A parent's guide to the words, acronyms, and app features kids use every day.
Most-looked-up terms
Police radio code for homicide, used by teens to reference suicide or killing someone; sometimes appears as '187' (same meaning).
How kids use it — Encountered in gaming chats, Discord, and song references; less common than other codes but still used in certain online communities by ages 13-16.
A code for cannabis use, smoking weed, or the time 4:20 PM associated with drug culture.
How kids use it — Appears in memes, TikTok captions, and group-chat jokes; often used to plan or reference smoking sessions.
Numerical cipher for 'sex' (5=S, 3=E, X=X), used to bypass content filters.
How kids use it — Appears in social-media comments, DMs, and group chats across all platforms; older code but still used by ages 13+.
Deliberately vague slang — its appeal is partly that adults don't know what it means. It spread from a 2025 song by rapper Skrilla and went wider when NBA player LaMelo Ball (who is 6'7" tall) started using it in videos. The meaning is intentionally left open: theories include 'so-so,' a street reference, and a shrug gesture. Dictionary.com flagged it as a notable term; regional trackers listed it as Florida's most common slang in August 2026.
How kids use it — If your kid says something is '6-7' or makes a flat hand going up and down, it is roughly the same as 'meh.' The vagueness is the whole point — it is a generational inside marker, not a code for anything harmful.
Single digit alert that a parent or authority figure has entered the room and is watching.
How kids use it — Used in gaming voice chat and group texts for rapid, deniable notification; harder for parents to spot than full acronyms.
Parent or adult has just left the room—all clear signal, safe to resume normal conversation.
How kids use it — Follow-up code to '9'; signals that surveillance has ended and kids can return to uncensored talk.
Shorthand for Age/Sex/Location, a groomer's opening question to establish whether a target is a minor and their proximity.
How kids use it — Older grooming tactic but still actively used in Discord, Roblox, and anonymous chat apps by predators.
Prescription amphetamine (Adderall) used without medical supervision, typically for recreational purposes or to get high.
How kids use it — Appears in DMs and group chats among middle and high school students; often discussed as a study-drug trade.
When someone misrepresents their age online—either older or younger than they really are. Younger teens may claim to be older to access restricted platforms or features; adults may claim to be younger to target minors.
How kids use it — Common practice on dating apps, Discord servers, and age-gated games
An app that lets users form ongoing relationships with AI chatbots — chatting as if with a friend, romantic partner, or therapist. Character.AI and Replika are the most widely used. The bots are designed to be endlessly supportive and agreeable, which safety researchers say is part of what makes them risky for teens.
How kids use it — A 2025 Common Sense Media and Stanford report rated companion apps 'unacceptable risks' for under-18s after finding guardrails were easy to bypass and some interactions escalated into sexual roleplay. More than half of teens surveyed used AI companions regularly. Lawsuits filed in 2024–2025 allege the apps contributed to teen mental health crises.
Low-quality, mass-produced content made with generative AI and spread across social media to chase clicks or algorithm attention. It ranges from harmless but fake (AI-generated animals in absurd situations) to genuinely harmful (fabricated news, fake images of real people including classmates).
How kids use it — Teens use the term to dismiss content they recognize as AI-generated: 'This is just AI slop.' Parents should know it because the harmful end includes realistic fake images of real people and fabricated breaking news, and because evaluating what's real is now a skill kids need early.
A secondary social media profile, similar to a finsta but broader in use—could be for a different aesthetic, community, or personality side. Teens may use alt accounts to explore different interests, friend groups, or online personas without those following their main account seeing it.
How kids use it — Mentioned in DMs or bios: 'Follow my alt for [specific content/aesthetic].' Different from a finsta in that it may be semi-public rather than purely private.
Short for 'Age, Sex, Location' — a direct request from an unknown contact for identifying information, a classic grooming opener.
How kids use it — Common in DMs on TikTok, Discord, Instagram, and gaming platforms when approached by unknown adults or accounts.
Age, Sex, Location, Male/Female, and How you look — an extended grooming probe that asks for appearance details alongside location and demographics.
How kids use it — Used by predators in DMs and gaming chat to build a profile for targeting; variants appear across Discord, Snapchat, and anonymous platforms frequented by young teens.
To do something flawlessly — a performance, outfit, or moment executed so well there was nothing to criticize. Used as a verb and a compliment: 'She ate that set.' The full phrase is 'ate and left no crumbs,' meaning perfect, no mistakes.
How kids use it — High praise with no harmful connotation. You will see it in comment sections on videos, in group chats after a sports win, or any time someone pulls off something impressive.
At The Moment—used to hide location or activity status, often paired with parent-alert codes to buy time.
How kids use it — Not always a pure surveillance code; used with '9' or 'POS' to suggest 'parent here at the moment, talk later.'
'At this point' ('ATP just stay home'). Ordinary texting shorthand — nothing coded.
How kids use it — Texts and group chats.
Coolness points. Doing something impressive 'gains aura'; embarrassing yourself is '-1000 aura'. A joking scorekeeping system for social standing.
How kids use it — 'Bro lost all his aura' after a public fail.
Confidently holding an opinion or position regardless of what others think. Originally positive — meaning authentic and self-assured. Has also been adopted in online spaces to signal agreement with extreme or controversial views.
How kids use it — Context matters significantly. "That's based" from a friend = "that's cool and authentic." In certain online communities, "based" signals agreement with far-right or extremist positions. Know the context of where your teen is using it.
MDMA or ecstasy pills, named for their appearance.
How kids use it — Common slang at raves, music festivals, and in private Discord drug-trading communities; appears in party-planning group chats.
An ongoing conflict, grudge, or feud between two people or groups. 'They've got beef' means they're in a dispute.
How kids use it — Emerging on TikTok and Twitter/X among Gen Z; used in contexts like 'no beef' (I'm not interested in that).
Having a serious conflict or argument with someone, usually publicly. Beefing is more intense than typical drama—it often involves public diss tracks, call-outs, or heated disputes. Common in music and online communities.
How kids use it — "Two rappers are beefing right now" or "The whole friend group is beefing with each other on Twitter."
A neutral or mildly concerning behavior in a relationship that's not quite a red flag but worth noticing—something that's boring, mediocre, or slightly off. It's less serious than a red flag but signals you should pay attention. Parents may hear this when teens discuss dating concerns.
How kids use it — "He's nice but there are some beige flags" or "Texting you back in 3 hours is a beige flag."
Also called the 'choking game' or 'pass-out challenge.' Self-strangulation to induce a brief high from oxygen deprivation. Has caused multiple child deaths and recurs periodically as a social-media dare.
How kids use it — Warning signs: marks on the neck, bloodshot eyes, frequent severe headaches, items like belts or ropes tied to furniture. Treat any sign seriously.
The fatalist strain of incel ideology: looks are genetic destiny, self-improvement is pointless, society is rigged. 'Taking the blackpill' = embracing that despair. A kid quoting blackpill vocabulary sincerely (over, it's ovER, looksmatch, rotting) is deep in that content pipeline.
How kids use it — Incel forums, looksmaxxing communities, YouTube/TikTok essays.
Repeatedly photographing or filming your own body to scrutinize size and shape, or seeking out and watching similar content from others. Clinicians link the behavior closely to eating disorders and body dysmorphia — it can begin as self-monitoring and escalate into compulsion.
How kids use it — A parent might notice a teen spending time filming themselves from specific angles, or find a camera roll full of comparison shots. The hashtag #bodychecking drew over 5 million views on TikTok before the platform added eating-disorder resource screens to the search results. A 2026 clinical review in BJPsych Open found consistent links between this kind of body-image content, social comparison, and disordered eating in young people.
The number of people someone has had sex with. A standard question in teen flirting and social-media challenges ('what's your body count?'). If it's showing up in your kid's chats, sexual conversation is happening — a signal for a talk, not a panic.
How kids use it — Flirty group chats; street-interview TikToks.
To ingest drugs rectally or vaginally, often used to hide drug use or increase absorption.
