Today's teens have grown up around technology and the internet and their manner of communicating with their peers involves internet slang that, unfortunately, many parents cannot decipher. Sometimes, they use these terms to talk about sexually-related topics, and the UK government thinks parents must be aware of it.
To address this concern, the government launched the Parent Info website, which defines and translates internet slang so that no mom or dad is kept in the dark about the terms their kids use. According to Wired, this initiative was created by The Parent Zone, the National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center. Many of the terms cover online exploits and sexual relationships.
"The internet is an incredibly powerful tool, which is changing the way our children learn and stay in touch. But we must also make sure we do everything we can to help them stay safe online," said Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities via Telegraph. "As a parent myself, I understand how important it is to know your child is safe and that's why this new online service is so important."
Morgan encourages schools and parents to use the online tool to help address other teen issues that may also include cyber bullying and body image.
According to The Verge, among the most popular terms kids use that parents must be aware of include:
GNOC - Get Naked On Camera
PAW - Parents Are Watching
KPC - Keep Parents Clueless
The Guardian's picks, on the other hand, include:
MOOS - Members of the Opposite Sex
IWSN - I Want Sex Now
There are also terms like "zerg," which means "to gang up on someone," and "420," to denote marijuana.
But the website has its share of critics, as the guide seems to be lifted from Netlingo, which launched in the late 90s, according to The Verge. Some tried to use the internet slang found on the list to communicate with a teenager to see how it works, such as The Debrief. The conversation was only met with confusion, as the 17-year-old had no idea what the acronyms were.
To their defense, Parent Info said that there are terms that are no longer being used, "These terms come and go, becoming out of date or appearing out of nowhere quickly, and some expressions that are cool in one part of the country may be considered outdated in another," as stated on the site.
