chronically online
/ˈkrɒnɪkli ˈɒnlaɪn/
Meaning
This term describes someone who spends so much time on social media that their worldview is distorted. They often get deeply offended by minor internet dramas or apply niche online discourse to real-world situations where it doesn't make sense. It is used as a mild insult or a self-deprecating joke.
Examples
-
Her take on that celebrity drama was so chronically online; nobody in the real world actually cares.
Her take on that celebrity drama was so chronically online; nobody in the real world actually cares.
-
I need to go touch grass because I'm becoming chronically online.
I need to go touch grass because I'm becoming chronically online.
-
Only a chronically online person would find that harmless joke offensive.
Only a chronically online person would find that harmless joke offensive.
-
He spends twelve hours a day on Twitter, so his political views are incredibly chronically online.
He spends twelve hours a day on Twitter, so his political views are incredibly chronically online.
-
If you think everyone is secretly plotting against you, you might be chronically online.
If you think everyone is secretly plotting against you, you might be chronically online.
Common Mistakes
-
✗ She is a chronic online person.
✓ She is chronically online.
'Chronically' is an adverb describing the adjective 'online.' Do not use 'chronic' as an adjective for 'online person' in this slang context.
-
✗ I am chronically on the internet.
✓ I am chronically online.
The idiomatic slang phrase is specifically 'chronically online.' Changing it to 'on the internet' loses the cultural nuance.
Related Expressions
Practice
-
You need to put your phone down and go outside; you are getting ___.
💡 Too much time on social media.
Show answer
chronically online
-
His argument sounds like something only a ___ person would care about.
💡 Distorted by internet culture.
Show answer
chronically online