How kids use it — Common in drug-user communities and forums where teens discuss methods of consumption; frequently appears in drug-focused Discord servers and TikTok drug-culture accounts.
Spending so much time consuming low-effort, absurdist internet content (memes, short-form videos, viral nonsense) that it affects focus, sleep, or real-world functioning. It's not just scrolling—it's content so mindless it feels like it's rotting your ability to concentrate.
How kids use it — A teen describes themselves as 'brain-rotted' from TikTok, can't focus on homework, or their attention span is visibly shorter.
Low-effort, hyper-repetitive meme content — and the state of having watched too much of it. Kids self-diagnose ('I have brainrot') and label whole meme genres with it. More a signal of scroll time than of anything sinister.
How kids use it — Skibidi Toilet, Italian brainrot characters, endless short-form loops.
Sending occasional messages or attention to someone without real intent to build a relationship—keeping them interested but never following through. Common in texting and social media. Parents should recognize it because it's a form of emotional manipulation that can hurt teens' self-esteem.
How kids use it — "He's just breadcrumbing me" when someone sends sporadic flirty texts but ignores deeper conversations
A disposable or secondary account/phone kept hidden from parents to conduct risky or unsupervised conversations.
How kids use it — Kids reference 'burners' in group chats when planning to move drug deals, sexual content, or predatory contact off main devices.
Epic Games' restricted account type for Fortnite players under 13. Voice and text chat, purchases, and adding friends are locked by default until a parent grants permission for each.
How kids use it — Applies automatically if the child signed up with a real under-13 birthday. If your kid lied about their age, the account isn't cabined — you can correct the birthday in Epic account settings.
A lie or exaggeration. Calling something "cap" means you think it's not true.
How kids use it — "That's cap" = "That's a lie." Also used as a verb: "Stop capping" = "Stop lying." Low risk — just slang.
THC vape cartridges — the dominant way teens consume cannabis. Odorless enough for a bedroom, discreet enough for a school bathroom, and unregulated 'street carts' regularly test high for contaminants. Also 'carting'.
How kids use it — Slim metal/glass cartridges + battery pens.
Creating a fake online identity to deceive someone, usually for romantic purposes. A catfish pretends to be someone they're not — using fake photos, a fake name, and a fabricated life.
How kids use it — Teens can be both victims and perpetrators of catfishing. Risk is significant: predators use catfishing to build trust with minors before attempting to meet in person or obtain explicit content.
Code 9—parents nearby or in the room, stop inappropriate talk immediately.
How kids use it — Older code that still appears in group chats and Discord servers; may indicate kids aware of classic surveillance codes.
Talking or flirting romantically with someone, often online or via text. A lighter, more casual version of dating or courting. Teens use it to describe early-stage romantic interest without commitment.
How kids use it — "Are you chatting with anyone?" or "He's been chatting to her"
A term (now somewhat dated but still used) to describe millennial-coded aesthetics or behavior that younger Gen Z finds outdated, corny, or trying too hard—like specific Instagrammable fonts, decor, or phrases. Teens use it to dismiss what they see as uncool.
How kids use it — A teen calls their parent's motivational quote posts 'cheugy' or dismisses a fashion trend as 'giving cheugy vibes.'
Inhaling household chemicals — aerosols, solvents, deodorant, paint, markers — to get high. Tied to a social-media 'challenge' that has caused multiple teen deaths. Extremely dangerous; can kill on the first attempt through sudden cardiac arrest.
How kids use it — Warning signs: empty aerosol cans, chemical smell, slurred speech, sores around the mouth. This is one of the highest-lethality trends parents should know by name.
Spending so much time on the internet or social media that it shapes how someone talks, thinks, and behaves offline. Their real-world views or humor are heavily influenced by internet culture and drama.
How kids use it — A teen who only uses internet slang, constantly references viral drama, can't have conversations without memes, or is unaware of what's happening in their own community.
Social influence, status, or fame — particularly online. Having clout means being well-known or respected in a particular online community.
How kids use it — "Clout chasing" means doing things purely for attention or followers, sometimes risky or embarrassing things. Teens who chase clout may make poor decisions to gain social media attention.
Roblox experiences built for sexual content — nude avatars, sexual roleplay, open sexual chat — uploaded faster than moderation removes them and spread by invite links and codes on Discord and TikTok. If your kid plays Roblox, this is the term to know. Searching 'condo' in Roblox is itself a red flag.
How kids use it — Roblox + Discord invite servers; also called "scented cons."
Doomed, exhausted, or in trouble ('we're cooked' = we're done for). The flip side: 'let him cook' means let someone keep doing something impressive. Both are everyday hyperbole.
How kids use it — Before a test nobody studied for: 'we're cooked.'
A pejorative term for someone perceived as excessively consuming pornography or sexual content.
How kids use it — Used on Twitter/X, Reddit, and Discord; often in memes; indicates awareness of pornography consumption.
A coded reference to pornography or sexually explicit content.
How kids use it — Widespread on TikTok, Twitter/X, and YouTube comments; teens use it to discuss adult content without triggering algorithm moderation.
Slang for a collection of explicit or inappropriate content someone saves or hoards privately. Can refer to saved files, screenshots, or bookmarked material.
How kids use it — Teens may reference having or discovering someone's 'corn silo' as a way to discuss collected adult content
To lose control — rage, meltdown, or do something reckless without caring about consequences ('I'm about to crash out'). Usually hyperbole about stress, but in context it can describe genuinely destructive behavior, so read the situation, not just the word.
How kids use it — Venting about school, sports losses, breakups.
Non-consensual photos or videos of real people (often girls or women) taken without their knowledge or permission, typically in public or semi-public spaces. These are shared in online communities and can fuel harassment, exploitation, and sexual objectification. This is both illegal and a serious violation of privacy and consent.
How kids use it — "These photos are creepshots—they weren't taken with consent."
Catch the bus — a coded phrase for committing suicide, used in online communities dedicated to self-harm.
How kids use it — Found in pro-self-harm Discord servers, Reddit forums (like r/sanctioned communities), and private group chats; normalized in isolation-prone online communities.
'See You For Sex' — a sexual solicitation code replacing numbers for letters in a bid to evade content filters.
How kids use it — Found in DMs and comments on platforms with weak filtering, used to arrange exploitation.
The practice of deliberately recommending against a product or trend, often as a counter-trend on social media. Teens use it to show authenticity by pointing out overhyped or low-quality items. Reflects how peer recommendations work online, but parents should know this is now how teens share opinions.
How kids use it — TikTok trend where creators say 'de-influencing: here are things you should NOT buy'
A fake or secondary account a teen uses to browse or follow content without their main account being associated with it. Similar to a finsta but often used to avoid detection by parents or to keep interests completely private.
How kids use it — "I follow that account on my decoy so my parents don't see it" or used to anonymously browse sensitive topics.
AI-generated content — video, audio, or images — fabricated to look real. The version parents are encountering at schools is fake nude images: a classmate's face placed on a nude body using an app downloaded from the App Store. Creating or sharing these images is image-based sexual abuse and can carry criminal charges even between minors.
How kids use it — School incidents; news coverage; a parent discovering their child was targeted or is using these tools. Over 600 young people across 90 schools in 28 countries have been identified as victims since 2023.
Playful shorthand for 'delusional' — usually about unrealistic romantic or fandom hopes ('delulu is the solulu' = being delusional is the solution). Almost always self-aware and ironic.
How kids use it — TikTok relationship and fandom content.
Modest, reserved, or intentionally low-key in presentation. Popularized as an aspirational aesthetic, it means being poised and understated rather than loud or attention-seeking. Often used ironically to describe someone being quietly confident or shy.
How kids use it — TikTok trend where people describe their behavior or style as 'demure, mindful, respectful'
Slang for a (usually younger) person kept around a Discord server owner who showers them with gifts, Nitro subscriptions, and attention — a dynamic that normalizes adults courting minors with gifts. Mostly used as a meme, but the pattern it jokes about is textbook grooming.
How kids use it — Discord server culture; "kitten" + "owner" roleplay dynamics.
