What does 'TOS' mean? Understanding the internet slang and meme that means 'Terms of Service'

January 2024 · 3 minute read

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When you sign up for a new service or product, the TOS (or Terms of Service) are the rules and regulations you agree to follow. Most people scroll right through them and press "Accept" without thinking.

But when you use the same websites every day, the Terms of Service become incredibly important. And on some sites — like Twitch — they can even become running jokes.

Here's what you should know about how the acronym TOS is used formally and informally.

How the acronym TOS is used

Terms of Service function as a disclaimer of sorts for websites, giving users rules to follow and letting them know that if those rules are broken, the company can and will ban them.

For example, there's often an age-based requirement that's intended to keep minors from using sites where content is less regulated. The types of infractions, and the consequences of them, can vary from site to site.

It's also important to note that TOS for the same company can vary from country to country, usually to comply with local regulations.

Terms of Service often vary country by country. Devon Delfino/Insider

The joke about not reading and blindly agreeing to TOS has been around for a long time, with some online communities twisting the acronym to add nuance. 

For example, on Twitch, TOS is used casually to refer to someone breaking the site's rules. So when something on stream is perceived as breaking the terms of service — maybe playing a game with raunchy content — you may see "TOS" appear in the chat, usually in a joking way. 

Where else TOS can appear

You'll come across Terms of Service quite frequently online, though they aren't always called "TOS." Sometimes you'll see it listed as "terms of use" or "terms and conditions."

In general, though, you'll have to accept a TOS agreement whenever you sign up for a new site or service. That includes on sites like Google, social media platforms, and Apple products (like iTunes and the App Store), as well as smaller, more niche sites.

Terms of Service are typically lengthy documents with many sections that outline a company's user policies. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

Many TOS agreements, like the one from Google depicted above, will include both a set of rules for users to follow and a list of ways the platform can collect or use individual users' information and data; the latter may also appear separately in a "privacy policy" if it isn't included in the TOS.  

Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino. Read more Read less

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