Subtweeting is the greatest form of shade in the 21st century. If you're on Twitter you definitely know a subtweeter or two, and you either hate them or you whisper "SLAAAAY" whenever you see them drop one. Subtweeting, for you basics, is that thing where you tweet something bitchy about someone and it's tooootally obvious who you're talking about but you don't @ them.
Some may think it's cowardly (and do trust, it can be SUPER annoying) while others think it's the perfect, hands-clean way of throwing shade. It's best when you're a celeb subtweeter 'cause you KNOW your fans are like "OH NO HE/SHE DIDN'T." See Exhibit A (above). Katy Perry nailed this subtweet, which we all knew was about Taylor Swift's song "Bad Blood," which is basically a song version of a subtweet (it's about a certain female musician rival—WOW WONDER WHO).
Anyway, the subtweet is iconic (see here, here, and this guide) so Twitter has decided to file a trademark on the term.
Twitter has filed a trademark for the term "subtweet." pic.twitter.com/ivE9hLDm2R
Not sure who first used the term "subtweet," but seeing as how it is very much an inherent Twitter term, they'll likely get approved sans opposition.
