Because Internet

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This annotation offers a linguistically informed exploration of how the digital world is transforming the English language. Language, as humanity's most remarkable open-source project, is evolving rapidly due to the internet. Conversations online are shaped by the structure of apps and platforms, influencing everything from the grammar of status updates to comment protocols. Online communities rapidly disseminate new slang and jargon, while social media serves as a vast, unfiltered laboratory for observing language evolution in real time. Even seemingly absurd slang reveals underlying patterns. The author delves into the forces that shape language and communication, explaining how early social internet experiences affect preferences for expressions like 'LOL' versus 'lol,' the success of ~sparkly tildes~ in conveying irony, and the similarities between emoji and physical gestures. Additionally, the unique language of animal memes, such as lolcats and doggo, enhances their spread. This book is essential for anyone curious about text message punctuation or the origins of memes, providing insights into how the internet reshapes English and what our online interactions reveal about our identities.