Down Low—code to keep conversation secret or off-the-record, often combined with parent-alert warnings.
How kids use it — Used before discussing drugs, sexual content, or other risky behavior that must stay hidden from parents.
Do Not Interact—a boundary statement telling specific groups (by age, identity, or behavior) to stay away from an account or post.
How kids use it — Tumblr, Twitter/X, and TikTok; can signal exclusionary attitudes, but also used legitimately by minors to block adults or predatory followers.
Scrolling compulsively through a feed of mostly negative or upsetting content, even once it stops feeling good. Research links prolonged passive scrolling to meaningfully higher rates of anxiety and depression in teens — distinct from simply 'a lot of screen time.' The term is used regularly by researchers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and teens themselves.
How kids use it — Late-night phone use; social media or news feeds with no natural stopping point. A teen who checks news or social feeds first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Helplessly infatuated with someone, usually said with self-aware humor. A teen who is 'down bad' for a celebrity crush knows it is hopeless and is mocking themselves for it. Merriam-Webster added the romantic sense to its dictionary.
How kids use it — Shows up in captions, DMs, and comments: 'I am so down bad for him it is embarrassing.' Almost always humorous, but occasionally used to describe genuine obsession or emotional desperation — context matters.
Online-only romantic relationships, common on Roblox, Discord, and in game chats — including between people who've never met and can't verify each other's age. Kid-to-kid it's mostly puppy love with extra screens; the real risk is that anonymous platforms make it a grooming lane. Who the person is matters more than the label.
How kids use it — Roblox roleplay servers, Discord DMs.
Eating disorder — used as shorthand in pro-eating-disorder online communities to discuss disordered eating as self-harm.
How kids use it — Common on TikTok, Tumblr, and Instagram under hashtags like '#ed' or in 'ed community' spaces; often appears alongside self-harm language.
The shared name several platforms (Snapchat, Discord, Meta/Instagram) use for their parental-supervision dashboard. A parent links to their teen's account and gets limited visibility — who they talk to, time spent, new friends added — plus some setting controls. Parents do not see message content.
How kids use it — If your teen is on Snapchat, Discord, or Instagram, setting up Family Center is the baseline supervision step. See the platform's setup guide.
TikTok's parental-supervision feature. A parent links their own account to a teen's to set screen-time limits, restrict who can send direct messages, and filter content.
How kids use it — Set up from the parent's TikTok app under Settings → Family Pairing. The teen has to accept the link.
A playful reference to taking something (usually food) without permission, derived from streamer Fanum's tendency to eat others' food. Used jokingly among friends. Low-risk social slang.
How kids use it — "Don't fanum it" or "He fanummed my snacks"
Jokingly taking a share of a friend's food ('fanum tax!' while grabbing fries). Named after the streamer Fanum. Pure meme vocabulary.
How kids use it — Lunchroom; brainrot meme canon.
Euphemism for death by suicide, used in suicide notes or goodbye messages shared online.
How kids use it — May appear in TikTok videos, Discord goodbye messages, or cryptic Instagram posts before a suicide attempt; a red flag for immediate danger.
A secondary, private Instagram account that a teen keeps separate from their main account. "Fake Instagram" — though the content is often more authentic and unfiltered than their public profile.
How kids use it — Teens use finstas to share content with a small, trusted group without parents, teachers, or casual followers seeing it. The account name is usually something unrecognizable. Parents should know these exist — a teen may have 2-3 Instagram accounts.
The practice of reviewing or deleting old posts, unfollowing accounts, or cleaning up a private (finsta) or main account to remove embarrassing, incriminating, or outdated content. Often done before job applications, college submissions, or when concerned about public perception. Parents should know this as a sign teens are thinking about digital footprint—both good hygiene and evidence of post-deletion that may erase problematic history.
How kids use it — Group chat or solo text: 'Doing a finsta audit before college apps' or 'I need to audit my main before my crush sees it.'
Fear Of Missing Out. The anxiety that comes from seeing others doing things you're not part of, particularly on social media.
How kids use it — FOMO is a significant driver of unhealthy social media use. Research links it to anxiety, depression, and compulsive phone checking. Worth discussing as part of conversations about how social media makes people feel.
Short for 'For You Page,' the main feed on TikTok that shows algorithmically recommended videos — not just from accounts a user follows, but from any account the platform predicts they will engage with. Every TikTok user lands here first when they open the app.
How kids use it — If your teen says 'I saw this on my FYP,' the algorithm served it to them without them searching for it or following the account. The FYP can surface content from strangers, viral challenges, or — when the algorithm misfires — inappropriate material. Understanding it helps parents see how their kid encounters content they never asked to see.
Nintendo Switch 2's voice and video chat feature, available across compatible games. For users under 16, a parent must approve each friend and each individual video-chat session through the Parental Controls app.
How kids use it — Switch-2 only. Voice chat with strangers is the main concern; per-friend approval is the lever.
Going By New Fingerprint—signal that a child is switching devices or accounts to avoid parental tracking.
How kids use it — Appears in group chats when kids plan to move conversations to a hidden app or device parent doesn't monitor.
To be high or intoxicated on stimulants, particularly methamphetamine, cocaine, or ADHD medication.
How kids use it — Used across TikTok, Snapchat, and group chats among teens experimenting with or using uppers; increasingly visible in drill and trap music references.
Snap Map's privacy setting that hides your location from everyone while still letting you see the map. The single most important Snapchat setting for a teen account — location sharing off by default, shared only deliberately with specific people.
How kids use it — Snap Map settings; ghost icon over the avatar.
Suddenly cutting off all communication with someone without explanation — not responding to messages, calls, or any contact.
How kids use it — Common in teen social dynamics and dating situations. Can be a source of significant emotional distress for the person being ghosted. Worth discussing as part of broader conversations about digital communication and respect.
Over-the-top praising or hyping someone ('stop glazing him'). Accusing a friend of glazing = accusing them of being a fanboy. Everyday banter.
How kids use it — Sports debates, streamer chats, group chats.
'Get Naked On Camera' — a direct request for a child to perform sexual acts or expose themselves on video.
How kids use it — Predators use this in DMs, video-chat apps, and encrypted messaging platforms to solicit child sexual abuse material.
Broadcasting a real-time video stream to followers on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. Viewers can comment and send virtual gifts in real time.
How kids use it — Going live means your child is interacting with potentially thousands of strangers in real time with no editing or review. Comments come in fast and can be sexual, abusive, or manipulative. On TikTok, virtual gifts translate to real money, creating financial incentives to stay live longer.
Slang for extended, compulsive pornography sessions. It started in porn-community corners and went mainstream as a teen meme — most kids use it as an absurd joke, but the term normalizes compulsive porn use, and for some it isn't a joke.
How kids use it — Meme usage in group chats; also used sincerely in porn-adjacent communities.
Deliberately ruining another player's game — destroying their builds, sabotaging their team, spawn-killing. The most common form of harassment in Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite, and a frequent source of real distress for younger players.
How kids use it — Minecraft servers, Roblox experiences.
Awareness or suspicion that someone online may be attempting grooming—recognizing predatory behavior patterns. Teens may use this ironically or to genuinely warn friends about someone who shows red flags.
How kids use it — Teens warning each other: 'That guy's giving groomer radar energy'
A pattern of behavior by an adult to build trust and emotional dependency with a child, with the goal of sexual exploitation. Groomers gradually normalize boundary violations over time.
How kids use it — Grooming happens primarily online now. Signs include: an older person showing excessive interest in your child, giving gifts or money, trying to keep the relationship secret, asking for photos, or encouraging your child to keep things from parents. This is the primary threat parents should be educating about.
An exclamation of surprise or attraction — most often a reaction to someone's large backside. A slurred contraction of 'goddamn.' Frequently used jokingly or ironically, but rooted in commenting on someone's body.
Get Your Own Camera — a predator's request for the child to obtain a private camera or device for unsolicited imagery.
How kids use it — Sextortion and sexual exploitation pathway; signals escalation toward abuse material generation.
