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Language Foundation

Mention

A mention is a reference to a particular user or account in a social media post, comment, or message, made by using the @ symbol with that user’s name.

In plain English

It points to a specific person or account by writing their name after the @ symbol. In social media content, this creates a direct reference to that user or account.

In context

Here, Mention names the feature for referring to a particular account in the content by using the @ symbol with that account’s name.

Situation
Creating posts, drafts, stories, tags, mentions, visibility, and moderation states
What it communicates
names the feature for referring to another account in the content

Meaning limits

This sense is limited to a reference to a particular user or account in content, not to every use of the @ symbol.

Examples

“Her post had one mention of @Lina and two plain email addresses.”

Core meaning

“After the apology, he added a mention for @Marta at the end of the comment.”

In context

  • reference Broader Term

    A mention in this sense is one kind of reference.

  • mention meaning a general reference in speech or writing Alternate Sense

    This other reading is not limited to referring to a user or account in content.