Language in and of itself is no stranger to evolution and adaptive changes, nor is it immune to repeating cycles, similar to political history or fashion trends. Middle English has long since been abandoned and text abbreviation took the world by storm when text messaging was first conceived. It seems that now, the evolution of the internet has only served as a catalyst for the evolution of our language. Beyond testing the grammatical bounds we have always known to be true, the internet has provided an entirely new layer through which we understand written language.

Technology has garnered a heavy influence over language in general for a long time (e.g. since the printing press and the regulation of spelling). And frankly, the gradual changes in language have been largely contingent upon the changes in our surroundings, likely as an attempt to better understand and interact with the environment. Therefore, because the internet maintains an enormous presence in most of our lives, it is logical that our language would adapt to it. However, linguistic adaptations have extended far beyond simple abbreviations like “LOL” and “YOLO.” The internet has even affected the widely accepted rules of grammar and punctuation.

We are growing acutely aware of the blurred grammatical lines between parts of speech. Every day we “Google” something, rather than “searching for something on Google.” We tell someone that we will “friend” them on Facebook instead of “sending them a friend request.” Also, if, like me, you quietly—or vocally—lurk in the depths of the Tumblr-sphere, then you are likely well-acquainted with the fact that Tumblr users certainly have a way with words, both figuratively and literally. It is also likely that you understand “mEEE” (read: crescendo capitalization) carries with it a completely different connotation than does “okay me???” (read: question mark emphasis) when you are trying to tag a Tumblr post as relatable. From tweets, to Instagrams, to hashtags, to likes, the internet’s impact on the way we communicate is blaringly obvious.

Of course, writing or wording a statement in a way that denotes a more specific meaning is not a novel concept. The body of research on linguistics and semantics already spans far and wide, and technological advances have simply fostered a new wave of language mechanisms in favor of efficiency and implications. For example, completely new words and new definitions of old words have emerged as a result of technology. The word “selfie” did not exist before camera-phones, the definition of “troll” is no longer limited to a small creature living under a bridge, and “rick-rolling” doesn’t actually have anything to do with rolling.

Punctuation on popular social media platforms is seeing similar effects, particularly with newer ways of implying a thought or feeling. A popular sentiment is that, because vocal inflection and face-to-face contact is lost through written communication, some text loses its implied meaning. Now, a decent number of internet users have adopted quick ways to combat the disconnect. Inserting several “1s” between a series of exclamation points can suggest sarcastic excitement. A lack of any punctuation mimics the way we say something without any pauses. Some people are even deterred from using periods in fear of a written statement sounding too serious, sometimes inserting “LOL” to keep things light-hearted (even when no laughter actually occurs).

Why are a significant number of people, even self-proclaimed grammar enthusiasts, quickly succumbing to the changing trends of internet language? It essentially boils down to adaptability and efficiency. In a fast-paced world, quick communication is key. Even Shakespeare wrote that “brevity is the soul of wit.” Naturally, certain situations will call for a certain type of language; however, if a quicker, more widely accepted way to express something exists, why not utilize it, assuming the context is appropriate? Also, because the internet and social media show no signs of slowing their progression, keeping up with internet-language trends becomes increasingly important to the ease of communication.

Most of us are already thoroughly familiar with the presence of a wide range of dialects, colloquialisms and idioms. First and foremost, because language is a constantly evolving phenomenon, it is important to remember that no dialect or, in this case, internet slang, is inherently wrong. Just as I wouldn’t look down upon another person’s dialect, nor should I condescendingly correct someone who wants to “friend” me on Facebook when I understand their intentions perfectly.

Perhaps the spread of internet-based language is an adaptive attempt to understand the more nuanced aspects of our own language? Or perhaps tagging “me” on every single relatable post is a bit redundant and people are looking for a way to spice up their lives? Regardless, ignoring the growing changes to modern communication foolishly disregards the power of language; and we cannot turn a blind eye to the way language governs almost every aspect of our lives. If we do, we will quickly end up like Facebook, so behind on the times that all the best internet memes of 2015 haven’t even made it yet.