Understanding the language used by young people, including slang, is crucial for their development. The constantly evolving codes can be challenging to keep up with, but it's essential to do so. Words hold a lot of power, and their meanings can have a significant impact on our lives, especially on the younger generation. Therefore, it is imperative that we make the effort to stay informed and up-to-date with the latest slang and terminology.

During adolescence, individuals go through a challenging phase of development where they strive to establish their personal identity and a sense of autonomy. Social media plays a crucial role in how teenagers perceive themselves, as much of their social development and self-concept is shaped by how they are viewed online.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the language and interpretations used by teenagers in the digital age is vital when it comes to assessing their mental health, peer bullying experiences, and self-esteem. Without this understanding, we cannot effectively provide the necessary support and guidance to the younger generation. It is crucial to gather valuable insights through this understanding in order to properly evaluate and assist today's youth.

Exercise to Complete:

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the acronyms commonly used by young people on social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

What do you make of the Acronyms? Are you familiar with language? What other acronyms have your heard that isn't on the list? Check out the video and learn more about various types of SLANG works use across social media.

Drop your thoughts and your comments below....

Other codes you need to know because of the underlying message and the coded language:

1. GNOC: Get naked on line
2. LMIRL: Let's meet in real life

These popular youth chat acronyms are extremely prevalent and used frequently in the cyber communicating. Having a language guide will make everything clear. It won't feel good to know that your child is being asked to get naked on camera (GNOC), but how can you take appropriate safety measures if you have no idea of what you’re dealing with?

The acronyms commonly used on anonymous chat rooms, such as ASL (age, sex, location) and LMIRL (let’s meet in real life) are extremely important. Many of the chat room discussions have sexual content, such as IWSN (I want sex now), 1174 (nude club) and GYPO (get your pants off). Other acronyms have been created specifically to keep parents out of the loop, including MOS (Mum over shoulder), P911 (Parent alert) and KPC (keep parents clueless).

According to the Department of Education, one in five parents say they don’t feel that they have the knowledge and tools to keep their children safe. So you are not alone. Here are some other things to look out for.