Plural of meta; self-referential things or abstract overviews, especially in gaming or online communities where 'meta' means the current most effective strategies.
From Greek 'meta' meaning 'beyond' or 'after.' In gaming culture (1980s-90s), it evolved to mean the metagame—strategy beyond the game itself. Now used broadly for anything self-aware or self-referential.
The word 'meta' is a perfect example of internet culture creating new meanings; what once meant 'beyond' in philosophy now describes a TikTok that references itself. Language evolves fastest in communities where people are hyper-aware of their own patterns!
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