Reading a Snapchat or Instagram message by dragging it partially open so the sender never gets the 'opened' receipt. Kids use it to read without being on the clock to reply. Useful to know it exists: 'delivered, not opened' doesn't mean unread.
How kids use it — Snapchat chats; the reason "he never opened it" may be wrong.
Something that feels more impactful, meaningful, or emotionally resonant than expected, or compared to how it felt before.
How kids use it — "That song hits different at night." Low risk — just slang.
A play on 'hoes' — girls/women, usually said jokingly ('bring the huzz'). Derogatory at its root even when used ironically; worth a calm conversation about how it lands, not a panic.
How kids use it — Streamer and group-chat humor; variants like "bruzz" (bros).
An intense, all-consuming focus on one topic, person, or activity that becomes central to a teen's daily life. Often appears as obsessive engagement with a show, game, or creator. Important for parents to recognize because extreme hyper-fixation can signal avoidance behavior, anxiety, or (in rare cases) signs of depression or other mental-health needs.
How kids use it — "I'm hyper-fixated on that new anime" or spending all free time on one TikTok creator's content
A sudden, often trivial turn-off that kills a crush ('he chased a ping-pong ball — instant ick'). 'Giving me the ick' = repulsed. Standard dating/social vocabulary.
How kids use it — TikTok lists of "icks"; conversations about crushes.
'Involuntarily celibate' — an online subculture of men who blame women and society for their lack of relationships. Ranges from sad-lonely forums to communities that have produced real violence. The word itself is also just a common insult teens throw ('you're such an incel'), so usage context matters.
How kids use it — Manosphere content; also generic insult in game chats.
'I Want Sex Now' — an explicit sexual demand from a contact attempting to escalate a conversation into exploitation.
How kids use it — Red flag found in DMs on TikTok, Instagram, Snap, and messaging apps indicating imminent grooming escalation.
If You Know You Know. A phrase used to signal that a reference is intentionally obscure — meant only for people already in the know. Often used to create exclusivity or talk about something without adults understanding.
How kids use it — Used in captions, comments, and messages. When teens use it around parents, it often signals they're referencing something they don't want explained.
Kill myself — a coded way to express suicidal ideation or express extreme frustration.
How kids use it — Common across TikTok, Instagram DMs, Snapchat, and text; used by ages 10-16, often appears in joke contexts but can indicate genuine distress.
'Keeping Parents Clueless' — a predator's explicit signal they want secrecy and isolation from parental oversight.
How kids use it — Appears when a groomer is building rapport and testing whether a child will hide the relationship from guardians.
Kill yourself — a hostile command or insult telling someone to harm themselves.
How kids use it — Often used as cyberbullying or aggressive language in gaming chats, Discord, Reddit, and comment sections; can escalate conflicts.
Lean, a codeine-based cough syrup mixed with soda and candy, abused for recreational high.
How kids use it — Popular in rap and hip-hop culture; circulates on TikTok and in social-media posts among 14-16 year olds.
A coded reference to pornography or sexually explicit material.
How kids use it — Emerging euphemism on TikTok and Discord; less widespread than 'corn' but growing in teen usage.
Sending paid virtual items — coins, roses, castle animations — to a creator during a live video stream. Viewers buy virtual currency with real money and send 'gifts' that the creator converts back to cash. TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch all have versions of this system.
How kids use it — Watch for gift-card purchases or unexplained charges on a linked account. TikTok raised the minimum gifting age to 18 in 2024 after reports of streamers pressuring young viewers to spend. Some livestreams are deliberately designed to coax gifting, and the pressure can feel social — like cheering — rather than financial.
'Let's Meet In Real Life' — a groomer's attempt to transition a child from online to in-person contact.
How kids use it — Appears after weeks or months of online messaging to establish false trust before suggesting a real-world meetup.
Short for 'look' or 'look at this.' Used to get someone's attention online, often followed by a link, screenshot, or comment. Parents might see it in comments or DMs when a teen is sharing content with friends.
How kids use it — Comment on a post: 'lok this is crazy lol' or in DM: 'lok check your snap'
A fake account created to impersonate or closely mimic a real person's profile—usually a peer, celebrity, or influencer. Scammers and predators use lookalikes to deceive people into thinking they're talking to someone trustworthy, or to catfish and build false relationships. Parents should know this as a common grooming and sextortion setup tactic.
How kids use it — "Someone made a lookalike of my friend's account and messaged my other friend asking for pics"
Obsessively trying to maximize one's physical attractiveness, often guided by incel-adjacent online communities. 'Mewing' (tongue and jaw exercises) is a common sub-trend. Linked to body-image distress and pipelines into extremist content.
How kids use it — Mostly affects teen boys. The appearance focus is the visible part; the community it routes kids toward is the bigger concern.
A request for photos or video to critique someone's appearance or potential for physical improvement. Can overlap with looksmaxxing culture but often casual among teens assessing each other's style or fitness progress.
How kids use it — "Send a looksmaxxing check" or in fitness/fashion group chats
A structured personal improvement regimen focused on maximizing physical appearance through fitness, skincare, fashion, and posture. While self-improvement is normal, extreme versions can correlate with body image obsession, eating disorders, or manosphere ideology (especially in boys' spaces). Parents may notice teens spending excessive time and money on these routines or joining communities that tie self-worth tightly to appearance.
How kids use it — "He's been on a looksmaxxing routine for months—going to the gym every day, strict diet, watching videos about jaw exercises."
Parent or adult is reading the conversation silently without participating—surveillance without warning.
How kids use it — Kids use 'lurking?' to ask if a parent is passively watching; red flag that they expect hidden conversation to resume.
Consuming content obsessively and continuously, usually on one platform or creator. It implies heavy, non-stop engagement—binge-watching a creator's entire archive, watching livestreams constantly, or being glued to one app for hours.
How kids use it — 'I've been mainlining that creator all week' or noticing a teen mainlining TikTok
'Minor-attracted person' — a euphemism used by people attempting to rebrand pedophilia as an identity, sometimes with flags and 'pride' framing in online spaces. If you see this acronym in someone's bio in your kid's online circles, treat it as the red flag it is: block and report.
How kids use it — Bios and usernames on X, Discord, and fandom platforms.
The practice of optimizing or maximizing one's appearance, skills, or social status to appeal to others or boost self-image. Common variants include 'looksmaxxing' (already in glossary), 'moneymaxxing,' 'gymmaxxing,' and 'statusmaxxing.' Parents should recognize it as a symptom of appearance-focused and sometimes obsessive behavior online, often tied to social comparison and self-esteem struggles.
How kids use it — Teens discuss 'gymmaxxing' or 'career maxxing' on TikTok and Reddit, or in casual chat: 'I'm maxxing at the gym this summer.'
Pressing the tongue to the roof of the mouth in the belief it sharpens the jawline. A viral 'looksmaxxing' micro-trend; kids also mime it (finger to lips, tracing the jaw) to jokingly say 'I'm busy improving my face.' Harmless in itself, but it comes from body-image-obsessed corners of the internet.
How kids use it — Classroom joke + looksmaxxing content.
Dismissive slang for something mediocre, average, or overhyped — a movie, a meal, an outfit, an opinion. 'That's mid' means unimpressive.
How kids use it — While primarily general slang, 'mid' in certain contexts can reference sexual content evaluation; context-dependent.
'Meet In Real Life' — similar to LMIRL; a direct proposal to transition an online relationship to a physical meeting.
How kids use it — Often appears after the grooming trust-building phase, sometimes accompanied by offers of gifts or money.
'Looksmaxxing' slang for outshining someone by being more attractive ('he mogged everyone in that photo'). Ranking people by looks is the whole premise — worth noticing if it shows up alongside heavier body-image obsession.
How kids use it — Gym, fit-check, and looksmaxxing content.
MDMA (ecstasy) in powder or pill form.
How kids use it — Circulates in teen social circles on Discord, Snapchat, and encrypted platforms; associated with party culture.
Someone who moves stolen money through their own bank account for a cut. Fraud rings actively recruit teens on Instagram, Snapchat, and Discord with 'easy money' and 'flip' offers — and the teen is the one committing a federal crime. Any stranger asking to 'run money through' your kid's account or Cash App is this.
