Age/sex/location

Age/sex/location (commonly referred to by the shorthand A/S/L, asl or ASL) is an article of Internet slang used in instant messaging programs and in Internet chatrooms. It is used in shorthand as a question to quickly find out the age, sex, and general location of the person with whom someone is interacting.

It is often asked as a question in romantic and sexual contexts online,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but it may be used also to just get some defining characteristics of a user.

Variations

• A/S/L/P or ASLP are short for "Age, Sex, Location, and Picture".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Roche2004">Template:Cite book</ref>
• NASL is short for "Name, Age, Sex, Location".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• ASLNP (or written as "A/S/L/N/P"): "Age/Sex/Location/Name/Picture".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• ASLR is short for "age, sex, location, race".
• ASLRP is short for "age, sex, location, race, picture".<ref name="Symens" />
• A/S is short for "Age/Sex".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• A/S/L/M/H is short for "Age, sex, location, music, hobbies".<ref name="Symens">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Crystal2008">Template:Cite book</ref>

Criticism

The fact that users often seek A/S/L information in "initial interactions" implies an "emphasis on the physical body online". 52% of the MOO character descriptions referenced age, sex, location, or physical appearance.<ref name="Joinson2007">Template:Cite book</ref>