- - - IYKYK: Here Are the Popular Teen 'Texting Codes' Every Parent Should Know

Liz RegaliaJuly 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM

Parents/Amr Bo Shanab/Getty

Millennial parents are no strangers to acronyms. In fact, Millennials and Gen Xers are credited with making "LOL" (laughing out loud) so popular on instant messenger, that it eventually earned a spot in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011. [1] (Take that, Gen Alpha!)

But even with their impressive acronym cred, parents of today's teens are finding their kids texting in a mix of letters and words that may as well be an entirely different language. (IYKYK, am I right?)

And while most of the acronyms are harmless, some forms of messaging are not. Specifically, “texting codes” can signal cases of cyberbullying and serious mental health concerns in teens.

Acronyms vs. 'Texting Codes'

While an acronym is the first letter of each word in a phrase, Titania Jordan, Chief Parent Officer of online safety company Bark Technologies explains texting codes as a combination of acronyms, characters, words, and even emojis that represent hidden meanings. As a result, texting codes can be much harder for parents to understand—which unfortunately is exactly the point.

“Acronyms are [used] for ease of typing, as it’s just quicker to tap out ‘ILY’ instead of ‘I love you,’” Jordan says. “Text codes are different. They can be used to cover your tracks in case someone is monitoring your messages.”

Because texting codes are meant to look like harmless symbols or slang words, parents are more likely to overlook them. For example, parents may not be aware that “🍃” is code for "marijuana", or “seggs” is a code word for "sex".

With that said, the use of codes can also simply be a way kids choose to connect, explains Erin Walsh, author of It's Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence and co-founder of Spark & Stitch Institute.

“Texting codes certainly can be used to avoid adult detection of risky behaviors,” Walsh says. “But they can also just be shorthand ways for young people to build connections with friends and demonstrate belonging to a group.”

Popular Acronyms and Meanings

New acronyms pop up every day, according to Jordan, but here are some of the most common ones used by kids:

BRB - "Be right back"

BTW - "By the way"

FOMO - "Fear of missing out"

GOAT - "Greatest of all time"

GTG - "Got to go"

GR8 - "Great"

IMO - "In my opinion"

ISO - "In search of"

IYKYK - “If you know you know” (meant to imply that there’s an inside joke)

ILY - "I love you"

IRL - "In real life"

JK - "Just kidding"

KMS - "Kill myself"

KYS - "Kill yourself"

L8R - "Later"

LMAO - "Laughing my ass off"

LOL - "Laugh(ing) out loud"

NP - "No problem"

OMW - "On my way"

OFC - “Of course”

ROTF - “Rolling on the floor” (typically in laughter)

SMH - “Shaking my head” (“I don’t believe it” or “that’s so dumb”)

STFU - "Shut the f**k up"

TBH - "To be honest"

TYVM - "Thank you very much"

WYD - "What you doing?"

WTF - "What the f**k?"

WYA - "Where you at?"

WYD - "What you doing?"

WUF - "Where you from?"

Popular Texting Codes and Meanings

These code-like acronyms have underlying meanings that kids may want to keep hidden:

ASL - "Age/sex/location"

CD9 or Code 9 - "Parents are around"

DTF - "Down to f*ck"

FBOI - "F*ck boy" (or a guy just looking for sex)

FWB - "Friends with benefits"

LMIRL - "Let’s meet in real life"

NP4NP - "Naked pic for naked pic"

POS - "Parent over shoulder"

TDTM - "Talk dirty to me"

Concerning Texting Codes Parents Should Never Ignore

Experts agree the rise of acronyms and codes that refer to self harm or mental health struggles is alarming, and they should be taken seriously. In fact, the latest research suggests that social media codes can be used to identify tweens and teens at risk for suicide, which makes it critical for parents to be able to spot concerning conversations. [2]

According to Jordan, these are the codes that should raise immediate red flags if you see them appear in any inappropriate social media posts involving your teen:

KMS - "Kill myself"

KYS - "Kill yourself"

STFU - "Shut the f**k up"

Unalive - "Kill" or "dead"

Sewerslide - "Suicide"

Grippy sock vacation - "A stay in a psychiatric treatment facility"

Menty b - "mental breakdown"

I had pasta tonight - "I had suicidal thoughts"

I finished my shampoo and conditioner at the same time - "I'm having suicidal thoughts"

“If someone’s commenting ‘KYS’ on your child’s Instagram or texting it to them, it’s potentially a sign of bullying,” Jordan warns. “It could be causing negative effects on their sense of self-worth and their mental health.”

STFU ("shut the f*ck up") can be used as an expression of disbelief between friends, but it can also signal cyberbullying when used publicly on social media.

How to Support Your Teen

Experts give the caveat that simply knowing what these codes mean doesn't always reveal the context in which they're being used. “A single acronym or code rarely tells the whole story,” Welch says. For example, “KMS” can signal serious suicidal ideation, but it's also used to describe trivial moments of embarrassment or annoyance in personal text exchanges.

Welch emphasizes continued communication will help you discern between a cause for concern and simply a need for some digital-age skill-building. She suggests the following:

Don’t assume the worst. Ask your child for an explanation or background of what you've seen before you launch into a lecture. “It is okay for there to be long silences as your child sorts through their feelings about online interactions,” Welch says. Their reflection will shed the best light on the meaning behind what you’ve seen.

Avoid becoming a “spy.” "A quick 'Gotcha!' reaction to concerning acronyms or codes can create confusion, increase conflict, and may even encourage more secrecy as teens try to avoid adult surveillance and punishment," Welch says.

Let your child know you're there to help. Receiving text codes related to self harm or suicide can raise a host of difficult questions for teens, Welch says. For example, “Is my friend serious?” “Should I talk to someone about this?” or “What should I do next?” Reassuring your child that you are there to support them will foster honest conversations to determine next steps.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Lifestyle”