If you've ever glanced at your teen's conversations over text or you've seen how they chat on social media, there's a good chance that there have been times when you've had no idea what they’re talking about. Social media acronyms and abbreviations can feel like another whole language.
But it's important to learn what some of that shorthand means. Monitoring your teen's online activity won't be helpful if you can't understand what your teen is saying. You might allow unhealthy conversations to take place right in front of you.
While you don't want to spy on your teen, it's important to stay up-to-date on your teen's social media and smartphone activity. Educate yourself about the most common social media acronyms and slang so you can be aware of the conversations your teen is having.
Common Social Media and Texting Acronyms
Social media and texting acronyms are most often harmless, but sometimes they can indicate red flags. Here are the most common social media acronyms teens are using to communicate with one another.
Commonly Harmless
143: I love you
2DAY: Today
4EAE: Forever and ever
AF: As f---
ADN: Any day now
AFAIK: As far as I know
AFK: Away from keyboard
ATM: At the moment
BFN: Bye for now
BOL: Be on later / Best of luck / Bust out laughing
BRB: Be right back
BTW: By the way
CTN: Can’t talk now
DM: Direct message
DWBH: Don’t worry, be happy
F2F or FTF: Face to face
FOMO: Fear of missing out
FWIW: For what it’s worth
GAL: Get a life
GB: Goodbye
GG: Good game
GLHF: Good luck, have fun
GTG: Got to go; good to go
H8: Hate
HAK: Hugs and kisses
HAND: Have a nice day
HMU: Hit me up
HTH: Hope this helps / Happy to help / How the h---
HW: Homework
ICYMI: In case you missed it
IDK: I don’t know
IIRC: If I remember correctly
IKR: I know, right?
ILY / ILU: I love you
IM: Instant message
IMHO: In my honest opinion / In my humble opinion
IMO: In my opinion
IRL: In real life
IU2U: It’s up to you
IYKWIM: If you know what I mean
JK: Just kidding
J4F: Just for fun
JIC: Just in case
JSYK: Just so you know
KFY: Kiss for you
L8: Late
LMAO: Laughing my a-- off
LMK: Let me know
LOL: Laugh out loud
LSR: Loser
MIRL: Meet in real life
MOS: Mom over shoulder
NAGI: Not a good idea
NM: Never mind / Not much
NMU: Not much, you?
NP: No problem
NTS: Note to self
OIC: Oh I see
OMFG: Oh my f------ god
OMG: Oh my god
ORLY: Oh, really?
OT: Off-topic
OTP: On the phone / One true pairing
P911: Parent alert
PAW: Parents are watching
PCM: Please call me
PIR: Parent in room
PLS or PLZ: Please
PPL: People
POS: Parents over shoulder / Piece of s---
PTB: Please text back
QQ: Crying (This abbreviation produces an emoticon in text; it’s often used sarcastically or as part of trash talk during video games.)
RAK: Random act of kindness
RL: Real life
RN: Right now
ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
RT: Retweet
RUOK: Are you okay?
SMH: Shaking my head
SOS: Someone over shoulder
SRSLY: Seriously
SSDD: Same stuff, different day
STFU: Shut the f--- up
SUS: Suspicious
SWAK: Sealed with a kiss
SWYP: So, what’s your point?
SYS: See you soon
TBC: To be continued
THX: Thanks
TIME: Tears in my eyes
TL;DR: Too long, didn’t read
TMI: Too much information
TMRW: Tomorrow
TTYL: Talk to you later
TY or TU: Thank you
VSF: Very sad face / very severely f------ (in big trouble)
WB: Welcome back
WTH: What the h---
WTF: What the f---
WTPA: Where’s the party at?
WYCM: Will you call me?
YGM: You get me (you understand me)
YOLO: You only live once
YW: You’re welcome
ZOMG: Oh my god (emphatic)
Potential Red Flags
ASL: Age/sex/location / "As h---"
FWB: Friends with benefits (friends who occasionally have casual sex)
FYEO or 4YEO: For your eyes only (may indicate explicit photos)
GYPO: Get your pants off
IWSN: I want sex now
KPC: Keeping parents clueless
LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life
NIFOC: Naked in front of computer
NSFW: Not safe for work
OC: Open crib (no parents will be home) / (may also stand for Original Character, a unique character in fan-art or fan fiction not found in the original property)
TDTM: Talk dirty to me
Distracted Driving
As people rely more heavily on their phones for everything from communication to directions, texting and driving has become an increasing problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 3,100 people died in 2020 as a result of distracted driving.
