Well, according to clinical psychologist Dr. Patricia Dixon, adding "lol" at the end of your messages can mean many things.
"Lol" is versatile. It can be used to communicate intention, to drive a conversation, or just to acknowledge a joke—just like an in-person laugh, which is part of why she believes it's stuck around so long.
In other words, adding "lol" at the end of texts is a reflection of humanity. It also might reveal these 7 traits if you do it all of the time.
Related: 9 Texting Habits That Come Off as Rude—Even if You Don’t Mean To
Why Do Millennials Use ‘LOL’ So Much?
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“I think a part of it is a level of coping,” she explains. “They use humor often to cope with whatever struggles or issues that they might be encountering. It's a way to make a serious situation a little less serious.”
It's safe to say that in 2026, the definition of “lol” has extended far beyond the literal translation of “laugh out loud,” so whether or not it can be considered rude in texting really depends on the context. For example, Dr. Dixon warns that adding “lol” can sometimes be passive-aggressive.
What Does It Mean if You Always Add ‘LOL’ to the End of Your Texts?
According to Dr. Dixon, adding “lol” to the end of a text is a strategy of “impression management.” In a situation that doesn't involve sending a meme or responding to a funny TikTok, a texter will use “lol” to help guide how their main point will be perceived, usually to tone down the intensity or seriousness of the message.
Related: People Who Avoid Responding to Texts Right Away Often Share These 9 Traits, Psychologists Explain
“An ‘lol’ allows me to shift it if [the receiver's] perception becomes something that makes me feel judged or misinterpreted or misunderstood,” Dr. Dixon tells Parade.
2. They have anxiety
“I was telling one of the clinicians that work in my office about how I was going to be talking about this, and she was like, ‘I'm one of those people,’” Dr. Dixon says. “She says that part of it is anxiety management.”
“When she's a bit anxious about something that she's sharing or embarrassed about it, then she adds an ‘lol’ just to ease the anxiety over how the person might take it,” the psychologist shares.
People who fear oversharing frequently use “lol” as a way to control the conversation when revealing something serious or personal, says Dr. Dixon.
Related: Psychologist Says People With High Levels of Self-Respect Never Share These 7 Personal Things
4. They want to be understood
“A part of it is, ‘I don't want somebody to misunderstand my tone,’” Dr. Dixon explains, adding that these people might use "lol" to mean, “Don't take it too seriously or make it deeper than what it is.”
“They might have something serious that they need to express to their friend, or they want to say to their friend, but they are aware that if it's said in a harsh manner or without some level of lightheartedness, the friend might become overly consumed with whatever comment has been made,” she explains. “There's an empathy part to it—an awareness of how people receive information.”
6. They value connection
Adding this specific text abbreviation at the end of your texts is also a side effect of being a person who “values connection with people,” Dr. Dixon shares.
7. They're sarcastic
In my experience, one of the most common uses of "lol" is to convey sarcasm.
Whether it's a quick "lol" at the end of the message or a follow-up "lol" to be sure that they got the joke, using the phrase when being sarcastic is pretty much required at this point.
Related: The Main Texting Habit That Ruins Relationships, According to a Harvard-Trained Psychologist
Source:
Dr. Patricia Dixon, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in talk therapy, coaching and sound therapy. She is also a professor.Hence then, the article about psychologist says if you always add lol to the end of your texts you likely have these 7 traits was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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