What Does Internet Slang Word 'Moots' Mean?
If you're having a hard time keeping up with the internet's rapidly evolving slanguage, you're not alone. That is to say, you have some moots in that experience.
The term "moots" has been circulating on the internet for years, but it has recently come into the spotlight thanks to mainstream celebrities adopting it into their vocabulary. For example, in October 2022, a fan reached out to Khloé Kardashian on Twitter and asked, "Can we be moots???" Kardashian — being as blunt and relatable as ever — replied, "WTH is that."
She's not alone in her confusion. Although everyone from Kardashian fans to large brands like Axe have been throwing the word around online, its true meaning and proper usage can be hard to discern. Kardashian's choice to try out the word in seemingly every wrong way possible (see: "Mootsy baby. I'm mooting") only added to the confusion. Here's what you need to know about KoKo's new favorite vocab.
To be moots is to follow someone back
Almost a year before Khloé Kardashian discovered the word, American actor Kate Siegel posed the age-old question simply and eloquently on Twitter: "What is moots?" Typing that same inquiry into Google might direct you to Merriam-Webster's definition, which equates the term with other adjectives like "debatable" and "disputed." But, unfortunately, this isn't how the internet prefers to use the term (making these definitions a bit of a moot point).
Dictionary's slang definitions page reports that "moots is short for mutual followers, referring to people who follow and generally actively engage with each other on social media." In short, two people who follow and support each other's social media accounts could be referred to as "moots."
A fan provided Kardashian with a similar definition, causing the mogul to lose a bit of her enthusiasm. "Actively engaging is just too much of a commitment," she replied. "But I really like the word moots."
How to get moots status on Twitter
Khloé Kardashian might not have the time to actively engage with your account or add you to her list of star-studded moots. Still, that doesn't have to mean you can't build up a supportive network of online friends. These digital relationships can help you to connect with new people, meet friendly faces around the globe, and regularly receive higher levels of engagement on your posts.
Tweeting and asking for someone to follow you back is perhaps the most direct way to start these relationships, but isn't necessarily the most natural or effective. Replying to and engaging with content that is in line with your own passions and posts could prompt someone to check out your account and follow it based on a common interest.
If all else fails, simply retweet Kardashian's inquisitive use of the word on Twitter: "Who wants to moots me."