Exploring the Use of the Term 'Bao' on the Internet

Abstract

In recent years, as society continues to change, internet epithets have gone through generations of change. Scholars' enthusiasm for epithets peaked in the last decade but rapidly faded away. This article explores the origins and influence of the Internet address form 'Bao'. It examines the phenomenon of 'virtual intimacy' in the social use of the term 'Bao'. "The term 'Bao' has become popular because of a movie and some hot stems and was initially used in intimate relationships between parents and children or couples. This application has greatly solved the dilemma faced by Internet users and brought people closer to each other while reflecting the diverse psychology of contemporary people in choosing address words in online social networking. The term 'Bao' embodies the principle of economy of language, and the use of a relatively small number of words reflects the great utility of language, injecting new power into online terms of endearment while reflecting the homogenisation of social language. It also provokes reflection on 'virtual intimacy' in a social atmosphere.