This article was reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones
and by wikiHow staff writer, Aimee Payne, MFA
. Anyah Gilmore-Jones is a Social Media Marketing Expert based in Nashville, Tennessee. An innovative experiential and social media marketer, Anyah is skilled at creating engaging brand experiences and leverages her passion for connecting people and ideas to drive organic growth for purpose-driven brands. As the founder of GROW by Gilmore, a social media strategy company, Anyah develops data-driven social media strategies focused on authentic community building. She has over 4 years of experience spearheading viral campaigns and producing content for brands like HBCU Buzz, Black & Scholared, SHEIN, and Project Art Collective. She received her BA from Howard University in Political Science and Government.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
Have you seen the acronym DNIUC on a social media profile or post and wondered what it meant? If so, you’ve come to the right place. It stands for “do not interact unless close,” and people use it to limit the contact they receive on a platform. Read on to learn more about this acronym, including where it possibly came from and other related status tags.
DNIUC: Definition
DNIUC is an acronym that stands for the phrase “do not interact unless close.” Internet users may add it to their social media or gaming profiles to let other users know that they don’t want to be contacted unless they already know each other well.
Steps
DNIUC Meaning
-
DNIUC is a status tag that stands for “do not interact unless close.” It expands the acronym DNI, which means “do not interact.” [1] X Research source People use it on social media and online gaming profiles to let others know they don’t want to be contacted by anyone they aren’t already closely acquainted with.
- Some use it to mean “do not interact unless contacted.” In this case, the user is signaling they’re open to contact from people they contact first. While the two interpretations are slightly different, if the person contacts you first, it’s reasonable to assume that they are open to receiving a response from you.
- DNIUC, DNI, and related tags are often seen on Discord, TikTok, and Twitter. However, these are unofficial status tags, so not everyone may know what they mean.
- DNIUVC and DNIUEC are other variations that mean “do not interact unless very close” and “do not interact unless extremely close,” respectively.
How to Use DNIUC
-
1Use DNIUC on your profile to let people know you don’t want contact. Teens commonly use online gaming as an opportunity to make friends and socialize. [2] X Trustworthy Source Pew Research Center Nonpartisan thinktank conducting research and providing information on public opinion, demographic trends, and social trends Go to source Profile tags allow them to signal how social they want to be on each platform. The most common way to use this status tag is to place it on your profile page to limit the number of people who contact you on that platform. It means you want to be left alone unless you already know the person or have contacted them first.
- Some users also add a group of people they don’t want to contact them. For example, they might put Minors DNIUC to say they don’t want underaged people to contact them unless they’re already close.
-
2Add DNIUC to a post to limit the audience or amount of interaction. Some users add DNIUC to social media posts to let followers know they aren’t looking for interaction or suggestions from strangers. A few examples include:
- My allergies are driving me crazy. I’ve tried everything, but nothing works. DNIUC.
- DNIUC - My sweet kitty, Stripey, has been throwing up all night, and I don’t know what to do.
Where did DNIUC come from?
-
DNIUC is commonly used in the MMO Pony Town. While it’s unclear where the acronym was first used, it is commonly seen on profiles in Pony Town . Pony Town is a social massively multiplayer online game where players create ponies and build houses. Pony Town’s gameplay focuses on social interaction and creativity. [3] X Research source
- Some believe the acronym originated on the quotev.com website, a platform that allows users to create quizzes, stories, surveys, and polls.
Related Profile Status Tags
-
Several other profile status tags are available to limit interaction. Profile status tags or name tags allow users to indicate exactly how much interaction they want in a game, on social media, or on a website (like Quotev). Use the following tags to let others know if you want to interact: [4] X Research source
- DNI: Do not interact
- DNIUID: Do not interact unless I do
- DNIUF/DNIUM: Do not interact unless friended/mutuals
- DNIUGP: Do not interact unless gentle
- DNIUIW: Do not interact unless interacted with
- IWC: Interact with caution