Sometimes the strangest abbreviations are used on social media, especially by young people. Often incomprehensible to parents, but many young people also sometimes feel that they could use a dictionary of abbreviations. What actually is the meaning of these abbreviations and how do you, as a parent, deal with frequent internet use?
Common internet abbreviations
These general Twitter and WhatsApp abbreviations, sometimes made up of combinations of numbers and punctuation marks, are used by all Twitter and WhatsApp users and not just by young people. This internet jargon is also sometimes called internet slang.
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🙂 |
I’m happy |
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:-)) |
I’m very happy |
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ASAP |
As Soon As Possible |
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B4 |
Before |
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BRB |
Be Right Back |
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FB |
|
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ff |
For a bit |
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IC |
I See (I understand) |
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INDEED |
Indeed |
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L8R |
Later |
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LMK |
Let Me Know |
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LOL |
Laugh Out Loud |
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OMG |
Oh my gosh |
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RT |
ReTweet |
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Thx, Thnx or Tx |
Thanks |
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W8 |
Guard |
Abbreviations used on social media by young people
Young people often enjoy having their own language, their own culture and their own world. In this way they rebel against adults. Nowadays, young people are constantly meeting peers, if not in person, then via the Internet. Young people need peers to develop their own identity, which is why they constantly seek each other out. However, it is important to restrict internet use. Contact with peers is important and should be encouraged, but when a child starts to avoid school tasks and contacts with parents and other adults, there is a danger. Many young people build their own world in this way, from which they can no longer escape and in which education seems a pointless undertaking. A unique youth language has developed among young people on the Internet. What do those abbreviations actually mean?
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<3 |
Heart |
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1000XXS |
A thousand apologies |
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10Q |
Thank You |
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$ |
Shy |
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((H)) |
hug (big hug) |
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😀 |
I smile |
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😛 |
I’m teasing you |
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ABF |
Always Best Friends |
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B.F |
Best Friends |
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BT4Y |
Be There For You |
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cker |
Certainly |
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C.Y.A |
I’ll see you later |
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DM |
This could mean private message, but also just do it |
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Downie |
Swear word used to describe someone you don’t like |
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HF |
Have Fun |
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IC |
I See (Understood, also used as I see) |
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iig |
Anyway |
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IR |
In Real Life |
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NP |
Usually means No Problem, sometimes also No Talking |
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OK |
Okay |
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ELM |
Parents Read Along The abbreviations PAW (Parents Are Watching) and POS (Parents Over Shoulder) are also used for this |
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sws |
Very Probably or SoWieSo |
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suc6 |
Good luck |
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SMH |
Shaking My Head |
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TTYS |
Talk to you later |
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WAF |
We Are Friends |
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WB |
Welcome Back (Welcome Back) |
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whappe |
|
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WJW |
What you want |
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WRS |
Probably |
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W/ |
with (together with) |
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XD |
I’m laughing my ass off |
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XOXO |
Kiss-Hug-Kiss-Hug |
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xwhap |
Further on Whats app |
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X] |
Smiling smiley |
Obscene SMS language
Young people often pepper their SMS language with obscene words, as is evident from the following abbreviations, which do not require further translation.
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!FYCK! |
F*ck You |
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GTFO |
Get The F*ck Out |
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LMAO |
Laughing My Ass Off |
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OMFG |
Oh My F*king God |
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PITA |
Pain In The Ass |
Of course there are many more abbreviations, some are derived from those already mentioned and some are clear after some puzzling. Other abbreviations that consist of long sentences that always use the first letter of a word are not mentioned here and are often regionally specific.