There are many acronyms used today over the Internet (Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging programs, etc) which make the communication quicker and easier. Some of them are so popular that almost everyone knows them, no matter if that person already uses a computer or a cell phone or not. While some acronyms are popular and we all know them, like LOL (Laugh Out Loud) or OMG (Oh My God) and others, there are many others which may confuse us or are not so commonly used. One of them is YOLO? So what is the real meaning of YOLO?

We can describe YOLO as a motto to live by, rather than an acronym used to express our feelings or reactions. The acronym has become popular recently while the phrase associated with it has been used for a long time. The popularity of this acronym drastically increased when Drake and Tyga released their song “The Motto”. To be more precise one of the verses says “You only live once: that’s the motto ni–a YOLO” As you can see YOLO actually means You Only Live Once.

When Is YOLO Used?

This acronym or the phrase itself is often used when we try to persuade someone to do something uncommon, or something he or she wouldn’t normally do. It is mainly popular in teenagers because in that age they all want to be rebels or to avoid living by the rules. Yes, most of them want to do something that would raise them above the crowd, do something crazy, something to be remembered by. Just do it, You only live once, Seize the day … all these are mottoes used to give us the necessary courage to do something, or we can use it as an excuse if something doesn’t work out as planned. Of course, you don’t have to use YOLO when you want to do something extraordinary. Some guys are afraid to ask a girl out, so YOLO is the right motto for them. Just do it, you have nothing to lose.

The popularity of YOLO is great because of its excessive used on social networks. Teenagers use it on Facebook, Twitter, in text messages, and so on. They encourage each other to do some things, and they are right. Life is too short indeed, and if you just wait for things to happen, your life will pass by. Someone once said “We create our own memories” and if you think a little you will have to agree that this is completely true. For that reason, don’t be afraid to do some things, all you need is a bit of courage. Otherwise you will have no memories when you grow old, and you will definitely regret for all the chances you have missed. So, remember, you only live once. YOLO!