A parent's guide to the words, acronyms, and app features kids use every day.
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+.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
Slang for sexual or romantic interest; can also reference explicit imagery.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
'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.
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.
A coded term sometimes used to dismiss sexual or adult content as mediocre or 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.
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.
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.
'Nude Image For Oral Contact' — a sexual exploitation code proposing an exchange of explicit images for sexual acts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
'Parent Removed Or Negligent' — a groomer's coded assessment that a child has minimal parental supervision or oversight.
How kids use it — Appears in private messages or predator forums as shorthand when identifying vulnerable targets.
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.
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 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.
When paired with sexual context, refers to anger or frustration over sexual content or relationships.
How kids use it — Context-dependent slang; less commonly a sexual reference but worth monitoring in group chats.
A request for a source link to pornographic or sexually 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Cocaine.
How kids use it — Drug-trade code in DMs and encrypted messaging; less common among younger teens but documented in 2024.
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.
A vague euphemism for sexual or adult content; often paired with 'memes' or 'content'.
How kids use it — Widely used on TikTok, Twitter/X, and Instagram to describe sexually suggestive or explicit material in comments and captions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cannabis or marijuana.
How kids use it — Ubiquitous in teen communication; while normalized, parents should track frequency and context of use discussion.
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 💨.