4.25/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC!
Algospeak is an exploration of how social media shapes language. 
This was a really interesting read. I’ve followed @etymologynerd for a while, which was the main reason I picked this book up. This book covers so many niches in this super broad topic in such a short time, and it does that very well. 
I enjoyed that this book discusses language as it specifically relates to social media (i.e. terms like “sigma,” “rizz,” “yeet”), and also looks at how humans have made weird and funny slang words since we could write. It’s nice to know that we’ve always been like this. 
If you’re looking for a quick, interesting read about linguistics and the cultural impact of social media, this is a great book for you. 

Note: There were two HP references in this book: one was an actual linguistics term and the other was a passing mention to the franchise

CW: censorship; appropriation; racism; mentions of suicide & death

As a linguistics nerd myself, and a fan of Adam Aleksic's platform and previous content and media, I was very excited for this book, and even more ecstatic to find that it delivered! My favorite part of this book is the voice, as it does a great job of balancing the informational, factual, and more academic side, while keeping readers engaged with a more casual tone. The accessible language and examples used for such a daunting, or generally broad, topic as the origins of words and the evolution of language, made for a book that not only de-complicates a complicated topic while keeping you glued to the page, but for one that meets each reader where they are at. This book is a great entry point into the world of linguistics for readers of various ages, and smoothly continues AIeksic's work into a new medium, a transition that many other content creators find challenging. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is of a curious mind or a pop culture fanatic.

I like how this book attempts to describe the specific language and discourse trends that come from algorithms on social media but in the process ends up taking us into a journey through language formation itself. I learned a lot from how we speak the way we do, and how the algorithm ends up making changes that sometimes end up showing up “in real life” as well. This is a great read, and everyone would benefit from it - influencers, and also just people that consume any content on the internet.

This is a fascinating read. The pervasiveness of online language in the real world is obvious and rapidly growing, particularly in the language usage of younger generations. And this book helps us understand why. Whether you are social media savvy or completely lost, this book can help. It gives an interesting look at how it all began and follows the logical evolution to where we are now. While I knew some of this content already, I filled gaps/made connections that I did not realize I lacked in my knowledge of this topic. And I appreciated the reminder of how the algorithms are shaping not just our language but our views and emotions [I’m thinking in particular about the discussion of the purposefulness of rage- and click-baiting]. Algospeak covers a lot of ground, and the author’s easy-going and accessible style makes the reading experience engaging and enjoyable.

Language has always shape-shifted with human behavior and culture — and railing against changing usage is futile and senseless. We create words or combine old ones in new ways to adjust to the world around us, of course, and also to signal belonging to subgroups. Even in countries that try to institutionalize and stabilize usage with organizations like the Académie Française in France, new words creep in. The gates don’t hold for long.

Lately, the pace of change has been picking up. Scial media already made it easy for people to form micro-communities — rich sources for creating new words. More recently, the recommendation algorithms behind those platforms have been tipping the scales of change, spreading new words and usages even faster than before, often with unexpected consequences.

Adam Aleksic digs into this spread in his new book Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language. He steps us through the different forces acting on usage today — in particular short-form video platforms like TikTok, but also YouTube and Instagram.

Aleksic chases down word origins and stories with gleeful energy. As someone who has built a platform through short-form video (TikTok and Instagram Reels), he serves up fascinating insights into how algorithms themselves shape not only the language we hear and see, but the words that online content creators choose to use and why.

Some new words and usages appear explicitly to avoid algorithmic censorship or penalties. People in China have long figured out ways to phrase things that skirt the nation’s online censorship. Today, TikTok users and others get creative to avoid penalties for covering topics that the algorithm may deem as depressing or not engaging. Hence the growth of the word “unalive” to discuss suicide.