How kids use it — "Legit flip" DMs; requests for account or Cash App access.
Mom Over Shoulder—specifically a mother is watching the device or the child.
How kids use it — Gender-specific variant of POS, used when the child knows the parent type and wants to be precise about who's watching.
People who follow each other on social media—mutual followers. Teens use 'mutuals' to refer to their friend group or online peers. Parents may hear 'my mutuals' or 'are you mutuals?' It's generally harmless but signals the strength of online social networks and peer dynamics.
How kids use it — Snapchat, Instagram, or Discord: 'My mutuals think this is funny' or 'We're not mutuals on Insta yet.'
Snapchat's built-in AI chatbot, pinned to the top of every teen's chat list. Kids ask it homework questions and confide in it. It's had documented lapses giving age-inappropriate advice, and it can't be fully removed on a free account — worth a direct conversation about what not to share with it.
How kids use it — Pinned chat in Snapchat; robot avatar.
'Naked In Front Of Computer' — a coded sexual reference, and a phrase predators use when pushing a child to undress on camera.
How kids use it — Used by predators in private messages on Snap, Instagram DMs, and Discord to solicit child sexual abuse material.
Means "I'm being serious" or "I'm not lying." The opposite of "cap" which means a lie or exaggeration.
How kids use it — Used to emphasize truth: "I got a 95 on the test, no cap." Low risk — just slang.
A trend, often on TikTok, where creators post videos without showing their face—using voiceovers, body shots, animations, or text. While generally harmless, parents should be aware because it can be used to evade recognition or create content with less accountability, and it's sometimes associated with posting potentially sensitive material.
How kids use it — TikTok creators or YouTube shorts: 'I do no-face content so I stay private.'
Non-Player Character — from video games, a character controlled by the computer with scripted, repetitive behavior. Used to describe a person who seems to have no independent thought or just goes along with whatever everyone else does.
How kids use it — Often used as a mild insult: "He's such an NPC." Also the basis for a TikTok trend where creators act robotic like game characters.
Not Safe For Life—content so graphic or disturbing it may cause psychological harm, often used to warn before sharing extreme violence, gore, or suicide material.
How kids use it — Common on Reddit, Discord, and TikTok; shared across private messages and group chats, especially among teens seeking shock value.
Not Safe For Work—flag for sexual, drug-related, or otherwise inappropriate content that risks parental discovery.
How kids use it — Kids use NSFW before dropping explicit links, drug references, or sexual jokes when parent-alert codes are in effect.
Using AI 'nudify' apps to generate fake nude images of a real person from an ordinary clothed photo. A fast-growing form of image-based sexual abuse among teens, frequently targeting classmates. The images are fake but the harm and the legal exposure are real.
How kids use it — If your teen is targeted: save evidence, report to the platform and the school, and use NCMEC's Take It Down service. If your teen is creating: it can carry serious criminal exposure even between minors.
One Of My Followers—a cryptic reference to someone in your social circle without naming them directly, often used to post complaints or call-outs anonymously.
How kids use it — Twitter/X and private Instagram stories; teens use it to avoid direct confrontation while potentially harassing a peer.
A genuine, attractive quality or presence—the opposite of mid. When someone has oomph, they're memorable, confident, or striking in a way that stands out. Parents might hear it in comments like 'she has oomph' meaning she's genuinely cool or magnetic, not performative.
How kids use it — Used in social commentary about who's actually interesting versus who's trying too hard
Enemies or rivals — from 'opposition'. In most suburban group chats it's playful ('my opps'), but it comes from street/drill culture where it's literal. Context is everything.
How kids use it — Rap lyrics, game chats, playful rivalry.
A teen (often neurodivergent or highly sensitive) who thrives or struggles dramatically based on their environment. Opposite of a 'dandelion child' who adapts easily. Used in parenting discussions about different temperaments. Helps parents understand their own teen's needs better.
How kids use it — "She's an orchid child—she needs the right conditions to do well" vs. general adaptability
Parent Emergency—urgent warning that a parent has discovered suspicious activity or is about to confiscate a device.
How kids use it — High-stakes code used when a child fears immediate punishment or device seizure; signals group to delete messages or logs.
A one-sided emotional bond a person forms with someone they have never actually met — a YouTuber, streamer, influencer, or AI chatbot. The fan feels a genuine connection; the other person does not know they exist. Cambridge Dictionary named it its 2025 Word of the Year.
How kids use it — A teen might mourn deeply when a favorite streamer quits, defend them online as if defending a real friend, or spend hours watching their content as a substitute for in-person connection. The same attachment can form with AI chatbots designed to behave like close friends.
WhatsApp's under-13 account type (launched March 2026) where a parent sets up and controls the child's account from their own phone. Limited to messaging and calling — no Meta AI, no disappearing messages, no Channels.
How kids use it — Linked via QR code and gated by a parent PIN. The right path if a younger kid needs WhatsApp because that's where the family communicates.
Character.AI's opt-in weekly email summary for parents, launched March 2025. It shows how much time a teen spent on the platform and which AI characters they chatted with most — but not the conversation content itself. The critical limitation: the teen has to add the parent's email themselves. A teen who does not want monitoring can simply not set it up.
How kids use it — If you are trying to supervise your child's use of Character.AI, this is currently the only tool the platform offers. Because the teen controls enrollment, the only reliable approach is to set it up together and check it is active. For a broader picture of total time spent, your phone's built-in screen-time controls are more reliable than anything the app itself provides.
Parent/Parents Are Watching—alert that an adult is present and monitoring.
How kids use it — Explicit variant used in group chats and social media DMs when kids want to signal immediate censorship needed.
A vape pen — nicotine or THC depending on context ('nic pen', 'dab pen'). If 'pen' shows up in your kid's texts next to 'hit', 'cart', or 'charge it', it isn't about homework.
How kids use it — "Can I hit your pen" is the canonical text.
Prescription opioid painkiller (Percocet), often abused recreationally.
How kids use it — Widely documented in teen drug-trade circles; appears in DMs and encrypted apps.
Parent In Room—another variation warning that a parent has entered and is observing.
How kids use it — Appears in Snapchat streaks, TikTok comment threads, and Discord channels where group messages are visible.
Parent In The Room — a child's coded warning to an online contact that a parent or adult is present and watching.
How kids use it — Anti-surveillance code similar to CD9 and POS; predators use it to know when to pause grooming or sexual communication.
A Snapchat Family Center feature that notifies a parent when their teen arrives at or leaves up to three saved locations (home, school, gym). Both arrival and departure trigger an alert.
How kids use it — Requires the teen to share their location first — it's off by default. Useful for confirming they got to school or home, not for continuous tracking.
Slang borrowed from storytelling meaning a false sense of invulnerability or thinking bad things won't happen to you. Teens use it to describe risky behavior justified by unlikely optimism ("I have plot armor, I won't get caught"). Parents should recognize it as a red flag for risk-taking rationalization.
How kids use it — "I'm not worried, I have plot armor" when considering dangerous activities or rule-breaking
A desperate plea for attention or validation, often appearing in mental-health crisis posts or suicidal disclosures.
How kids use it — May appear in comments on mental-health TikToks or in Discord channels where someone is expressing suicidal thoughts; a sign they're seeking connection during crisis.
A person who sells or supplies drugs.
How kids use it — Used when teens arrange drug purchases or referrals in DMs, Snap, or Discord.
Usually 'piss me off' ('that PMO so bad'), sometimes 'put me on' (recommend something to me). Context makes it obvious which. Ordinary texting shorthand.
How kids use it — Texts and TikTok comments.
Parent Over Shoulder—warning that a parent or guardian is physically present and watching the screen.
How kids use it — Common across text, Discord, Snapchat, and gaming chat when kids need to quickly alert friends to stop messaging risky content.
ChromeOS's factory-reset function. Wipes a Chromebook back to defaults — including any parental controls — unless the device is school-managed or locked by Family Link.
