In this digital era, teens make use of slang words in their online chats with friends to look modern. However, the problem is that it creates misunderstanding, especially among parents who are mostly unaware of the newest online lingo words. Nowadays, WBU has become a part of teens’ everyday conversations and renders parents confused about the WBU meaning.
That’s why we are writing this article helping you make aware of WBU meanings in different contexts. Moreover, we’ll discuss different situations where it’s best to use and when to avoid. Keep reading!
The origin and evolution of WBU
According to the Urban Dictionary, the word WBU is actually the short form of the casual question What about you. People use it online to get information about a person’s pastimes or experiences, opening doors for further talk.
It’s notable that most of the slang words like WBU actually come up to meet the need for fast text communication. This is because in early like 2000’s SMS users had to face many problems.
For instance, there was a 160-character limit, and also they had to press number keys multiple times to type a single letter. That’s why people indeed shortened common phrases and slang words like WBU had come into use.
One thing that might be disturbing you is that the acronym for What about you must be WAU. That’s actually reasonable to think, however, in casual speech, the word “about” is actually reduced to“’bout. This in turn shifts the phrase into “what ’bout you.”
Later, with the rise of instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc, people further shortened this informal question to just WBU. This not only keeps the conversations concise but adds a modern touch, keeping people engaged.
Use a parental control app to monitor teens online activities with ease.
WBU meaning: What does it mean in different contexts
People mostly use it in casual talks with their peers or in unstructured situations. Keep in mind that WBU core meaning remains the same; however, its tone and implication may vary depending on the context and where it’s used.
Here is the detailed discussion about its common uses in different contexts, with sentence examples, so you may respond appropriately.
WBU meaning in text messages
In personal text messaging, when someone asks you about your activities or thoughts on a specific matter. You can reply to know their opinions instead of typing long texts; simply say WBU. It’s a quick and easiest way to show that you want to continue the exchange.
Examples:
- “I’m going to the movies tonight WBU?”
- “I’m having pizza for dinner WBU?”
WBU on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram
Social media platforms, especially Snapchat and Instagram are well-renowned for interacting with users their peers in real-time. On such platforms, people mostly use WBU in the DMs, comments or even story replies. However, WBU can sometimes carry a flirty undertone depending on the relationship between users.
Common scenarios:
- Replying to a story: “Just chilling at home, WBU?” This indeed shows your interest and letting others share what they are doing right now.
- Responding to a poll or question: Similarly, in a group chat if someone shares a poll there. Then, after answering, you can text your friend as I voted for option B WBU?”
- Following a post about weekend plans, a DM like “I’m free tonight, WBU?”
The meaning of WBU in online chatting and forums
Similarly, young people mostly join online communities or groups to express their opinions and engage with others. In order to get noticed, they use slang terms like WBU to make conversations more interactive.
Examples:
- In a gaming chat: “I just unlocked the new achievement WBU?”
- In a study group on Discord: “I’m working on the assignment for Monday WBU?”
- In an online hobby forum: “I’m planning to try the new recipe, WBU?”
Parents’ concerns & master the use of WBU in your chats
Although internet lingo makes the conversations more interactive and helps teens build connections, it raises some concerns. This is because the meanings of most slang terms vary according to the context which the kids don’t fully understand. As a result, it creates misunderstanding and confusion.
Cyberbullying Research Center conducted a survey report that reveals that 58% of U.S. students aged 13–17 have experienced cyberbullying in their lifetime. You know online lingo is one of the main causes. Owing to such concerns, we are sharing the WBU meaning with you, and a detailed discussion on whether the WBU is safe to use for kids or not!
Is there anything parents need to be concerned about kids using WBU?
Generally, WBU is safe to use for kids because it simply allows them to ask about someone’s interests. Keep in mind it would only be okay if kids use in casual conversations with their friends or classmates.
