The secret language of children in social networks is based on codes that they incorporate into their daily jargon to communicate with each other and that parents do not find out what they are talking about or simply to have a more private communication. They have more and more expressions that parents do not understand and we feel lost and out of place when they say them…

They are like acronyms that they use to express themselves on their social networks, be it TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, to mention some of the most used. We feel that our generation is becoming obsolete, but of course… if we don’t know what those expressions mean, we don’t know if what they are saying is something dangerous or not.

jargon in communication

Slang in communication is a way that adolescents have to communicate in a group, to differentiate themselves from the rest, but above all, from their parents or from the adult world… that world to which they approach but still feel quite far away. It is possible that when you were young you also used slang that your parents did not understand, expressions such as: “ok Mickey”, “dabuti”, “tron”, “you are container to me”, etc. These are some of the expressions that were used in the 90s and that you will remember with nostalgia. Stop putting pressure on your child: learn at their own pace.

But now that up-to-date slang of young people is used mainly in social networks and therefore spread like wildfire. Expressions like: “random”, “bestie”, “asap” or “shipeo” can make parents not understand anything, but they are fashionable expressions due to the words that the influencers that millions of teenagers follow every day say. the present.

Teenagers need to feel part of a group and for this they seek a different form of communication… and that is why this new language appears. They have feelings of belonging and this makes them feel good about themselves and their close environment: friends. They form their identity thanks to the relationships they have with their peers. They begin to define themselves as different people from others.

Do you have to worry about this jargon?

In most cases, this jargon isn’t malicious and you don’t have to worry about it… but there is a part of it that should set off red flags in your mind. In this sense, it is essential to know what exactly they mean and to know if their use is dangerous or not.

Words like:

• Bullying, cyberbullying: they refer to bullying
• Grooming: refers to pedophile deceit
• Stalker: is a stalker who wants to control the behavior of another
• Sexting: is a risky practice that consists of sending intimate photos or videos to other people
• Trolling: is when hurtful and offensive messages are published towards another person

These are words that must be taken into account to know what teenagers are talking about when they use them on social networks. It is necessary that if you notice inappropriate language, you should talk about it with your child and if you want to know what a specific word or expression means, you should also ask him or look for the information on your own.

It is also important that you work on communication with your teenager so that there is trust and a good emotional bond. In this way, if he needed your help in any aspect of life, he could come to you without fear of reprisal.

If your child has to tell you something, do not judge him, just listen to him, acknowledge his feelings and above all, always be by his side, even if there is a need to find a solution to improve the situation and his emotional state.

In addition, thanks to Qustodio , an online security and digital well-being platform, we have found a series of acronyms used by adolescents that indicate bullying, drug use or inappropriate behavior. As parents, you should be aware of them:

sexual behavior

• GNOC: get naked in front of the camera
• GYPO: take off your lower part of your clothes
• SUGARPIC: send a sexual or erotic photo
• 53X or CU46: we meet to have sex

Consumption of drugs

• 1174: see you at the party
• 420: marijuana
• CID: acids and drugs

cyber bullying

• Insults that mean “bitch” and are often used between girls: THOT, HOE, BOSH, SBW, SLUB.

Other acronyms you should know

Below we are going to show you other acronyms that you should also know to know what your children are talking about when they use them:

• POV. give a point of view
• Binge. Binge online
• Blessed. mood that makes you feel good
• FAV. Something we like a lot on social networks: “favorite”
• Flamer. Person who comments to create controversy
• LMAO. It’s like a “LOL”: something that gives a lot of laughter
• MP. Private message
• Roast. Doing a roast on YouTube consists of creating a video talking about the comments made by haters (insulting, being disrespectful)
• Random. When something depends on chance: random
• Hype. When something exaggerates you in an exaggerated way
• Ship. How to match two people either in truth or in fiction
• Same. When you feel something the same as another person or similar things happen to you
• Cringe. It is used when something is embarrassing
• I sauce. Controversy created in social networks that causes controversy among Internet users

As you can see, there are many words and abbreviations used by adolescents today and it is necessary to know them. This way, you’ll be up to date when they’re using them and you’ll know exactly what they mean. Of course, the list can grow at any time, so if your teen says any strange words, ask them directly what they mean!