Social media recommendation algorithms also accelerate the spread within and between communities. If I use a nonsense word on a TikTok video (like skibidi) and people in my community find the word like a funny, they may start using it as an “in-joke” to signal belonging. The recommendation algorithm will show those posts to others who share my interests. If they do well (earn “engagement”), the algorithms will start seeding it to others outside that group.

The algorithsm are optimizing for engagement, not language. The effects on words are the unintended byproduct, and it’s not always great.

For example, words with toxic origins can spread into the mainstream culture. I just saw “fibermaxxing” in a New York Times article. From the book, I learned that the “-maxxing” usage originated in incel groups on Reddit. (The incel community tends to be particularly hostile to women, as well as sexually active men.) Apparently it’s shedding that baggage.

If you like digging into the etymological roots of words, you should definitely read this book to learn about these new actors on our language in this book. If you find yourself mystified by words and memes that make no sense to you, now you know why. You haven’t necessarily been asleep at the wheel that long.

Language change is happening faster than it ever has, and if you’re not in the algorithmic mix or hanging out with middle school girls (the true language mavens), you may always be playing catchup. Better to follow an etymologist guide like Aleksic than try to stay current yourself!

In Algospeak, Adam Aleksic unpacks the fascinating, often funny, and sometimes chilling evolution of internet language shaped by algorithms, censorship, and creativity. As a linguist and TikTok creator known for his insight into language trends, Aleksic takes readers on a journey through how platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have driven the invention of coded speech—like saying “unalive” instead of “dead”—in an attempt to avoid moderation and demonetization.

What makes this book especially engaging is Aleksic’s mix of sharp analysis and relatable humor. He shows how "algospeak" is not just a quirky internet phenomenon, but a window into the tension between free expression, community norms, and AI moderation. The book balances linguistic insight with cultural commentary, appealing to both language nerds and casual internet users alike.

Whether you're curious about how memes evolve, why certain words get filtered, or what the future of online language might look like, Algospeak offers an accessible and thought-provoking read. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the way we speak—and type—in the digital age.

I thought this book would talk more about the language itself and less about how to hack the system and go viral. It felt like it was almost promoting tricking people into liking your content. I’m really not interested in how fake influencers are and more about the language itself. I was really disappointed in this book.

As someone who does not generally read nonfiction I had a fun time reading this. It was educational but also engaging and it made me think of how creative humans are. This was a very interesting and entertaining dive into how social media is changing language and how social media words that are used to evade the algorithm are making their way into every day conversations. I liked that the author looked at different topics with an open mind and touched on a lot in a short amount of time. I loved how in the end the takeaway for me was how we as humans will always find a way to communicate with each other and create communities no matter the boundaries in place we will always find a creative work around.

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Knopf. All opinions are my own.

Algospeak is written by a young etymologist who has made a reputation for himself as an influencer on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. He is well-versed in the use of language in the online world, and the speed with which changes in language are occurring online.

This short book takes you right into that world, and covers some interesting topics, even for those of us who aren’t influencers. The author’s writing style is very accessible. The lessons he’s learned in how to quickly grab a TikTok viewer’s attention are also on display here in written form. The writing has an immediacy and a pace that are engaging, pulling the reader along as the writer lays out his arguments.

If you want the audiovisual representation of what it’s like to read this book, check out one of the author’s video shorts on YouTube, where he goes by the name The Etymology Nerd. There you’ll see the intense in-your-face style that has been effectively translated to the page.

The book’s main thesis is twofold. One, algorithms within social media are leading to the creation of new English words and phrases that would otherwise not occur. Two, social media is increasing the pace of change of our language.

Who am I to say his thesis is not correct? I’m not an expert, and certainly not the Etymology Nerd. But there is a disconnect between the urgent style with which he delivers his message and the seriousness with which I can take that message. Yes, these changes to our language sound like they are happening, but no, they probably are not as important to me as they are to the Etymology Nerd.