However, the concerning point is when kids use or receive WBU messages from unknown individuals or anonymous groups. This is because here the tone shifts to a flirty one, making kids feel uncomfortable. To ensure your kids’ digital safety, it’s important to stay involved with the digital world, like what kind of slang is trending.
Along with understanding slang, you should monitor your kids’ digital interactions. This is where parental control tools like FlashGet Kids can be helpful.
- Bonus Tip: Use of FlashGet Kids parental control tools
FlashGet Kids acts as the virtual assistant for parents that provides 24/7 real-time updates about their kids’ digital whereabouts. Let’s have a look at its features which help protect teens from inappropriate slang without invading their privacy.
- Screen mirroring: Lets you screen mirror your kids’ device. This way you can live monitor by sitting at one place like to who your kids are interacting with and what type of slang they are using.
- Keywords detection: It also allows you to customize the keywords related to inappropriate slang. If kids try to use such a word in their messaging apps, this app would instantly send you an alert.
- Managing screen time: Excessive use of social media actually causes teens to be part of viral trends or use slang. So, using this app, you can set time limitations on the usage of social media platforms. You could eventually block such apps during study or sleeping hours, helping your kids to stay safe and balanced.
When to and how to appropriately use WBU?
Being a parent, keep in mind that WBU works best in casual/friendly settings, especially when asking about someone’s preferences, routines, opinions, or plans. Always use it after sharing your own response. This way, this question feels balanced and polite.
In addition, you can combine WBU with emojis, GIFs, or stickers to enhance the tone and make interactions more expressive. Let’s have a look at some real-life examples for better understanding!
- When asking about someone’s preferences, suppose for movies you can text them like I like action movies, WBU?”
- Similarly, if your friend texts you and asks about your routines or activities, you can reply to them like “I just finished this work… WBU?”
- You can use WBU when seeking opinions or thoughts: “I found the class interesting today, WBU?”
Situations where WBU might be less appropriate
Because WBU is an informal slang, its usage in serious situations might not be okay. For instance;
- Academic or educational settings
- Official or business conversations
- Serious or sensitive discussions
- First-time or unfamiliar interactions
- Professional emails or workplace communication
Common texting abbreviations similar to WBU
Here is the list of some common abbreviations that people mostly use while texting, helping to convey a message within short words!
| Meaning | Example | Tone/Purpose | |
| WBU | What about you? | “I’m watching a movie, WBU?” | Casual/friendly; keeps conversation going |
| HBU | How about you? | “I finished my homework, HBU?” | Similar to WBU; slightly more formal than WBU |
| WYD | What are you doing? | WYD tomorrow? | Casual; asks about current activity |
| LMK | Let me know | “LMK if you want to join later.” | Polite; requests a response or update |
| IDK | I don’t know | “IDK what time the game starts.” | Neutral; expresses uncertainty |
| TBH | To be honest | “TBH, that movie wasn’t that good.” | Honest, candid, adds emphasis |
Final thoughts
In summary, WBU meaning is letting people be aware of other choices or opinions in a friendly or casual way. It’s noteworthy that its tone is mostly informal. That’s why it’s best to avoid its usage in professional, educational, or other serious settings.
When it comes to kids, parents have to stay involved in their digital interactions. This is because in anonymous settings, simple slang like WBU may start the conversations, which may lead to serious risks.
FAQs
If a girl says WBU, it means she is asking what about you. It usually gives the impression that girl is showing interest in knowing your opinions or interests. Or simply show that you actually want to continue conversations with you.
If talk about texting, WBU means What about you? Generally, when someone asks you anything, after replying, you can use this slang to know the same about that person.
Both WBU and HBU carry the same meanings; the difference only occurs in the tone. For instance, WBU is slightly more casual and modern, while HBU is more polite. Both are appropriate to use in informal chatting.
WBU is actually simple question to know about your opinions or routine. You can reply to this in different ways, like if someone says I’m doing homework, WBU? You can say Nothing much, I’m just watching a TV show, etc.
