{"id":7335,"date":"2022-08-04T19:11:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T19:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=7335"},"modified":"2022-08-15T20:27:59","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T20:27:59","slug":"mutuals-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/mutuals-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Mutuals\/Moots (TikTok) \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did someone you follow on social media just follow you back? You could say you\u2019re \u2018mutuals<\/em>.\u2019 This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018mutual<\/em>s\u2019 refers to two people who follow each other on social media. The saying applies to all social media platforms, including Twitter, TikTok, Facebook (Meta), Instagram, and Snapchat. The two users have a mutual affinity for each other and follow each other as a sign of respect for one another.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Mutuals\u2019 can describe platonic and romantic relationships, but it usually refers to the platonic kind. In some cases, \u2018mutuals\u2019 can apply to two influencers following each other to leverage each other\u2019s audiences and gain clout on the platform.<\/p>\n

Some people may use \u2018mutuals\u2019 to describe sycophantic behavior on social media where two people will agree with each other regardless of the topic. They will back each other up on issues, even if they know, they are wrong.<\/p>\n

The term \u2018moots\u2019 is a shortened version of \u2018mutuals,\u2019 but it's less common to see it used on social media these days.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cThese guys are Twitter mutuals. It\u2019s sad to watch grown men agree with each other about everything. You think social media would breed a healthy difference of opinion, but I guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t try and troll him on social. He has an army of mutuals, and they\u2019ll relentlessly attack you if you say anything negative towards him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love my mutuals on social. They make it fun to use the platform, and we all are interested in what\u2019s going on in each other\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMutuals on social media are nothing more than echo chambers. If you want real advice, ask a friend, not a mutual. They\u2019re sycophants that just agree with whatever you say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you follow me, I\u2019ll follow you back. Now we\u2019re mutuals! It\u2019s great to be part of a like-minded community, and I feel we have a real relationship with each other online.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, Neil De Grasse Tyson just followed me on Twitter! Now we\u2019re mutuals! I\u2019m going to send him a DM to say thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we were mutuals, but you just unfollowed me. So, I\u2019m going to unfollow you too. Call it a mutual falling out between us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression 'mutuals' originates from social media, particularly the Twitter platform. The term's first appearance was in 2007 when Twitter users defined it as someone you follow that follows you back. It was one of the first terms unique to the platform, appearing shortly after its launch.<\/p>\n

Some people refer to mutual followers as 'moots.' It's an older term defining a mutual follower but died out in 2010, with 'mutual' becoming the more popular term. Twitter users still post the word and use it with its original meaning.<\/p>\n

'Mutuals' spread to all other social media platforms over the coming years. Now it's a popular term used on all social media sites to describe people that follow each other.<\/p>\n