That said, this book was a lot of fun to read, and I learned a few things from it. So, you can stick that in your pipe and smoke it - a really old phrase I’m sure no one on TikTok is using. 😊

This was a really interesting look at how social media algorithms are influencing language, and in a lot of cases, helping to drive linguistic innovation. The author has a clear, readable style, conversational yet informative. Linguistics terms are explained in context and you don't have to go in with a lot of prior knowledge, although those who already have an interest in linguistics will probably be the ones gravitating towards this book. I will say that some chapters wander a little far from linguistics/language focused topics specifically, and talk about social media and psychology more broadly, but I found I was okay with that. Recommended for fans of the author's videos, and anyone interested in learning more about current slang and why there seems to be so much more of it these days.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Algospeak by Adam Aleksic was definitely outside my usual reading zone, but I’m glad I picked it up! It’s a super interesting look at how the internet and how algorithms are changing the way we talk. From TikTok code words to workarounds on YouTube, the author explains how online language is evolving in real time. Some parts felt a little repetitive or too focused on super-specific internet trends, but overall it was eye-opening and surprisingly fun to read. If you’re even a little curious about how and why we speak the way we do online, this book is definitley worth checking out.

I've been following Etymology Nerd for a while now, so when I saw this shiny little number on NetGalley, naturally, I had to have it. As someone nominally interested in linguistics myself, I figured this would be a perfect summer non-fiction read; written in an accessible manner yet chockfull of information about where in the fresh hell we get all this internet slang from.

And folks, it delivered. I read this chapter-by-chapter as my "air travel" book (if you travel a lot, you know what I'm talking about) and I loved it. It was easy to follow and understand as someone without a formal background in linguistics and etymology, but still a thorough and fascinating deep dive into how and why the internet and social media has an effect on our language and the way we use language in the first place. Non-fiction can often be dry or lead to the occasional nod of mid-chapter when a necessary "lore dump" occurs, but this book did not have any such issues. I was invested from beginning to end. Highly recommend for anyone interested in linguistics, pop culture, or just looking for a breezy summer read that will also teach you something.

In case you're reading this review, Adam, I would love a sequel on fandom lingo. Just saying. (Like, why do most of our words come from nautical terms? I have questions.)

Algospeak by Adam Aleksic delves into how everyday English language is influenced by social media algorithms. I was attracted to reading this book after watching and enjoying several of Aleksic’s videos on this topic. He speaks very fast, so reading this book was an opportunity to see more of his thoughts fleshed out at a pace that is more digestible to me.

I enjoyed the author’s examples of how using in-group language is essential to demonstrating membership in that in-group.

At times I had a bit of trouble following the book because I didn’t remember some of the newer terms that were defined at another point in the book as there were so many.

I was particularly interested in learning how ASL has been influenced by social media.

This is a super interesting book that examines how the internet and algorithms help incubate and spread new words in languages. It’s fascinating to learn about the origin of some of the latest slang and “Gen Z speak”. It's also important to think about the role of culture reappropriation in this process.
Overall I really enjoyed the book! There're parts that felt a bit repetitive. But I learned so much from the book that I don't really mind!

Riveting and a bit jarring to learn how thoroughly and deeply social media, especially short form video, has impacted our language, primarily through means of maximizing profit, surveillance capitalism, circumventing censorship, and creating identities. After reading, I feel like The Algorithm is an overlord god-type influence and we as feeble emotion-led creatures are at its mercy to shape our language, culture, and personalities all through short hits of dopamine while it profits from the attention.

There are times where this feels like a business how-to guide to profit from TikTok videos, but this peek behind the curtain is essential in understanding the content we consume and <I>why</I> we’re drawn to it. We already know that short form video has stunted our attention spans, and now we see how it’s shaping our language as a direct response to content creators attempting to gain engagement.

