'Before you follow' — the companion to DNI: a notice, usually linked, telling would-be followers what to expect (frequent posting, spoilers, a particular ship) and what will get them blocked. The record's entry for the abbreviation that made following an account a terms-of-service agreement.
The record notes a full BYF/DNI page was, in 2019, longer than most privacy policies and read by roughly as many people.
Seen in 2018: 'byf: I post a lot, I'm loud, I'm always right'. The record followed, and found all three claims accurate.
There was a version of BYF that went round my family group chat about a month late, presented as new. I did not correct anyone. It was, for them, new, and that has to count for something.
What does it mean? Write it the way you would say it out loud.
