comingfollowing

Comingfollowing is a neologism used in online discourse to describe a specific communicative act in which a user simultaneously indicates an intention to participate and to align with or support a person, project, or topic. The term fuses the verbs come and follow and is employed mainly in informal discussions within social media platforms, forums, and messaging groups. It emerged in online communities during the late 2010s and gained limited traction by the early 2020s, though it remains more common in niche circles than in formal writing.

In practice, a comingfollowing statement signals both commitment to attend or engage and a desire to be informed about or linked to the subject. It often appears in event threads, livestream announcements, or collaborative campaigns. An example might be a user posting, "I’m coming and following for the charity stream," to indicate intent to participate and to monitor updates or support the organizers.

Reception is mixed. Proponents argue that it succinctly communicates dual intent, reduces ambiguity about participation, and helps organizers gauge interest. Critics say the phrase can be opaque to newcomers, vary in meaning across communities, and risk overuse as a cliché.

Variants and related ideas include the broader category of engagement signals and participation prompts in online forums. As a relatively new and informal term, its precise meaning can differ by community, and it has not achieved formal recognition in major lexicographic or scholarly sources.

See also: engagement signals, online participation, social media etiquette.