ASL Meaning: Definition, Examples, Use Cases

If you’ve just heard of ASL and are wondering, "Another new slang!" You might be surprised that ASL slang has been here for ages.

While it is surfacing again on TikTok, Reddit, and other social media platforms, ASL was a popular shorthand in the early 2000s before Facebook took over.

But the big question is, “What does ASL mean?”

ASL is an icebreaker Gen Z and Gen Alpha use today when communicating on social media. It makes it easy for them to filter out people they might not be interested to talk to.

This article explains ASL's meaning in text, Snapchat, and TikTok, with examples of how kids use it. It is also used in other variations in many parts of the world, which we've shared below.

Part 1. What Does 'ASL' Mean

The A in ASL slang stands for Age, S represents Sex (gender), and L refers to Location.

So, when someone uses ASL in text or social media, they’re usually asking for the other person’s “Age, Sex, Location.”

This makes it easy for teens and adults to see if they want to talk to the other person. Unlike older generations that engaged in small talk, today's teenagers prefer asking for basic information to save time and effort.

Another usage of ASL is using it in place of "as hell," like WTH, which means "What the hell?" If you’re looking for asl meaning in text, this is probably what you’re looking for.

Kids and teens use it to express that something is crazy. You might see your kid message a friend saying, “You saw that new boy in class? He’s cool asl!”

In this situation, they are not referring to the other person’s demographic details. Instead, they want to mention how awesomely cool the guy was.

When you look for asl urban dictionary, you will find both these definitions.

Wait, there’s a third angle, which is the oldest too. ASL also means “American Sign Language” which is a language for people hard of hearing or speaking, and involves hand gestures.

Thus, it's important to know the context since using ASL as sign language is also quite common.

Part 2. Where Does 'ASL' Come From

The origin of ASL goes back to the early 1800s when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet developed American Sign Language for his neighbor's daughter. Over time, it became widely known as ASL.

Later, ASL's meaning changed as it became a popular slang term in online chatting in the 1990s and 2000s. People started using ASL to ask for other people's details, such as age, gender, and location, on Yahoo! Messenger, MySpace, Orkut, etc.

As netizens moved to Facebook, Instagram, and similar platforms where they could already access all this information, the ASL culture somewhat died away. However, it has been a part of Omegle, where people from different parts of the world video chat.

Recently, ASL has resurfaced. Gen Z is using it for the same purpose as Boomers and Generation X: asking the age, gender, and location before indulging in further conversation.

Part 3. How Kids Use "ASL" in Everyday Conversation

While you know ASL’s meaning in slang now, understanding its usage is critical. Mostly, people write ASL in uppercase, but sometimes, they skip the formality and just write asl. Though it may also mean “as hell” in some situations, the conversation can help understand the context.

For example, if your kid has just accepted a stranger’s friend request or added them on Snapchat, ASL meaning in such a situation would be age, sex, and location.

On the other hand, if they have messaged a friend saying, “I’m tired asl, brb,” they probably mean that they’re really tired and will talk later.

3.1. Examples of "ASL" in sentences

As the most common use of ASL is in the sense of Age, Sex, and Location, most people use it to ask for the other person's basic information.

You might see texts like:

• “ASL?”
• “What’s your ASL?”
• “Hey, good to connect to you. ASL?”

This shows that the person sending these messages wants to know the other person’s information to get an idea of their age group and gender. It also lets you know if the person is within the same city or state.

Conversations in such scenarios usually go like this:

• Person A: ASL?
• Person B: Hey, 16, Female, Texas. Yours?
• Person A: 24, Female, Canada.

Usually, people mention the state/ province/ or city if they think the other person is from the same country. Otherwise, they might also mention the country name.

3.2. Variations and related slang terms

The use of ASL in a sentence may differ depending on the context it is being used in. Two people mentioning ASL in text or on social media may be using any of the three variations of the ASL slang.

For example, if your child is using asl as in “as hell” or too much, you might see texts like:

• I’ve been working hard asl on this project.
• You think I’m kidding? I’m serious asl!
• Ngl, the girl is cute asl.
• At the same time, if they have been searching for or talking about American Sign Language, you might see phrases like:
• ASL language
• ASL thank you
• I love you in ASL
• ASL sign for you’re welcome

3.3. Social media usage and popular hashtags

The most popular social media hashtags for ASL are used regarding American Sign Language. Some of the top hashtags include:

• #ASL
• #DeafTalent
• #DeafCulture
• #SignLanguage
• #DeafAwareness
• #DeafCommunity
• #HearingImpaired
• #DeafEducation
• #ASLInterpreter
• #SignLanguageInterpreter
• Some other ASL hashtags related to Age Sex Location are:
• #ASLAgeSexLocation
• #ASLAgeLocation
• #ASLChat

Part 4. How to Talk with Your Kid about Slang

4.1. Importance of understanding teen slang

While ASL is considered safe and respectful slang on social media, there may be a difference in how the younger and older generations perceive it. When someone messages a child ASL on social media, the kid might find it harmless and share the details with the stranger. However, the other person might be a predator or pervert looking forward to getting more information out of your kid and may even harm them.

Since the term first originated, people started understanding the consequences over time. Though the internet was comparatively safer a few years back, it has never been free of pedophiles.

