If you have seen one and wondered why, the Glasgow Times can reveal the answer.
Glasgow charity Nil by Mouth has teamed up with students from City of Glasgow College for a new anti-sectarianism campaign targeting young people.
Students Anna Burns, Carly Scott, Erin Morrison, Keira McGowan and Naimh Vaughan devised a series of graphics based on text speak using everyday abbreviations to highlight the ways young people can support the charity’s work across the country.
The students won Nil by Mouth’s 2025 Pitch Perfect competition, run in conjunction with the college and which this year marked its 10th anniversary.
City of Glasgow students Anna Burns, Carly Scott, Erin Morrison, Keira McGowan and Naimh Vaughan (Image: Nil by Mouth)
Each year more than 100 marketing and advertising students compete to design a campaign as part of their HNC/D qualification.
The project has won praise at Holyrood as well as backing from European football’s governing body UEFA and since its launch in 2015 more than 1000 students have participated.
Carly said: “We wanted to create a campaign that speaks to young people on our level and in terms we use every day.
“We produced something simple and eye-catching which will hopefully encourage people to take a second look and consider what else these phrases and abbreviations can mean. Our OMG doesn’t stand for ‘Oh My God’ , for example, but ‘Outdated Mindsets Gone’ – something we believe the majority of people in Scotland want to happen to sectarianism.”
She added: “We are delighted with the impact so far with Nil by Mouth’s website and social media feeds having several thousand more hits than usual. Their support has helped amplify our message and tens of thousands of people will see our message as they go about their business in the city centre.”
Nil by Mouth was set up in 2000 by Glasgow teenager Cara Henderson in response to the brutal sectarian murder of her school friend Mark Scott as he made his way home from a football match in the city.
It works in schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, communities and sport clubs across the country to challenge sectarian attitudes and help people better understand difference.
Nil by Mouth Director Dave Scott said: “Nil by Mouth was founded by a teenage girl who wasn’t afraid to ask questions and who never accepted that things could not change.
“Pitch Perfect has always proved a brilliant way for our charity to tap into the creativity and passion of young people and this year’s winning entry has been successful because it’s been driven by their energy and understanding of their peers. We’ve already had a few offers of help from people who have seen the campaign and that shows the positive impact that investing in colleges can have for charities like ours.”