What Does PFP Mean?

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Decoding the texting and social media acronym

Co-authored by Adam Hack and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: April 19, 2025 References

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• TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter
|
• Other Meanings
|
• Cryptocurrency
|
• Related Terms
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

On the internet, keeping up with new acronyms can feel like playing whack-a-mole. What’s a PFP? And what’s a “PFP cult?” Will there ever come a day where there’s no new lingo to be learned? Perhaps not, but until then we’ve got your back. Take our hand and allow us to fill you in on what exactly TikTok, Twitter, and other social media users mean when they say “PFP,” as well as some other possible meanings and related acronyms.

Things You Should Know

• “PFP” is often short for “profile picture,” which is the small icon or avatar that represents you as a user on social media like TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter.
• “PFP” is also used to mean “picture for proof,” said when a user challenges another to verify their claim with photographic evidence.
• The acronym may also stand for “Partnership for Peace” or “pay for performance.”

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter

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1. 
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   “PFP” is short for “profile picture” when used on social media. Your profile picture is the little icon that represents you as a user and accompanies your posts. It’s also called an “avatar” or “icon.” On apps like Instagram or Facebook, where users share personal details, users commonly use photos of their faces or other pictures they took as their PFPs.

   • “I like your PFP! Is that your dog?”
   • On apps like TikTok, Twitter, or Tumblr, users also commonly use images of fictional characters or pretty much anything else they feel a connection with.
   • Users on TikTok sometimes refer to groups of users with the same icon as “PFP cults.” These accounts use the same PFP to share appreciation for things like celebrities or media franchises.
2. 
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   “PFP” can also mean “picture for proof.” On the internet, while texting, or while playing online video games, users say this to request a photo to prove that what another user has said is true. It’s a casual (if somewhat antagonistic) way to say “I don’t believe you,” or, “Prove it.” It’s also sometimes used between romantic partners as a way of flirting over text.

   • You: “Just ate 3 entire pizzas in 1 sitting.”
   • Them: “No way, PFP.”
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Section 2 of 4:

Other Meanings

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   Partnership for Peace The Partnership for Peace program is an international effort started by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1994 to foster beneficial relationships among various countries. According to NATO, the program has a commitment to democratic principles, stability, and security.

   • Programs are varied and wide-ranging, from disaster relief to financial aid.
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   Pay for performance In healthcare, PFP is a payment model where healthcare providers are paid more when they achieve better health results for their patients.

   • Recently, the model has been the object of scrutiny in healthcare fields. Critics point out that “healthcare quality” is hard to measure, and that the model may have diminishing returns.
3. 
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   Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome This is a general term that describes any sort of pain around the kneecap or on the front of the knee. PFP can be caused by a number of factors, like misalignment of the kneecap or simple overuse of the knee. It’s especially common in athletes or labor workers, where joint damage is frequent.
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Section 3 of 4:

Cryptocurrency

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1. 
   Some cryptocurrency users have turned profile pictures into currency. This was accomplished through technology known as NFTs. NFT stands for “Non-fungible token.” It’s a form of cryptocurrency in which certain images are assigned a particular, unique ID and assigned a value based on rarity, much like trading cards. Many forms of NFTs resemble profile pictures, and are in fact used by many NFT enthusiasts as their PFPs on Twitter and the like.

   • “Hey, is your PFP an NFT? How much did you pay for it?”

Section 4 of 4:

Related Terms

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1. 
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   Pics or it didn’t happen Like “pic for proof,” this is a phrase used to request photographic evidence of a claim. Mostly, it’s used as a lighthearted way to ask for proof.

   • You: “I just met Beyoncé!”
   • Them: “Pics or it didn’t happen.”
2. 
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   NPNT This stands for “no picture, no talk.” Internet and messaging app users say this to indicate that they won’t converse with someone who doesn’t have a photo to identify themselves. It’s especially prevalent on dating apps.

   • Them: “Hey, how’s it going?”
   • You: “Sorry, NPNT.”
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   FYP AKA the “For You Page,” this is a tab on the TikTok app that shows users videos tailored to their tastes. The app uses an algorithm to learn what sort of videos users like. Users often comment “FYP” on videos that made it to their For You Page to let the creator know their video is reaching a wide audience.

   • “I just saw this crazy video on my FYP.”
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