“OTP” means “One True Pairing” on Snapchat. Those who use it are typically part of shipping culture and use it to refer to their favorite fictional pairing. We’ll go into the history of the term and whether it’s offensive or sexual in nature below.
What’s the definition of “OTP” on Snapchat?
“OTP” typically means “One True Pair(ing)” on Snapchat and other social media services. When a person uses it, they’re referring to the practice of “shipping,” which is imagining either fictional characters or real people in a relationship. A person’s OTP is typically their favorite pairing, but it can also be used as a hyperbole to refer to any fictional relationship positively.
Though it’s commonly used on Snapchat, “OTP” goes back much further. Our research dates it to as early as 2003-05, and it was frequently encountered on early social media like LiveJournal and Xanga.
OTP could also mean a few other things – but not usually in the context of being used on Snapchat:
On the Phone: Busy
One-Time Pad: A cryptographic system.
One Trick Pony: Someone who is only good at one thing.
One-Time Password: A password that can only be used once.
One True Pair could be considered offensive since it’s part of shipping culture. Some believe shipping real-world celebrities to be uncouth since it’s non-consensual. A lot of shipping fiction is sexually charged in nature, which means younger users might get unwelcome communications if they use the term.
