After reading the information provided in our post about the dangers of MySpace, I started to wonder about the language of the Internet and text messaging.  I consider myself pretty technically sophisticated, but the language that young people use today is a foreign language for me.  So I started to do some research and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of abbreviations that can be used when communicating via an instant messaging program or via text messaging.

I compiled a list of some abbreviations that might indicate your child is involved in something inappropriate or dangerous.  Not that every child who types in CD9 for parent watching is doing something wrong – they might just want their NP (nosy parents) to leave them alone.  But it can be an indication that you want to speak to your child about what he or she is doing on the internet and who he or she is talking with via IM.

Here are some of the IM abbreviations I found:

20 - Location
2moro -  Tomorrow
2nite - Tonight
420 - Marijuana
8 - Oral sex
9  - Parent watching
99 - Parent no longer watching
ASL - Age, Sex, Location
ASLA - Age, Sex, Location, Availability
ASLMA -  Age, sex, location, music, hobbies
ASLP - Age, sex, location, picture
Banana  - Penis
BYOB - Bring your own bottle or bring your own beer
CD9 - Code 9 parents nearby
CTN - Can’t talk now
CX - Cancelled
F2F - Face to face
GAP - Got a pic
GNOC - Get naked on cam (webcam)
IPN - I’m posting naked
IRL - In real life
Kitty - Vagina
KPC - Keep parents clueless
LDR - Long distance relationship
LHOS - Let’s have online sex
LMIRL - Let’s meet in real life
LTR - Long term relationship
MIRL - Meet in real life
MMA - Meet me at
MMB - Message me back
MOS - Mom over shoulder
NAZ - Name, address, zip
NIFOC - Nude in front of computer
NP - Nosy parents
OLL - Online love
P&C - Personal and confidential
P911 - Parent alert subject change
PAL - Parents are listening
PANB - Parents are nearby
PAW - Parents are watching
PBB - Parent behind back
PIR - Parents in room
PM - Personal message or private message
POS - Parent over shoulder
PRW - Parents are watching
RU18 - Are you over 18
SA - Sibling alert
SOS - Someone over shoulder
UOM - You owe me
UOMBT - You owe me big time
WTGP - Want to go private
WYGOWM - Will you go out with me
WYRM - What’s your real name
YIWBP - Yes I will go private

While doing my search I found this great website that actually translates IM or text message speak into English.  It’s called Transl8it and it is easy to use.  You type in your message on the one side of the page and then click a button to translate from English to IM speak or from IM speak to English. 

Now I’m not advocating you spy on your children and read their personal and private correspondence, but I am advocating you taking an active role when they are online.  Some studies report that teens spend up to five hours on the computer and online everyday.  Shouldn’t we know where they are, who they are speaking to, and what they are saying (to make sure no one is trying to speak to them in an inappropriate manner)?