Forums / Discussion / Meme Research

What does it mean, and is it a meme in the same way yolo or swag or such are?
I'm sorry if I'm accidentally being insensitive in the slightest-- I'm just really dumb.

It's also used as a shortened version of the word "family"

smh tbh fam

After a quick search using a next generation method scientists have taken to calling 'Googling it', it seems like it's a shortened way to call someone Family, usually in an endearing way. Fam.

we need more people to use this type of scientific method

Unlocking cus +1 slang entry (like swag and yolo)

That's a big part of why I brought this up.
I've been seeing this more in the forums and in other places, such as this video:

(Sorry for the clunky embedded code, YouTube mobile hates me and my computer is having issues.)
Anyway, I've actually used Urban Dictionary to get the definition, but the "traditional" meaning of family (i.e. closest blood-related relatives) didn't seem to fit quite right, not to mention it was usually in the context of other internet slang or stoner language, so I figured I'd ask for some sort of clarification.
Ultimately, I made this thread due to finding no article on the term while trying to figure out what it meant, so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone by starting the conversation, given my suspicions that fam could be a "slang meme".


As for actual research, "fam" has been searched on Google for as long as Google's tracked these things (likely due to fam being an acronym for something). However, there's a notable upward trend in 2014, and if you include the search "fam meaning" you'll notice the latter's search traffic to go from negligible to relatively small in the same period of time.

In summary
1) The definition may mean family, but perhaps the "standard definition"
2) There's been increases in searches on Google for "fam" and "fam meaning" since roughly 2014
3) In my subjective experience, I've seen more spread of the term accross YouTube and the forums here, especially in the context of stoner or "internet slang" related topics.

Basically, it's a new term of endearment.

Basically a way of saying dude or mate, Its used a lot here the UK, people say it to people they don't like too.

Its slang.

Fam has been in the UK since forever, my bredren.

It's slang and it's pretty widespread. Also has a bit of an ironic following. I think it does deserve an entry or at least a mention, seeing as how we already have entries for smh and tbh fam.