Social media trends and tactics to promote content and boost follower counts evolve daily. You’ve probably seen the same hashtags or acronyms across multiple social platforms and can’t figure out their meaning. So, what does “SFS” mean on Instagram, and how do you use it?
On Instagram, SFS means “shoutout for shoutout” (or, when used pejoratively, “spam for spam”). A user who captions their content with #SFS is asking their followers to share it with a loose understanding that the favor will be returned.
You’ll often see SFS on social media platforms like IG, Snapchat, and TikTok—with or without the hashtag. While the meaning can vary across platforms, the intention is the same, and it’s a powerful self-promotion tool. Let’s get started so you understand how to use it on Instagram.
What Does SFS Mean on Instagram?
SFS means “shoutout for shoutout” on Instagram. Although, as mentioned above, people who look down on this behavior might refer to it as “spam for spam.”
A user who captions their content with SFS is asking their followers to share the content. If you help them out, they’ll likely cross-promote you in return.
IG users often pair SFS with a hashtag, basically #SFS. This is because if someone DMs you or tags you in an SFS post, they want to get your attention, just as they’d do on WhatsApp, Twitter, or TikTok.
While the intention is the same, some people believe SFS means “snap for snap” on IG, just like on Snapchat. That’s still forgivable. After all, they didn’t shout it out loud.
As the name suggests, SFS is an exchange between two users, and influencers use it for mutual promotion.
One person tags another in a post to direct followers to the other party’s page. Hopefully, they’ll return the favor to boost the other person’s follower count. This doesn’t have to be random—users can always arrange to show off each other’s content, and that’s where the hashtag comes in.
How to Use and Respond to SFS on Instagram
To use SFS on Instagram, caption a post with #SFS to ask your followers to promote the content. Since the idea is cross-promotion, you’re expected to share other influencers’ content in return.
For example, you can post an image and caption it with #SFS to promote your street graffiti. It also helps to include other hashtags like #streetart, #photooftheday, and #streetgraffiti. If you want to get a specific user’s attention, tag them in your post.
Since most people consider an SFS post to be gallying clickbait, it helps to use #SFS in a story or post worth sharing.
To respond to SFS on Instagram, repost the user’s SFS-labeled content if you’re willing to promote them. Your followers will share your profile and the content with their followers, and hopefully, both of you will get tons of new likes and followers. Of course, you can also ignore #SFS posts altogether.
Other Meanings of SFS
Where Did “Shoutout for Shoutout” Come from
You’re probably wondering where the phrase “shoutout for shoutout” came from. The term “shoutout” has existed for decades, even before social media.
It was widely used by radio presenters, MCs, and DJs back in the 80s to say hello to a friend or family member over the airwaves, in a party audience, or in a club. In recent years, especially with the rise of social media, it’s evolved to mean a “plug” or promotion.
How is the SFS Hashtag Used?
People use #SFS on social media platforms to help them track down other users looking to promote themselves and grow their follower count. You can also use the SFS hashtag to gain quick likes on a post.
Searching #SFS brings up tons of posts you can double-tap to like and make the person who posted the content appear more popular. It works similarly to hashtags like #F4F (follow for follow) and L4L (like for like).
Giving someone a shoutout on Insta is as simple as mentioning their account name with the “@” anywhere your followers can see it. It could be in your Main Feed or Stories which disappear from public view in 24 hours.
If one of the accounts has significantly more followers than the other, it could charge for the shoutout. On Snapchat, things work the same way, and influencers post shoutouts in their Stories or Snaps.
The following are alternative meanings of SFS on various platforms:
SFS Means “Snap for Snap” on Snapchat
A user will typically post a snap and caption it with #SFS to ask their followers to repost it. If you respond, they’ll promote your profile/content to help you get more likes and increase your reach.
SFS Could Mean “So F*cking Stressed” on Text
If someone includes SFS without the hashtag in a text message or WhatsApp DM, it means they’re anxious about something. For example:
“Feeling SFS about tomorrow’s Calculus test. 😓😓Want to come over and help with the revision?”
It Also Means “Seriously Funny Sh*t”
Depending on the context, you can always tell if someone is trying to say “super f*cking stressed” or “seriously funny sh*t.” For example:
“You won’t believe what my lil bro did today. Small guy painted an alien and insists it’s me. Some SFS…😂😂”