Many parents are still left totally confused by many of the text messages being sent by their children.

 

That's the news from a new report by BT who comissioned a poll to raise awareness of Safer Internet Day - which takes place to today.

 

Over 4,500 adults took part in the research with a majority not being able to translate the real meaning of phrases such as MIA, KMS and the cryptic “99”.

 

Emojis are leaving most parents confused with many unaware of their actual meaning when sent between teenage friends.

 

When used by some kids, the cheeky monkey with paws over its mouth can translate to “I won’t tell anyone” , but over half the parents could not identify this meaning.

 

And the emoji face with cross eyes is sometimes typed by children when they’ve seen something X-rated online, but five per cent of the parents took this to mean that their child is tired, couldn’t see their friend’s point of view, or had been snubbed by a girl or boy.

 

10 TEXT CODES EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

PAL – Parents Are Listening

P99 – Parent Alert

NIFOC – Nude In Front Of The Computer

KOTL – Kiss On The Lips

420 – Marijuana

182 – I hate you

WTPA – Where the party at?

SOS – Someone over shoulder

SMH – Shaking my head

PIR – Parent in room

ACL - All Clear

 

 

The number “99” is used by children to indicate to their friends that their “Parents are Watching” – a code which adults could find useful to know.

 

The generation gap is not so vast with some acronyms, eight per cent recognising GNOC as Get Naked On Camera and ASL as Age, Sex, Location.

 

 

"While it is unrealistic to expect parents to understand every piece of internet slang their children will ever see, online safety starts with a conversation.

 

For more information on internet safety for children, visit InternetMatters

 

Security Tools

Signal Private Messenger

360 Security

OPERA FREE VPN