How kids use it — On a personal Chromebook, make sure your child isn't the owner account, or they can Powerwash and re-set-up the device without controls.
Deepfake or AI-generated sexual images created without consent, often shared as 'pranks' among peer groups. This is image-based sexual abuse and illegal in many jurisdictions. Parents should know this term because it can circulate rapidly in group chats and represents a serious violation of privacy and consent.
How kids use it — Shared in encrypted group chats, group threads, or Discord servers; sometimes called a 'prank' to normalize it.
When someone's private or restricted content is discovered and shared without permission—often embarrassing or sensitive material meant only for close friends. Related to account privacy being violated.
How kids use it — "My finsta got priv checked" means private photos or posts were leaked or screenshotted and circulated
A Snapchat feature where a user posts a story visible only to a selected group of friends (not all followers). Teens use private stories to share content they don't want broadcast widely. Important for parents: it can be used to hide activity from other followers or family members.
How kids use it — "I posted it on my private story" or visible as a label under a Snapchat user's story.
A deliberate misspelling of 'porn' used to slip past keyword filters and search blocks.
How kids use it — Appears in private messages or predator forums as shorthand when identifying vulnerable targets.
A scheduled time window (used by ChatGPT's parental controls and similar tools) when an app can't be used at all — typically set for overnight or school hours.
How kids use it — Late-night use is when emotionally-distressed teens reach out to AI and apps; a sleep-hours Quiet Hours window is the single highest-leverage setting.
Content posted online specifically to make viewers angry — provocative takes, misleading headlines, or videos engineered for outrage. The goal is engagement: angry reactions keep content circulating, so the algorithm rewards it with more reach.
How kids use it — Pervasive on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Your teen isn't choosing it; the feed surfaces it because past reactions trained the algorithm that it holds attention. If your teen seems consistently irritable after scrolling, rage bait is often why.
When a reply or comment gets more engagement (likes, retweets, comments) than the original post. Being ratio'd is often used mockingly to show someone was publicly disagreed with or embarrassed on social media.
How kids use it — On Twitter or X: the original tweet got 100 likes but the reply underneath it got 5,000—that's being ratio'd.
In current Gen Z use: doing something without the usual comforts or distractions — most famously, flying a long flight with no phone, earbuds, or entertainment. The word still carries its original explicit sexual meaning (unprotected sex), so the same term can mean very different things depending on context. The slang sense spread widely in 2024 and remained in active use through 2025-2026.
How kids use it — 'Rawdogging a flight' or 'rawdogged the subway' almost always means the endurance-challenge sense. If there is no reference to a journey or activity, pay attention to the surrounding context. The main reason this is in the glossary is the dual meaning — parents sometimes misread the slang sense, or miss the concerning one.
Red flag: a warning sign that someone has problematic behavior or a relationship is unhealthy. Green flag: a positive sign that someone or something is trustworthy.
How kids use it — Widely used to evaluate relationships, people, and situations. Healthy concept when used to identify genuinely problematic behavior. Sometimes overused in ways that pathologize normal human behavior.
Natural charm or charisma, especially in romantic contexts. Having "rizz" means being effortlessly attractive or persuasive.
How kids use it — "He has rizz" = he's naturally charming. "Unspoken rizz" means attracting people without even saying anything. Very common in teen conversation. Low risk — just slang.
Short for 'charisma game'—a measure of someone's ability to attract or charm others romantically or socially. Parents might see it in contexts like 'their rizz game is weak' or 'he's got that rizz.' It's generally neutral teen slang about social appeal, though can be used mockingly.
How kids use it — Comments on TikTok, Instagram DMs, or in text conversations about dating or crushes.
Having no “rizz” — no charm or flirting ability. Almost always friendly teasing between friends, not a real insult.
How kids use it — It lands after a failed flirt (“bro is rizzless”) or as a self-deprecating caption; it is this generation’s “no game”. The reason to know it is not the word but the pattern: teasing runs both ways between friends, so if one kid is called rizzless repeatedly, publicly, and never returns it, that is closer to social exclusion than banter.
A direct reference to a specific method of suicide; used in coded discussions to avoid filters.
How kids use it — Appears in pro-self-harm forums, Discord, and sometimes in cryptic TikTok comments or posts; code-switching with other self-harm language.
A dating or romantic strategy where someone maintains multiple casual romantic or sexual connections without commitment, cycling through them. It's become a normalized term in Gen Z dating culture but can reflect attitudes about transactional relationships.
How kids use it — Used in dating advice or casual conversation: 'He's got a rotation' or 'She's part of his rotation.'
A predator's coded question asking if the child is 18 years old, used to gauge legal risk before escalating grooming.
How kids use it — Common in DMs and chat apps from unknown adults; a documented grooming red flag in safety reports.
Posting exaggerated emotional distress for attention and engagement. The hard part for parents and schools: it's nearly indistinguishable from a genuine cry for help, and dismissing a post as sadfishing when it wasn't is the costly mistake. Take repeated distress posts seriously either way.
How kids use it — Vague-sad stories and captions ('you will all miss me').
Bitter, annoyed, or resentful — usually after losing, being embarrassed, or not getting one's way. 'Why are you so salty?'
How kids use it — Context-dependent slang; less commonly a sexual reference but worth monitoring in group chats.
Slang for 'source' — a request for where an image, clip, or meme came from. Usually harmless, but also used to ask for the source of explicit content.
How kids use it — Used in Reddit comments, Discord, and 4chan-adjacent spaces; shorthand for 'what's the sauce/source?'
To buy or obtain drugs.
How kids use it — Used in DMs and encrypted apps when discussing drug acquisition or arranging purchases.
Unkempt, unfinished, or low-effort in appearance—sometimes used self-deprecatingly or to describe someone who hasn't put care into their look. It's casual aesthetic judgment, not necessarily mean-spirited, but can reflect peer pressure around grooming and appearance standards.
How kids use it — Comments in group chats or on photos: 'I look so scrubby today' or social media captions.
Telegram's end-to-end-encrypted chat mode with self-destructing messages. Content disappears on a timer, can't be screenshotted, and isn't visible to anyone but the two participants — including parents and even Telegram itself.
How kids use it — In a Telegram chat list, Secret Chats show a green lock icon. Their existence is the conversation, not a control problem — sextortion specifically migrates to them because the evidence trail self-deletes.
A euphemism for sexual intercourse used to evade content filters and parental monitoring.
How kids use it — Common on TikTok, Discord, and Instagram DMs; used by ages 12+, often in meme culture and casual teen conversation.
Sharing your real-time GPS location with someone, either as a one-time share or a continuous live location through apps like Snapchat, iMessage, Find My, or Google Maps.
How kids use it — Teens routinely share live locations with friends as a social norm. Risk: predators ask for location shares, and teens may not realize a continuous share means someone can track them in real time indefinitely.
Teen shorthand for a mood boost — “this is my serotonin” means something reliably makes them feel better.
How kids use it — Used for whatever they reach for when low: “scrolling TikTok is my serotonin”, “I need my serotonin”. It is mostly harmless, and it is one of the more honest windows teens give you into what actually regulates their mood. The thing worth noticing is what gets named — if the answer is always a screen and never a person, a place, or sleep, that pattern tells you more than the word does.
A session, often a planned drug-use gathering or meet-up to use drugs together.
How kids use it — Appears in group chats and Snapchat invitations; normalizes casual drug use among peer groups.
Rhyming slang for suicide, used to disguise self-harm talk from parents and moderation algorithms.
How kids use it — Seen in Reddit communities, Discord servers, and mental-health-related TikTok comments where teens discuss suicidal thoughts coded as 'sewer slide' to avoid detection.
A form of blackmail where someone obtains explicit images or videos of a person (often a minor) and then threatens to share them unless the victim pays money or sends more content.
How kids use it — Sextortion targeting teens has increased significantly. It often starts on gaming platforms or social media with a stranger posing as a peer. They gain trust, request or obtain an image, then immediately threaten exposure. If your child tells you this has happened, the response is: do not pay, save the evidence, contact police and NCMEC (1-800-843-5678).
