onislíbí

Onislíbí is a neologism encountered in sociolinguistic discussions of online behavior. It describes a form of public approval signaling in which participants intentionally orchestrate multiple positive reactions to a post, user, or idea—such as likes, upvotes, comments, and shares—to demonstrate alignment and reinforce group cohesion rather than evaluate content on its intrinsic merit.

Etymology: The term is a constructed blend drawing on elements that resemble Slavic verb morphology, combining a hypothetical root oni- meaning "they" with líbí, a verb stem meaning "to like" or "to please." It is not tied to a specific natural language and its use is largely confined to analytic or world-building contexts. The earliest attestations appear in speculative glossaries and discussions about digital ethnography from the 2020s.

Usage and scope: Onislíbí is used to analyze patterns where communities coordinate reactions to amplify a message or signal solidarity. It has been observed across platforms such as social networks, forums, and collaborative workspaces. Scholars note that onislíbí can function as a legitimate form of mutual support, but it can also operate as performative signaling that obscures genuine preference or intent.

Variants and related terms: Related concepts include coordinated engagement, performative endorsement, and social-signaling phenomena. Discussions emphasize the balance between authentic support, strategic signaling, and the implications for visibility, fairness, and moderation in online ecosystems.