Texting while driving is the most alarming form of distracted driving. Texting can take your eyes away from the road for up to five seconds at a time. Driving at highway speeds, that’s the equivalent of driving an entire football field with your eyes closed.
When setting rules around phone usage while driving be sure to lead by example, and don’t use your phone while you’re driving. Explain to your teen their responsibility to keep themselves and others safe while driving. Even if they manage to avoid the worst consequences of irresponsible driving, like serious injury or death, remind them that you or the state may suspend or delay their ability to receive a license if they text and drive. You can even have every driver in your family sign a commitment not to text and drive.
Sleep Habits
Smartphone usage may contribute to a teen’s inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. The blue light from smartphones may be partly to blame. Nighttime exposure to any light inhibits melatonin production and messes with the body’s circadian rhythm, but blue light impacts this most powerfully.
To encourage better sleep hygiene, limit phone use and bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed and ask them to use an app that will help them reduce their screen time.
Establishing Rules for Teen Cell Phone Use
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the intentional mistreatment of others through technology, like computers, tablets, and cell phones, and it is surprisingly common. Twenty-eight percent of students between the ages of 10 and 18 have reported being cyberbullied in their lifetime.
Signs that your child may be experiencing cyberbullying:
- They become upset after using their phone
- They withdraw from family and friends
- They avoid activities that they used to enjoy
- Their grades drop
- They refuse to go to school
- They exhibit signs of depression
If you suspect that your child is being cyberbullied, offer support. Listen to them and let them know you are there for them. Ask questions and find out what happened. If you feel that evidence is important, document the incident(s) by printing screenshots.
Work with your child to determine how they want to proceed with reporting the incident to their school or the police. Their school likely has a cyberbullying policy that may have been violated. If cyberbullying involved criminal behavior—hate-based attacks or stalking, for instance—you may wish to contact the police.
Steer your child to new friend groups that are healthier and more supportive. If your child continues to struggle with the fallout, they may also benefit from professional counseling.
What Is Cyberbullying?
Sexting
Sexting involves sending explicit photos, videos, or messages via text, social media, or another digital platform. Sexting holds many risks for teens, including the fact that a once very private message can quickly become public and viral. Sexting can also result in cyberbullying.
Talk to your child about sexting. Ask them if they know what it is and what they think about it. It can be awkward to talk to teens about this kind of thing, but if you take a low-key, informative approach, your teen may be more open to listening and sharing. Sharing a news story that illustrates the possible consequences of sexting can be a non-threatening way to bring up the topic.
Why Sexting Is a Problem for Teens
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do teens text?
According to the Pew Research Center, 95% of teens have access to a cell phone or smartphone. The average teen sends and receives 30 text messages every day.
Does text messaging affect teen literacy?
According to research, texting does not seem to have a significant impact (negative or positive) on literacy in adolescents. The type of reading typically done during text messaging is too different from traditional reading to change overall literacy levels.
A Word From Verywell
Setting healthy limits on social media and texting can help your teen have a balanced relationship with their phone. Screen time limits reduce distractions, promote healthy sleep, and encourage teens to engage in physical and social activities outside of their phone.
Talk to your teen and encourage them to set limits on screen time. Discuss the risks of cyberbullying and sexting and ask your child how you can support them. Engaging in these topics can sometimes be a little rocky, but with a low-key approach, your teen may be more receptive than you think.
FAQs
What does OMG mean in texting? ›
oh my God. used (as in email or text messages) to indicate that something is considered surprising, shocking, thrilling, etc.
What are the most common text abbreviations? ›- BTW: By the way.
- CYA: See ya.
- DM: Direct message.
- FTW: For the win.
- FWIW: For what it's worth.
- ILY: I love you.
- IMO: in my opinion.
- JK: Just kidding.
47. LMK – Let me know. 48.
What does BB mean in text? ›Shorthand for bye-bye, bb is a way of saying goodbye in chat and other text-based communications. Below is an example of how this may be used in chat.
What are the words for OMG? ›Common euphemisms are oh my gosh, omigosh, and oh my goodness.
What does OMG XD mean? ›1. an expression used in text messages or e-mails signaling happiness or laughter. XD is an emoticon. X represents closed eyes while D stands for an open mouth. OMG! What you did today was so funny!!! XD.
