Parenting in 2025 comes with a whole new challenge: keeping up with the way our children communicate online. Between emojis, acronyms and slang, teens often use a digital language that feels impossible for adults to decode. While much of it is harmless fun, some hidden meanings can point to risky behaviours, bullying, or even mental health struggles.
The hidden meaning behind emojis
What might look like innocent food symbols or playful icons can actually mean something entirely different. For example:
Recognising these codes doesn’t mean you need to panic, but it can open the door to meaningful conversations if you notice repeated patterns in your child’s messages.
Acronyms teens use
Abbreviations and acronyms are another layer of the digital code. Phrases like POS (parent over shoulder), LMIRL (let’s meet in real life) or KMS (kill myself) carry weight that’s easy to miss. Spotting these acronyms helps parents better understand what’s really being said and whether intervention or support might be needed.
Red flags to look out for
The guide highlights a few important signs that parents should keep an eye on:
- Clusters of emojis with no obvious meaning.
- Hidden or “finsta” accounts.
- Sudden secrecy with phones.
- Mood swings that align with coded conversations.
How parents can respond
The most important advice? Stay calm and curious. Instead of accusing, ask questions. By keeping conversations open and showing genuine interest in their digital world, you create trust—and that’s more powerful than any monitoring app. Using resources like this guide, or organisations such as NSPCC or Childline, can give extra support if you feel out of your depth.
Parenting in the digital age is about balance: giving your child freedom to connect with friends while making sure they’re safe. Awareness is the first step, and by decoding digital slang, you’ll be better equipped to support your teen.
You can read more from the Digital Slang guide from SageMobile.
If you’re interested in more family-focused tips, I’ve written about how gaming has grown up which complements this guide beautifully. I’d love to hear your thoughts—have you spotted any of these codes in your child’s messages?
