Gatekeeping

Gatekeeping, in internet slang, is the practice of policing who "counts" as a real fan, user, or community member—often by testing obscure knowledge. The term is usually pejorative, though mild versions can function as playful quizzes.

Icebergs and gatekeeping

Iceberg charts can encode gatekeeping: lower tiers signal status. They can also invert it by teaching outsiders the references in a YouTube explainer. Whether a given chart is welcoming pedagogy or snobbery depends on caption tone and community norms.

See also

• Fandom
• Deep lore
• Iceberg chart

Sources

• Internet-slang treatments of gatekeeping; commentary on icebergs as knowledge-flex formats.