What does 143 mean? ›143 means I love you. 143 is an internet slang numerical expression that conveys a message of love. Home.
What does KK mean? ›Phrase. kk. (Internet slang) Reduplication of k (“okay”) (indicates that no further explanation is necessary for a subject, or that the message was understood and will be acted upon without further confirmation). (Internet slang) okay cool (a shortened response usually used at the end of a conversation).
What does FTW stand for? ›(Internet slang) Initialism of for the win.
What is 8 in sexting? ›Commonly used sexting codes include: 8: Oral sex.
What does JK mean? ›
(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of just kidding.
What does NMU mean in texting? ›NMU is an acronym used to mean Not much, you. It's used in reply to the question, “What's up?” or “What are you doing?,” often expressed as WYD (what you doing).
What does BBB mean from a girl? ›What does BBB mean from a girl? "Bored Beyond Belief" is the most common definition for BBB on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
What does BP girl mean? ›beautiful people; beautiful person.
What does ily BB mean? ›Bb can be all the cuter when coupled with other internet abbreviations or slang: ILY bb gurl (i.e., I love you, baby girl).
What are 10 slang words? ›- It's giving. You can throw this one into conversation to describe the vibe something is giving you. ...
- Era. Think of this as a substitute for “phase”. ...
- Iykyk. This one is a pure and simple acronym. ...
- Slay. ...
- Fell off. ...
- Gatekeep. ...
- Situationship. ...
- Bad take.
(ˈɡɑli) interjection. informal. (used as a mild exclamation expressing surprise, wonder, puzzlement, pleasure, or the like)
What does OMG and LOL mean? ›The Old English Dictionary has added LOL (laughing out loud), OMG (Oh My God), TMI (too much information), FYI (for your information) and BFF (best friends forever) to its new online edition.
What is XF in chat? ›extra fine, extremely fine.
What does xb mean? ›XB is an abbreviation for Xbox - which is a popular video game console developed by Microsoft. You're most likely to encounter this abbreviation while chatting with a gamer or perusing a gaming-related forum. Microsoft released the original XB in 2001.
What does <3 mean in texting? ›
The emoticon <3. means "Love" or "I Love You." The characters < and 3 (which together mean "less than three") form a picture of a heart on its side and are used as an emoticon, meaning "love" or "I love you." For example: Sam: <3.
What's the meaning of 831 😂 💕? ›The number 831 224 means “I love you today, tomorrow, forever.” “I Love You” is the most common definition for 831 on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. The number 831 is a cyber term used to mean “I Love You.”
What does 520 mean? ›Well, 520 is homophonic to “I love you” in Chinese! In fact, the 20th of May (520) is pronounced （wǔ èr líng）which sound very similar to 我爱你（wǒ ài nǐ）I love you, that is why the 20th (and 21st) have been labeled as the Internet Valentine's Day（网络情人节）.
What does 224 mean in slang? ›224 (not comparable) (Internet slang) Abbreviation of today, tomorrow, forever.
What does MM mean in text? ›Make me. During chat and text conversations, MM sometimes stands for "make me." If someone asks you to do something that you really don't want to do, you can respond with MM to tell that person off. If the person is asking you to do something they'd be better off doing themselves, you can tell them to DIY.
What does KYS mean in Snapchat? ›KYS is an internet acronym standing for “kill yourself,” used as a taunt or form of harassment issued after someone has done something considered embarrassing or pathetic. Warning: This article deals with the sensitive topic of suicide and an internet culture that, unfortunately, makes light of it.
What does LOL mean from a girl? ›Lol is an acronym of laugh out loud. It can be used as an interjection and a verb. Lol is one of the most common slang terms in electronic communications. Even though it means laugh out loud, lol is mostly used to indicate smiling or slight amusement.
What does nm means? ›Nm, for “not much,” is usually written in the lowercase nm and is used in response to greetings like “What's up?” or “What are you up to?” in texts or social media. NM, also as nm, can be short for nevermind online, too. Also expect to see NM for all things New Mexico.
What does 21 mean in chat? ›"Quit" is the most common definition for 21 on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. 21. Definition: Quit.
What does LH6 mean in texting? ›LH6 - Let's have sex.
What are some dirty acronyms? ›
IPN = I'm posting naked. ITS = intense text sex. IWSN = I want sex now. J/O = jerking off.
