What does SMH mean on TikTok?

TikTok logo on phoneUnsplash: Solen Feyissa

While browsing your For You Page on TikTok, you may have come across the popular term ‘SMH’ — but what does the acronym stand for, and when do you use it?

Ever since the launch of TikTok in 2016, there have been a huge number of different viral trends and challenges to take over the short-form video platform.

This is coupled with a series of different slang terms that have emerged on the app, whether they are existing words that have transferred over from other social media platforms like Twitter, or whether they have been created by the TikTok community specifically.

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‘SMH’ is a word that has been around on the internet for a while, and has been used across most social media platforms, so it’s no surprise that the acronym made its way onto TikTok as well.

If you’ve ever seen someone use this term in a video, caption, or comment on the short-form app, here’s everything you need to know about what it means.

TikTok logo and other apps on a phoneUnsplash: Solen Feyissa
TikTok is a hub of the internet’s most viral content.

What does SMH mean on TikTok?

In most cases, SMH stands for ‘shaking my head’ or ‘shake my head.’ The term is primarily used to indicate disappointment and is usually used in response to someone, whether that be a specific comment, or to a referenced scenario.

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Although that is the most common meaning of SMH, there are other things it could also stand for. Examples include ‘so much hate,’ ‘smack my head,’ or ‘somehow.’

The meaning of the term will ultimately differ depending on the context of the conversation, but it is a frequently used word on TikTok and beyond.

If you’re struggling to understand some of the most used words on TikTok, such as ‘mid,’ or ‘BFFR,’ then you can check out our slang guide here.

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