The abbreviation ‘SFS’ has been popularly used throughout several social media platforms for the past decade or so, particularly by younger users and promoters.
While this may seem like two usual groups of people to associate with each other, these are the usual suspects that will add this hashtag to their posts, especially on Instagram or Facebook.
But, what does ‘SFS’ mean when it is used on Snapchat (see also “What Does ‘Pending’ Mean on Snapchat?“)? Is it the same as using ‘SFS’ on other social media platforms?
Let’s find out.
What Does ‘SFS’ Mean On Snapchat?
If you have been using Snapchat for a little while, or you are familiar with most popular social media sites, you have likely come across many abbreviations over the years.
While text talk began back in the early 1990s, these abbreviations have been more popularly used since the dawn of social media in the 2000s and 2010s.
Most people are familiar with ‘LOL’ (Laugh Out Loud), ‘WTF’ (What The F***), and ‘LMAO’ (Laughing My A** Off), yet some people use these abbreviations without even knowing what the letters stand for.
Despite this, almost everyone online seems to know what these terms mean, even without knowing what the words are themselves.
A popular abbreviation used on Snapchat is ‘SFS’. If you have seen this term before, you may be wondering what it means, and why a user would use it.
The three-lettered abbreviation ‘SFS’ actually stands for ‘Snap For Snap’.
In What Context Would I Use ‘SFS’ on Snapchat?
These letters are often used as a hashtag: ‘#SFS’. You may see some users screenshotting and reposting a person’s original Snap if they used this hashtag, and then, the original poster may do the same for them.
Basically, the hashtag ‘SFS’ will be used if a user wants to gain further popularity and recognition on Snapchat by receiving more followers.
They do this by posting a Snap along with some text reading ‘SFS’, or ‘#SFS’. As we know now, this stands for ‘Snap For Snap’. The user posting this message will expect their current followers to follow their instructions.
But, what are their instructions? And how do you follow them?
The user is, essentially, asking for a Snap in return for a Snap. They want their followers to repost their Snap, usually by taking a screenshot of the Snap and then posting it onto their own Snapchat story.
When the followers repost the ‘SFS’ post, their followers will be able to view it, along with the original user’s username. They can then decide to follow the original poster, boosting their amount of followers.
There is a catch to this. The original user will then have to do the same for each follower that has reposted their Snap, which is why it is a ‘snap for a snap’.
For each follower that posts, the original poster will have to return the favor, allowing their followers to also gain more followers.
While ‘Snap For Snap’ is a term exclusively through Snapchat, the abbreviation ‘SFS’ can also be found on other social media apps, such as Instagram.
You may have noticed this hashtag under some user’s content, or in their comments, on these alternative platforms.
While the usage of this hashtag holds the same meaning on Instagram as it does on Snapchat, the words in the abbreviation are not the same. This is to be expected, as you cannot Snap someone on Instagram (see also “How To Pin Someone On Snap“).
If you see ‘#SFS’ on Instagram, it will not stand for ‘Snap For Snap’, as you do not send Snaps on Instagram. Instead, it will stand for ‘Shoutout For Shoutout’.
While the words are different, the overall meaning behind the abbreviation remains the same.
By commenting this hashtag underneath another user’s post, you are asking them to give you a shoutout, which will boost your content, and potentially increase your followers.
On Instagram, using the hashtag ‘SFS’ will boost your content even if another user does not give you a personal shoutout. Thousands of people will click on that hashtag, and will find your page through the link.
Therefore, if you want to gain more popularity, you would be better off using the ‘SFS’ hashtag on Instagram than Snapchat, as you do not need to rely on another user to give you a personal shoutout.
Additionally, there are many similar hashtags that can be used on Instagram to gain followers and likes, including:
L4L (Like 4 Like)
LFL (Like For Like)
F4F (Follow 4 Follow)
TBT (Throwback Thursday)
‘TBT’, in particular, was a very popular hashtag during the early days of Instagram. People would post old photographs of themselves with this hashtag, and gain lots of likes and followers through that method.
It is not as popular today, but is still being used.
The History of ‘SFS’
Social networking has long embraced the phrase ‘shoutout’. In the 1980s, radio jockeys, DJs, and MCs used it to greet family members and friends over the radio, in nightclubs, or elsewhere in the crowd, which is when it originally gained popularity.
For example, if you were to go on a night out with a friend on their birthday, you would go up to the DJ and tell them. They would then announce this to everybody in the club, and even play one of their favorite songs.
The term changed significance with the emergence of social media in the early 2010s, and finally became regarded as a form of plugging or marketing.
Today, a ‘shoutout’ is typically known for being a two-sided thing, e.g., promo for a promo.
While those who use Snapchat will know the abbreviation to stand for ‘Snap For Snap’, the words ‘Shoutout For Shoutout’ is more suited, as this is basically what will happen when the hashtag is used.
Final Thoughts
In general, ‘SFS’ is more popularly known as standing for ‘Shoutout For Shoutout’. However, when used on Snapchat, the term is more specified, standing for ‘Snap For Snap’ instead.
No matter which words you associate with this abbreviation, the meaning behind it is almost always the same. It is a form of promotion between two, or more, users.
Hi, I’m Matt Johnson, and I work as a Digital Marketer. I started out as a PR assistant for a publishing company, and I quickly learned how important digital platforms are for marketing in the modern world.
This is why I started EngageDigital.com, to offer you a behind the scenes look at all of the most popular sites, applications and platforms, from Amazon to Snapchat, Venmo accounts, Instagram, NFTs, to Omegle and Tik Tok.
If you are looking for informative guides about using social media platforms, troubleshooting your devices, gaming, online shopping, and more, I hope to provide all of the answers you need here at EngageDigital.com!
