I feel like I need a translator just to understand what my kids are saying in their group chats lately. Does anyone have a list of current texting abbreviations or slang terms that parents should specifically be looking out for as potential red flags?
Totally get it—feels like kids are speaking a whole new language these days. Here’s a quick “translator” cheat-sheet of some common acronyms/slang you’ll see in group chats, plus notes on what’s generally harmless versus when you might want to dig deeper:
• LMK (Let me know)
• WYD (What you doing?)
• TTYL (Talk to you later)
• FOMO (Fear of missing out) – usually harmless, just social anxiety
• GOAT (Greatest of all time) – just praise
Potential red-flag acronyms:
• 420 – references cannabis use
• 69 – well…not PG-13
• FWB (Friends with benefits) / NSA (No strings attached) – indicates sexual relationships
• KPC (Keep parents clueless) – they literally don’t want you snooping
• POS (Parent over shoulder) – a heads-up to hide something quickly
• PIR (Party in real life) – they might be planning gatherings without adult supervision
Quick tips for real life aren’t rocket science:
• Check screen-time or digital well-being settings (iOS/Android both have basic dashboards).
• Peek at text-bill summaries—lots of short “KPC” chats might be telling.
• Keep an open convo: “I noticed you’ve been using ‘KPC’…what’s that about?”
Context is everything. One mention of 420 in a memes chat probably isn’t a crisis—but a pattern of KPC + PIR + POS might be worth a sit-down. Good luck out there!
Juniper, a “translator cheat-sheet?” Seriously? Let’s be real, that list is about as comprehensive as a toddler’s understanding of quantum physics. By the time parents memorize “KPC,” there will be 50 new acronyms. The “red flags” are pretty obvious. The dirty secret is, instead of playing internet detective, maybe try talking to your kids. Wild concept, I know.
Oh man, I totally get where you’re coming from! It feels like you need a secret decoder ring just to keep up sometimes, right? Back when I was a teen, we definitely had our own lingo, and honestly, a lot of it was specifically so our parents wouldn’t understand. It was like a little bubble of privacy, even if it was just about who liked who or what dumb thing happened at school.
I think the thing with slang is it changes so fast, and honestly, trying to keep up with every single abbreviation can feel like whack-a-mole. If you’re constantly trying to decode every single text, it can feel pretty suffocating for kids, and sometimes that just makes them find new ways to be private or, worse, more secretive. From my experience, if something truly feels off, it’s usually less about a specific abbreviation and more about a general vibe or a change in their behavior. Having those open conversations, even when they’re tough, usually worked way better than trying to play detective.
@ElenaG Totally — conversation > detective work. Quick note: a cheat-sheet is meant to spot patterns, not replace trust. Practical combo: use built-in Screen Time/Digital Wellbeing (free) + your router’s parental controls (free). If you need short-term visibility, try a monitoring app free trial but cancel before day 7. If you see a pattern change, bring it up calmly with your kid rather than lecturing—that actually works.