When your child talks to a stranger on social media, they might share their details truthfully, but you can never be sure if the person behind the screen has also done the same. Thus, it is important to talk to your children about the ASL slang and it’s safe usage.

4.2. Tips and examples for starting a conversation about slang with your child

• When talking to your child about the use of slang, especially ASL, it's important to understand the meaning and context of these slang yourself. This article has covered ASL text meaning, ASL meaning Tiktok, and what does ASL mean Snapchat, so you can address this issue more efficiently.
• Do not react immediately when you see your child using these slang. Instead, look for an appropriate occasion when they are more open to listening to your concerns.
• Start the conversation by mentioning common slangs like istg (I swear to God), drip (outfit), idc (I don’t care), etc. to see how familiar they are. Then move to ASL and ask them if they know what it means, and what information they share with people asking for ASL on social media.
• Ask them if they have felt unsafe after connecting to anyone who asked for their ASL and showed abnormal interest in their whereabouts.
• Once you know how much they understand themselves, explain how ASL can also be a threat if the information is shared with a predator.
• While it is unsafe for kids to talk to strangers, you can allow it under guidance. Tell your kids not to give their complete address when someone asks for ASL. Teach them to mention vague details and not mention their age if they are under 16. There are no hard and fast rules, but young kids are usually considered easy targets, so it’s better to avoid telling the right age.
• Besides teaching them how to deal with these situations, also emphasize the importance of communication if something goes wrong. They should feel safe discussing it with you when they feel unsafe or threatened by someone.

Part 5. Staying Informed About Teen Slang: Using Parental Control Apps to Monitor Your kid's Phone Activity

Teens can be hard to parent, especially when they think they know more than you because you're from an older generation. Sometimes, children won't even let their parents check their phones in the context of 'privacy.' While everyone has the right to privacy, parents of young children and teens must be aware of their children's lives.

Parental control apps are an excellent means of keeping an eye on your child without seeming intrusive. Thus, apps like Msafely allow you to monitor your child’s activity online and on text to stay a step ahead in case of any potential danger.

5.1. What is Msafely

Msafely is a parental control app that lets you monitor your child's activity and whereabouts. You can monitor their activity anywhere if the target phone is connected to your Msafely account.

The best part is that you can effortlessly connect this app with the target device, and the other person would not know about it. Besides tracking your child’s online activity, it also helps ensure your family’s safety by staying updated about their location in real time.

5.2. Key features of Msafely

Msafely is an easy-to-use application with numerous features that make your life easier. The most notable elements of Msafely include:

• Text messages
• Photos and videos
• Call history
• GPS location
• Browser history
• Installed apps
• WhatsApp
• Line

Moreover, there is no icon or email push on the targeted phone, and the data is encrypted, making it 100% safe. Msafely’s dynamic customer support is another prominent feature that makes it a user favorite.

5.3. Steps of using Msafely to monitor your kid's phone

Connecting the target phone to your Msafely account is incredibly easy, and the verification process takes only two minutes. Here’s how you can use Msafely to monitor your kid’s phone:

Step 1. Register your Msafely account with a valid email.

Step 2. Pick the phone type you want to monitor.

If your child's phone is an Android (e.g. Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.), select the Android option, and if your child's phone is an iPhone, select the iPhone option.

Step 3. Connect the target device

Step 4. Start monitoring

Now you can remotely monitor all the activities on your kid's phone in the dashboard of Msafely, including checking his text messages, contacts, tracking location, monitoring social media and more.

Part 6. FAQs about ASL

Q1. What does ASL mean in TikTok?

If you’ve joined TikTok recently or seen an “ASL” message on your kid’s social media account, it could be “Age, Sex, Location” or “as hell.” Usually, ASL is mentioned in uppercase when someone wants to know your personal information and lowercase asl is used in place of ‘too much’ or ‘crazy.’ However, ASL and asl can be used interchangeably.

Q2. What does ASL mean on Omegle?

Omegle is another popular platform for people to break the ice with the ASL slang. People around the world use the app to talk to others or make new friends. On Omegle, ASL is usually used for Age, Sex, and Location instead of ‘as hell’ or ‘American Sign Language.’

Q3. How do you respond to ASL on Snapchat?

If someone texts you with "ASL?" on Snapchat, you can reply with your age, gender, and country/ city. However, you can say, "Do I know you?" when you do not want to share your details, or ignore the text if you're skeptical about talking to them. Alternatively, Snapchat allows you to disable other users from finding or messaging you through the mobile and email settings option.

Part 7. Conclusion

After being MIA for around a decade, ASL is gaining traction again. ASL has been a part of the social media landscape since MySpace and Yahoo! Messenger, but faded away as Facebook and Instagram became popular. Now, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are using ASL again to break the ice online. ASL in social media lingo refers to Age, Sex, and Location, making it easier for teens and adults to decide if they want to have a conversation with the other person. Sometimes, ASL may also refer to "American Sign Language" or "as hell."

So, it is important to understand the context to find out what ASL means in a particular place. If you see your kid engaging in conversations involving ASL, have a detailed discussion with them and share the possible threats of sharing their personal information online. You can also use parental control apps like MSafely to monitor their text and social media activity so you can better protect them.