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From the Editors of Common Sense Media
June 14, 2007
Q. My kids text and instant message constantly. They use terms like "omg" or "paw" -- and roll their eyes when I ask what they're writing. Sometimes they even talk like that. Any
tips on decoding their secret slang?
A. Kids are tough critics, and even saying the word "slang" is enough to make them roll their eyes at you -- let alone asking them what all of their acronyms stand for. Fortunately for you, there are Web sites that specialize in this. Check out our list of Internet slang translators:
Internetslang.com offers a wide variety of online shorthand. Users can search by acronym to learn the definition or peruse a long list in alphabetical order. You can also "add an acronym" by emailing the site creators.
The Internet Slang Translator is a useful tool that can be downloaded to your personal computer. For example, Google users can add this feature to their homepage to use as a quick reference.
Wikipedia.org offers an entire list of Internet Slang Phrases. Note that Wikipedia entries are user generated -- before letting your kids use the site as a resource, take a look at our review.
Learn more about setting media limits.
For more parent tips on kids and media, visit Common Sense Media.
(July 2007) (
