly developers and gamers clip technical terms in chat.
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What do proxy servers actually do? For one, they help users stay anonymous online and access content that might be region-locked or censored. For example, corporate employees use proxies to funnel traffic securely, and gamers might use them to reduce lag by connecting through closer servers.
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Proxy servers also tie into everyday privacy as Chrome proxy extensions have become go-to tools for many internet users, offering easy ways to toggle proxies on and off.
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The trend showing how people prefer having proxies directly in their browser can be explained by the widespread usage of proxy services. So, whether you use them or not, knowing about them is crucial.
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Ghosting
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Ghosting describes the act of suddenly cutting off all communication with someone without explanation. Originally popularized in online dating and texting culture, being “ghosted” means your messages or calls go unanswered as if the person vanished like a ghost.
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The slang itself was first noted in the mid-2000s (possibly inspired by the phrase “get ghost,” meaning to disappear quickly). Today, it’s common jargon far beyond Tinder chats – from group projects to even job interviews, you’ll hear ghosting used whenever someone just drops off the radar.
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By definition, ghosting is “ending a relationship or casual dating situation by suddenly not responding to calls or messages with no explanation”, and it has become an all-too-familiar experience.
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A 2020 Pew Research survey found that 62% of adults had heard of the term, and about 30% admitted they’d been ghosted by someone. Unsurprisingly, young adults and active online daters are the most likely to experience it.
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The concept has grown so prevalent that it’s entered the pop culture lexicon and even professional life (you might hear about job candidates ghosting employers by never showing up). While getting ghosted is never pleasant, at least you’ll know the lingo to describe that eerie silence when it happens.
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Noob (Newbie in Leetspeak)
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If a gamer snarks “what a noob!”, it’s definitely not a compliment. Noob (often styled as n00b with zeros) is internet slang for a newcomer or inexperienced person who doesn’t yet know the ropes. It’s basically a playful insult for a newbie. The term traces back to “newbie”, which has been around in military and hacker jargon since the late 20th century.
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In the 1990s, elite online communities (speaking in “leet” or 1337 speak) shortened newbie to newb or n00b, and the label caught on in multiplayer games and forums.
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Originally, noob could be a light-hearted tease for rookies who were learning the game. But as competitive gaming grew, the word evolved into a taunt for those perceived as clueless or unwilling to improve.
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By now, it’s one of the most familiar slurs in gaming and tech circles – so mainstream that even the Oxford English Dictionary added “noob” in 2011, defining it as an inexperienced player who performs poorly. You’ll hear variations like “newb” (a milder term for beginners) and the verb “noobing out” (making newbie mistakes).
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Doomscrolling
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This is the modern habit of endlessly scrolling through bad news on your phone or social feed, even though each swipe leaves you more anxious or depressed. The term emerged around 2018 and exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people found themselves glued to crisis news updates at 2 AM.
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It became so relevant that “doomscrolling” was crowned the Macquarie Dictionary’s 2020 Word of the Year, defined as “the practice of continuing to read news feeds online or on social media, despite the fact that the news is predominantly negative and often upsetting”.
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In other words, you know it’s making you miserable, but you can’t stop scrolling. The word gets more and more popular in digital communication too (similar to ABD).
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This slang struck a chord because it names a universal digital experience. Surveys in 2026 show that about 64% of Americans say they engage in doomscrolling, with Gen Z being the biggest culprits (over 80% admit doing it). There’s even a cousin term, “doomsurfing,” for the same behavior on web browsers.
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