What does IG means? ›What does IG mean? IG stands for the social media platform Instagram. It also sometimes short for I guess.
What does USN mean in text? ›abbreviation for the United States Navy.
What does no can no BB mean? ›“BB” is in Beijing and Northeastern dialect, originally coming with a slang “You can you up, No can no BB” (“你行你上，不行就别BB”）. This slang means that “if you are better than who you criticize, you go and do it; if not, then shut up”.
What does B face mean? ›noun Also bitch face . Also called resting bitchface, bitchy resting face, chronic bitchface . ( especially of a woman) a facial expression that does not consciously express a particular emotion but that others perceive as scowling, threatening, etc.: I can't help that I have resting bitchface.
What does I love ABGS mean? ›According to i-D, "Asian Baby Girls, also referred to as Asian baby gangsters, are typically East and Southeast Asians known for their big eyelashes, defined brows, dark clothing and dyed hair.
What is RP dating? ›RP is an acronym for “role play” or “role-playing”. It is when people act like they are someone else. For example, this is popular among couples that want to spice up their sex life. this is why you can see RP being used on dating apps often.
What does P mean in texting from a girl? ›The term /P is a tone indicator that stands for “platonic.” It's just a way for clarifying that you're not being flirtatious or sexual while texting. It's added to the end of a message after the traditional punctuation.
What does HB BB mean? ›BB means bed and breakfast. HB means half board, in which breakfast and dinner are included. FB means full board, in which breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. AI means all-inclusive, in which all meals and all drinks are included.
What does KK BB mean? ›Meaning. KKBB. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (movie)
What does double B mean? ›
[English] The musical note "B" preceded by two flat (♭♭) symbols. The effect of each flat symbol (♭) lowers the pitch of the indicated note a semitone (or a half step), so B double flat is the pitch "B" lowered by two semitones (two half steps). The resultant pitch would sound the same as the pitch "A".
What does OMG mean from a girl? ›OMG stands for Oh My God. OMG is an internet slang initialism that conveys excitement, annoyance, or disbelief.
Why are people using OMG? ›OMG is a popular exclamation that indicates surprise, excitement, or disgust. It stands for "oh my gosh" or "oh my God," and is often used in various types of digital communication, such as text messages, emails, online messaging, and social media. OMG is one of the oldest and most common conversational acronyms.
Is OMG polite? ›“Oh my God!” The expression, once considered taboo in polite conversation, has become as commonplace as “that's cool” or “see you later” in American parlance. The acronym, OMG, is nearly as ubiquitous.
What is OMG in social media? ›OMG- Oh My God.
What does O.G. stand for? ›OG stands for Original Gangster. OG is an internet slang initialism used to describe an extraordinary person.
What does OMG mean on snap? ›"Oh My God!" is the most common definition for OMG on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
When did saying OMG become popular? ›ONG is like the modern way of saying I swear to god or Wallahi as used in London, Toronto, and New York. While the acronym stands for the phrase “On God” it is a spoken street slang that became overly popular in late 2019.
Is OMG in vain? ›"If you say something like 'Oh my God,' then you're using His name in vain, but if you're saying something like OMG it's not really using the Lord's name in vain because you're not saying 'Oh my God. ' It's more like 'Wow.
When did OMG become slang? ›And they figured, well, you know, it's only been around since - what? - the '90s when people started using this kind of initialism that we associate now with tech speak and so forth.
Is OMG positive or negative? ›
Oh my god is an exclamation variously expressing disbelief, frustration, excitement, or anger. Its abbreviation, OMG, is widely used in digital communication. Related words: omfg.
Is Oh my God a profanity? ›Once regarded as the purest profanity, "Oh, my God!" seems to have evolved into something a little less taboo over the years. The expletive even has its own text messaging acronym: OMG!, which inspired the title of Yahoo's celebrity gossip site.
How do you respond to Oh my God? ›If you listen to the people you're around and you hear them saying, “Oh, my God, Oh, my God,” you can probably safely use, “Oh, my God” as well. But if you're worried, you can just say, “Oh, my gosh,” that's fine too. So, I hope that this helps you. Thanks very much for this question.
What does FT mean in chat? ›Here is a more detailed answer:
"Ft" in text stands for "face time." The term is often used in online or text-based communication to refer to a video call or video conference between two or more people.