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

• TOS is an acronym that means "Terms of Service" and refers to the rules you have to follow on online platforms and services.
• Nearly every app and website makes you agree to their TOS before you can make an account.
• The acronym TOS has also become a meme on sites like Twitch, where users will spam it when a streamer does something that might break the rules.

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.

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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.

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.

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.