I loved the bits about language becoming an act of resistance; understanding the virality of language as compared to the virality of a parasite; the stages of ‘adopters’ (and I am devastated to learn I am a ‘laggard’); the use of second person pronouns leading to better engagement both in music and social media; understanding our emotions and how the algorithm plays to them; the origins of certain popular slang words and how they may not truly be benign at conception; the creations of ‘generations’ and their subsequent ‘wars’; and how truly dominant the English language is to the point of foreign language boards attempting to moderate and translate all this new slang.

This was a fun book for a language nerd like me to read! I am someone who really enjoys finding out the history of where words come from, so this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed learning about the history of words, and how the use of social media is rapidly changing how we communicate both online and offline. I learned a lot about regular words, and picked up quite a few “brain rot” words and definitions that I have heard my students using at school. And I appreciated all the information about how social media algorithms work, and how social media has shaped not only our language but our society. This was a quick easy to read, engaging book that taught me a lot. I highly recommend it, and look forward to what this author writes next! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

3.5 stars. This book was very interesting! It’s a really interesting subject matter, as we are seeing these linguistic changes in real time every day, where it used to take hundreds of years to evolve.

I enjoyed how Aleksic discussing the linguistic definitions in layman’s terms, explaining how this is his hobby and he knows it’s not everyone’s. He pulled out several great real world examples to discuss.

Some parts were a little dense and repetitive - I think the chapters could’ve been streamlined a bit more. But I understand completely why he didn’t - because he was so excited to talk about his passion.

Overall I’m curious to see the updates to this book over the next few years as algospeak continues to evolve.

Thank you to NetGalley, Adam Aleksic, and Knopf for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Social media is transforming culture and communication, including language. Linguist Adam Aleksic breaks down how shorthand, slang, memes and algorithms are changing how we communicate every day. This was a fun and fascinating read.

As readers, we are often lovers of words in general. I love learning about what words mean and how we got certain phrases. Social media is shaping so much of our lives, I'm not shocked that it is also transforming language.

Author Adam Aleksic is not only a linguist, but he is also an internet native who has been part of social media since at least high school. While I use social media and I attempt to be a book influencer, I'm more of a poser (I particularly feel this after reading this book). I prefer long-form written communication. Aleksic focuses on short-form video, which I rarely watch (I've never used TikTok), and when I do watch videos on Facebook, I watch without sound.

With that being said, I still found the book interesting. I particularly liked the chapter on language appropriation. Some of the words I had heard, but I never really knew where they came from. I thought "slay" came out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom, but apparently not.

I thought he missed an opportunity of using a historical example when discussing the changing of words due to avoiding censorship (like the rise of unalive). In the 1950s, the word pregnant could not be said on television, and scriptwriters came up with all kinds of euphemisms. Lucille Ball was the first female actress to appear on television pregnant, and they used expecting.

There were sections that were more explanations of social media, which focused on TikTok and short-form video, that I found a bit boring. I'm sure if you are an influencer, you will be interested in it. But as a casual user, I didn't need so much explanation of how it works. I wasn't expecting so much social media explanations, and it's definitely not what I was interested in when I picked up the book. But the information is similar to what I've read in social media "how-to" type books.

Aleksic boasts of his viral videos and high view counts, so if you want to be an influencer, you can use his book as a reference guide. If you are more interested in just the language use information, there is plenty of that. For the non-influencer reader who is fascinated with language, it is interesting enough on its own to justify getting this book even if you aren't wanting to be an influencer or create short-form videos and just plan to skim past some of the more technical social media info.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/07/Algospeak-Adam-Aleksic.html

The sign of a good non-fiction book is when I find myself constantly recounting things I've learned to anyone who will listen, and this book provided that in spades. I found this to be a fascinating read into a topic I had not explored before (nor had I heard of the author or followed his social media presence in advance). It was illuminating in that with almost every example in the book I was like "oh yea, I have seen that online!" The author really knows his material and presented it in an easy-to-follow way for us non-experts. A few chapters stretched my brain quite a bit with all the new terminology, but overall it was a super informative book I will think about for a long time to come.