Runet is 30 years old. Let’s figure out how we came from bear to crash and what influenced the online language

The Russian-language segment of the Internet has existed for 30 years. Over the years, all sorts of things have happened in it. The rules of etiquette, the tone of messages and, of course, slang changed. We decided to compare how we communicated then and now and what factors influenced this.

From “Bear” and “Crossafcheg” to “9 Vita Itashka”

Initially, the Internet was available to a limited number of people. The first to get into it were those who were related to the IT sector. They also had their own slang, full of professionalism, so we won’t touch on that. Then the audience began to expand, but was still small. Thus, in 2000 only 4% The population had computers at home. Moreover, these were mostly residents of large cities. And then the number of users began to actively increase – and the Internet turned from a relatively elite party into a place for everyone.

And at this moment the “Padonkaff” language is formed, also known as “Albanian” and “YAZYg padONKaFF”. Its essence was a deliberate violation of spelling norms. It is believed that it arose as a grotesque response to numerous errors in messages and as a protest of old-timers against the situation when the “broad masses” poured into the Internet. But the paradox is that the Padonkaff language was often used just literate people. The mistakes in it are so deliberate that it is difficult to make them by accident. For example, unstressed vowels were replaced according to the principle “as heard”, live—shi written with a letter sendings -tsya, -tsya turned into -tsa.

As a result, the old-timers used such spellings in texts and comments. The newcomers were surprised at first, but then many got involved. But it seems that the Padonkaff language died out in the most natural way along with the development of the Internet. Fiber optics and mobile internet have reached almost everyone. In addition, the Zoomer generation came and supplanted the Boomers.

The need to speak Albanian on these entornnets of yours has disappeared. Although the negative attitude towards other people’s mistakes has generally remained. However, they are no longer ridiculed through deliberate distortion of language, but through funny or common spelling errors. Eg:

• “9 vite itashka” (nine-story building);
• “and then” (and so on);
• “more or less” (more or less);
• “in Kratsi” (in short).

To be fair, when a text with such memes is read by a person unfamiliar with them, he often perceives them as errors and accuses the author of illiteracy. Everything is the same as 20 years ago. However, the rudiments of “padonkaffskavo” have also been preserved: “kakbe”, “shtosh”, “afftar” and so on.

From the “first-timer” to the algorithmic feed

Under some popular videos on YouTube you can still find comments like “first in.” But we still have to get to it. 20 years ago, such a message had a specific form: “pervonakh” or “pervoynakh” – and was considered a great achievement. This made sense: your comment was at the beginning, everyone could see it. They remembered the nickname, they could become interested in the profile and subscribe to it. That is, it worked for a personal brand. There were also “ftroika”, “fdisyatke” and the like.

Now the meaning of this phenomenon has been killed by the algorithmic comment feed. The ones shown at the top are those that the program considers the most interesting, for example, the most liked ones. So to be popular, the message must be witty or at least just smart.

Technology has defeated not only the pioneers. So, now you can express your approval of the content by liking or liking it. Previously, there were standard comments for this:

• “The author is burning like hell.”
• “Afftar peshi yscho.”
• “Akuet, give me two!”

From IRL to voluntary de-anonymization

Previously, there was a whole group of words that determined that the Internet was one thing, and real life was another. For example, the abbreviation IRL was popular, which meant in real life, “in real life.” The recipients of the posts were not Vasya, Masha, Petya, but anonymous people – everyone and no one at the same time. At the same time, memes like “I’ll find you by IP” arose, which are not that important now.

Social networks have changed everything. Before them, Internet users were largely anonymous. Not because everyone was doing something illegal or offensive, it was just the way it was accepted. People could communicate with each other on any platform for years and not know either the name of the interlocutor or what he looks like. And even if some Internet crowd got to know each other IRL, many continued to call each other by nicknames.

And then came VKontakte, Odnoklassniki and other platforms where people began to register under their own names and post a million photos of themselves, their family, their dog, their food. And anonymity gradually faded into the background. This is clearly visible in the waves of registrations on Instagram*. Those who have joined in recent years more often choose a first and last name as a nickname, rather than a tricky combination of letters and numbers.

The fact that the Internet is tightly integrated into our routine processes also contributed to de-anonymization. Studying online, using State Services and online banking without providing personal data is not so easy. On some platforms, of course, people still communicate anonymously – for various reasons. But the world is no longer divided into the Internet and IRL. The Internet is part of real life.

And another phenomenon is connected with this. The Padonkaff language, for example, was a purely network formation. And now there is a clear boundary between the adverbs of the Internet and real life Hardly ever. Words that were originally online slang and used in a certain subculture are penetrating into everyday speech.

From battle to victory to ban

The Internet has always been an unfriendly environment, so haters and trolls are not a new phenomenon. But there is a noticeable nuance. Previously, it was suggested to argue “in comments” to the last, and whose word was final was right. If one of the interlocutors got bored and quietly or publicly voiced a desire to stop, they wrote to him “sliff zoshitan” (the drain is counted) and he was automatically recognized as a loser. Nowadays there is a lot of Internet in our lives, it’s impossible to quarrel with every person who disagrees. So the practice of banning became generally accepted.

From “patstalom” to “keka”

At any time, adults have found reasons to reproach teenagers for living incorrectly. “Nowadays…” But slang, jargon, and professionalism are also a way to form groups and quickly understand who is in front of us – one of our own or someone else’s. Therefore, it is not surprising that the new generation invents its own language, which, however, quickly spreads beyond the boundaries of groups. For example, in the 2000s, strong laughter resulted in “patstal” or “patstool,” but now they “cack” or “yell.”

10

Screenshot: LiveInternet

20

Screenshot: X (formerly Twitter)

In general, charging teenagers for stupidity because of “crash” and “vibes” is, as they say, “boyan”, known since Socratic times. Language, including online language, develops on its own. And it’s much more interesting to see what will happen to him in another 10 years.

What changes have you noticed? Share in the comments.

* Activities of Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are prohibited in the Russian Federation.