Slang dictionary
snitch-tagging
or snitch tagging [snich-tag-ing]
What does听snitch-tagging听mean?
Snitch-tagging is the act of tagging the subject of a negative post about them, especially on Twitter, that they weren’t already tagged in (e.g., a subtweet).
It ensures the subject is aware of the criticism.
Where does snitch-tagging come from?
Snitch-tagging听combines snitch, a negative word for an “informer” or “tattletale,” with听tagging, or “identifying someone on social media,” usually by use of the @ symbol followed by the username.
Here’s a scenario to explain听snitch-tagging. Let’s say you are talking trash, throwing shade, or otherwise subtweeting someone on Twitter. You want to complain about that person but don’t want them to know, so you don’t tag them, or mention them directly so they are alerted to it. Snitch-tagging听happens when another person then responds to your post tagging that person. This effectively snitches on you and airs your shady comment, as if to say, “Hey, this dude is talking about you behind your back!” Ouch.
To be clear, I don't care about people CCing their friends or whatever. It's tagging a politician I've mentioned or the creator of something I'm critiquing that's the issue.
The term for this is "snitch-tagging". Don't do it.
— Alexandra Erin (@alexandraerin)
On Twitter, calling out users who tag others to snitch on them is evidenced as early as 2010 (e.g., Why is this snitch tagging me?).
: I've considered being uncouth & tagging to shame them. LOL!
— 鉁婐煆筐煄煄璊enJamesBeauty馃嵎馃馃 (@JenJamesBeauty)
The practice was called听snitch-tagging as early as October 2014 by user @DubPeeWorld.
Ah, the snitch-tagging tweeter. One of Twitter's unsung heroes.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector)
Sports writer Jesse Spector brought wider attention to听snitch-tagging听in August 2015 when he called out a user snitch-tagging him.
Let鈥檚 stop calling Gregg Zaun an 鈥渁nalyst,鈥� as it implies he provides analysis.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector)
After being entered on Urban Dictionary in 2017, snitch-tagging was further popularized by legal analyst Imani Gandy, @AngryBlackLady, who decried the practice after a user snitch-tagged her subtweet of Donald Trump.
STOP.
SNITCH.
TAGGING.— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady)
Examples of snitch-tagging
Who uses snitch-tagging?
No one likes a snitch, as they say鈥攁nd no one likes a听snitch-tagger either.听Snitch-tagging is considered cowardly, disrespectful, and aggressive, especially because it can invite dog-piling. It is typically called out or criticized as such on Twitter.
Hi Marie! This is called 鈥渟nitch tagging.鈥� When someone intentionally does not tag someone in a tweet, it is purposeful, so tagging that person so they are alerted to that tweet is bad form! Even when the tweet is complimentary, it鈥檚 still not advised. Thanks, tho! 馃挍
— Sarah Kay (@kaysarahsera)
Popular artists and authors, as well as politicians and other celebrities, are often the subject of听snitch-tagging. Such high-profile users like to issue PSAs bemoaning the practice and the harm it can do to their mental health.
Hello, general note of polite Twitter decorum – if you don鈥檛 like a TV show/film/book/album etc, PLEASE DON鈥橳 @ the creator and tell them. It鈥檚 incredibly aggressive, hurtful, selfish and destructive. If we want to know what people think, we will search for it ourselves. Thanks!
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner)
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of snitch-tagging like most terms we define on 亚洲网紅露点, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of snitch-tagging that will help our users expand their word mastery.