The century-old military origin of your favorite texting shortcut
In short: You likely use 'IDK' as a modern digital reflex, but this abbreviation predates the smartphone by over a hundred years. This video explores how a piece of soldier slang survived the transition from the trenches to our screens.
The term 'I.D.K.' was documented in an American newspaper in 1918 as U.S. soldier slang during the final months of World War I. While it is now a staple of instant messaging, its roots lie in military communication where brevity was essential.
The video examines whether soldiers truly invented the term or if it existed prior to 1918. It traces the evolution of abbreviations from functional battlefield tools to universal internet language.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How 'IDK' Went From Soldiers to Smartphones
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