Self-Harm—a coded abbreviation for non-suicidal self-injury, used in pro-SH communities and recovery spaces online.
How kids use it — TikTok, Tumblr, Reddit, and Discord; watch for hashtags or group chats normalizing or encouraging cutting, burning, or other injury.
Online spaces (forums, Discord servers, TikTok groups) where teens share self-harm content, methods, and encouragement.
How kids use it — Parents should be alert to their child following accounts tagged '#shcommunity', joining Discord servers with 'sh' in the name, or seeking out pro-self-harm content.
When a social media platform quietly limits a user's content visibility without notifying them. Their posts become less discoverable but they can still post and see their own content.
How kids use it — Teens who post certain types of content (anything violating platform guidelines) may be shadowbanned and not realize it. Low direct risk — but signals a teen may be posting content that algorithms flag as problematic.
When parents post photos, videos, or personal information about their children on social media without the child's consent. Parents should know this can expose kids to unwanted attention, identity theft, or future embarrassment—especially if photos are later used by scammers or in deepfakes.
How kids use it — A parent posts baby photos or back-to-school pics on Instagram; predators harvest images to use for grooming or romance scams.
Acting selfish or only caring about yourself—a play on the word "selfish." Teens use it to call out friends or themselves when they're being self-centered. Not inherently risky, just social criticism among peers.
How kids use it — "That's so shellfish of you" or "I'm being shellfish right now."
Psilocybin mushrooms, a hallucinogenic drug.
How kids use it — Discussed in teen social circles on Discord, Reddit, and encrypted chat apps; increasing popularity in 2024-2026.
A secondary romantic or sexual partner, kept hidden from a primary partner. Teens use it to describe casual relationships or infidelity dynamics. Parents should know it's often used in conversations about relationship complexity and can indicate cheating or emotional deception.
How kids use it — "He's got a sidepiece" or "She's lowkey his sidepiece."
A 'sigma male' is meme shorthand for a lone-wolf alpha — cool, independent, doesn't need approval. Often ironic ('what the sigma?'). Mostly harmless meme use, but it borrows vocabulary from manosphere content, which is worth knowing if it comes with Tate-style influencer talk.
How kids use it — 'He's such a sigma' or the ironic 'what the sigma?'
Someone who does way too much for a person they're attracted to ('he's simping'). Teasing, occasionally mean-spirited. Long-lived teen vocabulary at this point.
How kids use it — Teasing about crushes; streamer chats.
A romantic or quasi-romantic relationship that doesn't have a clear label or commitment — more than friends, less than officially dating.
How kids use it — Extremely common among teens and young adults. Situationships often involve emotional investment without clear boundaries, which can be a source of confusion and hurt. Worth understanding if your teen mentions one.
An absurdist meme phrase with no literal meaning, used as a joke or to describe something silly or nonsensical. Very common in TikTok comments and teen memes. No safety concern—just part of current internet humor.
How kids use it — Comment: 'skibidi' on a weird or funny video
A viral meme and animated series featuring absurdist humor and strange imagery. Teens use it to reference surreal, chaotic, or nonsensical content. Not inherently risky, but parents may see references to it online and wonder what it means.
How kids use it — "That's so skibidi toilet" or in usernames/video references
To succeed, impress, or handle something confidently and well. 'She slayed that test' or 'That outfit slays.' It's a positive affirmation that someone did something exceptionally or authentically. Widely used across ages now but originated in LGBTQ+ communities.
How kids use it — General approval: 'You slayed that performance'
Sending someone a direct message, usually on Instagram or Twitter/X, to initiate a private conversation — often with romantic intent.
How kids use it — Used casually by teens to describe reaching out to someone. The concern is when strangers slide into your child's DMs with unwanted contact. Review who is in your child's message requests.
A secondary account created by someone (often an adult) to appear younger or less experienced. In gaming, it's a skilled player using a low-level account. In social contexts, it can be used to interact with minors while hiding their true identity or age, making it a potential safety concern.
How kids use it — On TikTok, Instagram, or Discord; someone creating a "fresh" account to befriend younger users
A euphemism for sexually explicit written content or fanfiction.
How kids use it — Common on Wattpad, Discord, Tumblr, and fanfiction communities; used by ages 13+ to share erotic stories while avoiding detection.
Slang for looking very attractive, fit, or well-dressed. Often used as a compliment about someone's appearance or outfit. It's casual social slang but reflects the broader teen culture of appearance-focused commentary that can normalize judgment based on looks.
How kids use it — Instagram captions or friend texts: 'You look snatched in that fit!' or 'Her makeup is snatched.'
In a relationship or romantically committed. When a teen says someone is 'snatched-up,' they mean that person is taken and not available. A parent might hear this to mean a kid's friend or crush is now in a relationship.
How kids use it — "Don't waste your time, he's already snatched-up" or "She just got snatched-up by that guy from chemistry class."
A secret romantic or sexual partner that someone keeps hidden from their social circle, family, or official relationships. The term implies deliberate concealment — this is someone a teen meets without telling parents or friends where they're going or who they're seeing.
How kids use it — You might see it in texts or hear it in conversation: 'I'm hanging out with my sneaky link.' The secrecy is the defining feature. If your teen mentions one, they're describing a relationship or meetup that at least one person wants kept private — which is worth a calm conversation about why.
Cocaine.
How kids use it — Drug-trade code in DMs and encrypted messaging; less common among younger teens but documented in 2024.
Sharing someone's personal information (address, school, workplace, phone number, or social media handles) online without consent, but stopping short of full doxxing. It's used to harass, embarrass, or enable offline contact without permission. Unlike full doxxing, it may seem minor but can escalate into real-world harm, stalking, or swatting.
How kids use it — "Someone posted her school name and town on a discord server—that's soft doxxing."
Introducing a new romantic partner on social media gradually and indirectly — showing a hand, a leg, or a blurry figure without tagging them — before doing a full reveal.
How kids use it — Teens do this to gauge reactions before making a relationship "official" on social media. A soft launch means your teen may be in a relationship before you're told directly.
A secondary social media account (usually Instagram) used to post more casual, unfiltered content — distinct from a curated "main" account. Also called a "spamgram."
How kids use it — Similar to a finsta but often less secret — spam accounts may be semi-public among close friend groups. Like finstas, parents should know these exist. The content may be more unfiltered than what appears on a main account.
Teen shorthand for sexual or explicit content — calling a post, account, or link “spicy” marks it NSFW without naming it.
How kids use it — The euphemism exists to slip keyword filters, so it turns up exactly where the explicit word would be blocked: “spicy acc” in a bio, “spicy link in bio” on TikTok and Instagram, a #spicy channel on Discord, or “wanna see something spicy?” as a DM opener. On Instagram and TikTok it is often the tell that an account funnels to paid content somewhere else.
Adding drugs (usually alcohol, GHB, or other substances) to someone's drink or food without their knowledge. Teens may use this term when discussing party safety or as a warning. Parents should know this because it signals a potential real-world danger.
How kids use it — Discussed in safety conversations, group chats about parties, or on platforms like TikTok in safety-awareness videos.
Crude slang referring to a sexual situation involving multiple people. The term appears in sexually explicit content and group chats. Parents may encounter it in crude jokes or boasts among older teens, but it signals exposure to graphic sexual content and peer pressure around sexual behavior.
How kids use it — "Seen in crude jokes in group chats or bragging posts among older teens."
Following through on what you said you would do, or holding firm to your principles under pressure. It comes from African American Vernacular English and spread widely via rap lyrics and TikTok in 2024–2025.
How kids use it — Used as self-affirmation ('I'm standing on business this semester') or to compliment someone showing backbone. Low-risk phrase; knowing it helps you follow the conversation, not flag a concern.
Operating in hidden or incognito mode to avoid parent monitoring or device history tracking.
How kids use it — Kids announce they're using 'stealth' mode in browsers or apps, or switching to ephemeral messaging when parent-alert codes trigger.
A Snapchat counter of consecutive days two people have snapped each other. Teens maintain dozens simultaneously and genuinely stress about losing them — it's Snapchat's most effective daily-use hook, and the #1 reason a teen 'needs' their phone at 11pm.
How kids use it — The fire emoji + number next to a friend’s name.
Code word for mildly sexual or flirtatious content that skirts platform policies.
How kids use it — Used in TikTok captions and comments to describe content borderline between appropriate and explicit.
A child or teen account formally linked to a parent's account for oversight — Google Family Link, Instagram supervision, Microsoft Family Safety, and others. The parent gets controls and limited visibility; the child keeps using the platform normally.
How kids use it — On most platforms a 13+ teen can remove supervision themselves; under-13 usually can't. Know which applies before you rely on it.
Suspicious, sketchy, or untrustworthy. Popularized by the game Among Us, where players accuse each other of being 'sus'. Everyday vocabulary with no hidden meaning.
How kids use it — 'That link looks sus' — also just teasing a friend acting weird.
Using dating or social apps to quickly browse and judge profiles—usually by swiping left (reject) or right (like). Parents may see this referenced when teens discuss online dating, meeting people, or judging appearances. It's become a casual way to describe fast decision-making on any content.
How kids use it — "I've been swiping all day" or "I swiped on like 50 profiles."
Stands for 'See You Later,' often used ambiguously by groomers to suggest an imminent in-person meeting without explicit language.
How kids use it — Appears at the end of escalated grooming conversations when predator is trying to schedule a meetup.
Talk Dirty To Me — explicit solicitation for sexual conversation, typically from an unknown online contact.
How kids use it — Direct sextortion and sexual exploitation language; appears in DMs, Discord, or gaming chat directed at minors.
Discord's safety policy, launched February 2026, that automatically applies stricter settings to all users — not just those who say they are under 18. Sensitive images and videos are blurred until a user completes age verification, and access to age-restricted servers is blocked. Under-18 users cannot turn these defaults off.
How kids use it — If your teen's Discord suddenly looks different or they complain about getting 'restricted,' this rollout is likely the reason. Discord's separate Family Center feature lets a parent link to a teen's account and see activity summaries — but not message content. The age-verification piece was still rolling out through mid-2026.
Content designed to motivate pursuit of extreme thinness, typically images or stories promoting eating disorders.
How kids use it — Found on Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr under hashtags like '#thinspo'; part of pro-eating-disorder spaces where self-harm through starvation is normalized.
A post (photo or video) designed to attract sexual attention or admiration.
How kids use it — Common on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat; teens use it when discussing or creating deliberately provocative content.
An instruction to go outside and experience the real world, said to someone who has been online too long or is too invested in internet drama.
How kids use it — "Touch grass" = "go outside, disconnect." Low risk — just slang, often used humorously.
A location where drugs are sold, or the act of selling drugs.
How kids use it — Appears in rap-culture references and drug-trade discussions in DMs and group chats.
Unloading heavy personal problems on someone without warning or consent — often in group chats or comment sections. Teens use the term to set boundaries with each other. If your kid is on the receiving end nightly, that's a real conversation worth having.
How kids use it — Late-night group chats; Discord servers.
Cannabis or marijuana.
How kids use it — Older slang but still active in 2024-2026 among US teens; used in texts and social-media comments.
Roblox's system that lets age-verified users chat more freely with people they actually know, even across age groups. For users under 13, a parent must approve each connection.
How kids use it — A linked parent is automatically a Trusted Connection. Review the list monthly — anyone your kid can't explain is worth removing.
Acting erratic or unhinged. In most teen usage it's hyperbole ('bro is tweaking' = being ridiculous), but its literal meaning is stimulant-induced erratic behavior — context tells you which one you're reading.
How kids use it — Group-chat teasing; also literal drug slang.
A euphemism for suicide or self-harm, used to evade content filters and normalize discussion of suicidal behavior.
How kids use it — Extremely prevalent on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Twitter/X in 2024-2026; euphemisms like 'unalive myself' or 'unalive' appear in videos and comments to discuss suicide indirectly.
Someone perfectly executed what was expected of them — they knew exactly what was needed and delivered it.
How kids use it — "She understood the assignment" = she did exactly the right thing perfectly. Low risk — just slang.
Acting wild, uncontrolled, or without normal social filters—usually said positively or jokingly about someone being funny, reckless, or unapologetically chaotic. Teens use it to celebrate breaking norms or doing something unpredictable. Context matters—it can be harmless humor or signal riskier behavior.
How kids use it — "That's so unhinged of you" or "I'm feeling unhinged today."
Not taking something seriously; acting silly, irreverent, or playful. Used as praise for humor or as a neutral descriptor of behavior. Not the same as dismissing something—it's about tone.
How kids use it — "That comment was unserious" or "She's unserious today."
An app disguised as a calculator, notes app, or other harmless utility that hides photos, videos, messages — or even a second social-media account — behind a secret passcode. Invisible to content filters because the content is local and the disguise is the whole point.
How kids use it — Spot them by storage size (a 'calculator' using 2 GB isn't a calculator) and permissions (a calculator with camera or contacts access isn't a calculator).
An assessment of someone's mood, energy, or social standing in a moment. Teens use it to gauge whether someone is trustworthy, fun, or worth engaging with right now.
How kids use it — "You're failing the vibe check" or "passed the vibe check"
A sudden, widespread change in internet culture, trends, or social norms—usually sparked by a viral moment, celebrity move, or meme. It signals what's considered 'cool' or acceptable in teen social circles is shifting rapidly.
How kids use it — Teens say 'there's been a vibe shift' when a new aesthetic, fashion trend, or moral standard suddenly becomes popular or unpopular online.
W means Win (something positive or successful). L means Loss (a failure or embarrassing situation).
How kids use it — "That was a W" = "That was great." "Taking an L" = experiencing failure or humiliation. Used constantly in gaming and general conversation.
No longer relevant, cool, or in style; past one's prime. A teen might say someone's fashion sense is 'washed' or that an influencer is 'washed.' It's a dismissal of relevance or status.
How kids use it — "That TikTok trend is so washed" or "He's washed, nobody watches his streams anymore."
Cannabis or marijuana.
How kids use it — Ubiquitous in teen communication; while normalized, parents should track frequency and context of use discussion.
Acronym for 'Without Asking Wife or Spouse'—used as humorous justification for a purchase or action. Often seen in dad culture but increasingly used by teens in memes and online spaces.
How kids use it — "Buying that gaming laptop WOWS."
Want To Trade Pictures—a direct solicitation for sexual or explicit images, typically from an unknown adult.
How kids use it — Instagram DMs, Snapchat, Discord, and other platforms with image-sharing; a predator grooming red flag.
'Will You Call Me' — a transition signal requesting a child move from text or chat to voice/video call for more direct control.
How kids use it — Grooming progression tactic used on Discord, WhatsApp, Snap, and gaming voice platforms.
Alprazolam (Xanax), a benzodiazepine prescription drug often misused for recreational high or anxiety relief without prescription.
How kids use it — Circulates in teen drug conversations on Snapchat and Discord; part of pill-trade culture.
A crude slang term for throwing or ejecting; sometimes coded as 'yeet myself' to mean jumping to death or suicide.
How kids use it — Appears in dark-humor online spaces and gaming communities; usually joking but context matters—watch for repeated use paired with mood changes.
High-potency cannabis or marijuana, often used to describe top-shelf weed.
How kids use it — Common on TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord among 12-16 year olds; frequently paired with emoji code like 🍃 or 💨.
Officially 'flamboyant/extra', but among teens it's most often a coded way to call a boy effeminate or gay — teasing with an edge. Worth knowing the subtext when it's aimed at your kid or used by them.
How kids use it — Comments on how a boy talks, moves, or dresses.
Nicotine pouches tucked under the lip — no smoke, no vapor, no smell, which makes them the easiest nicotine product to hide from parents and teachers. 'Zynning' is widespread among teen boys; the pouches look like tiny tea bags in a hockey-puck tin.
How kids use it — Small round tins; "zyn" and "upper decky" jokes.