360+ Teen Slang, Emojis, & Hashtags Parents Need to Know (The Ultimate List)

With students having constant access to social media, texting, and the internet, they’ve managed to create a secret code language that hides their behavior from parents and teachers. Some students who use code words and secret hashtags feel like they can easily misbehave because their parents aren’t even aware of what they are chatting about. It’s important for parents and educators to stay informed on this ever-changing teen slang that is so prominent today on social media.

SmartSocial.com updates this comprehensive list each month of the teen slang, social media terms, popular acronyms, secret emoji meanings, and dangerous hashtags that parents and educators need to know.

52+ "Secret" Emoji Meanings

Emojis are pictograph characters approved and programmed into digital language coding by the Unicode Consortium. While they are programmed with "official" meanings, social use of the images often create "secret" or "hidden" messages. Learn more about the Unicode Consortium's process for emojis. Is SmartSocial.com missing a "secret" meaning? Click here to let us know

🐐

Goat
"Greatest of all time."

🐍

Snake
Typically used to symbolize that someone is a "backstabber."

🐙

Octopus
"Cuddles."

😈

Smiling Face With Horns
In the mood to have a sexual encounter with someone.

🍕

Pizza
Can sometimes mean "I love you."

🔥

Fire
"Lit", "fire", or "sexy."

💃

Woman Dancing
Expressing the desire to party hard.

🔪

Kitchen Knife
Expression of being in a bad mood or wanting to cause destruction.

💅

Nail Polish
A response that indicates you’re not bothered about something someone said about you.

👯‍♀️

Women With Bunny Ears
Can mean a girls' night out or as code for "sex worker."

💁‍♀️

Woman Tipping
Hand Used to express an exasperated “I don’t even know what to think anymore.”

🍆

Eggplant or

🍌

Banana
Male genitalia. Often sent to illustrate the anticipation of a sexual encounter.

🍑

Peach
Represents a person's behind.

🥑

Avocado
"Basic."

❄️

Snowflake
Derogatory term to describe a young person who is easily offended or used to represent cocaine.

👏

Clapping Hands
When used in between every single word in a sentence, it represents a passive-aggressive way of emphasizing something that people can’t seem to understand.

🚾

Water Closet
"Woman crush."

🎣

Fishing pole
Fishing for a compliment.

🧢

Baseball cap
A lie or not true.

💀

Skull
Used to show something is funny.

⛽

Fuel or Gas Pump
Marijuana.

🌳

Tree
Marijuana.

🌿

Herb
Marijuana.

🥦

Broccoli
Marijuana.

🍀

Four Leaf Clover
Marijuana.

✔️ Green Check Mark

        Marijuana.

🔌

Electric Plug
Represents a drug dealer.

💨

Dashing Away
Can indicate that someone is running so hard they leave a trail of smoke behind them or serves as a symbol for vaping.

🏩

Love Hotel
Brothel.

💉

Syringe
Represents getting a tattoo.

💊

Pill
Has been reported that drug dealers use this to symbolize that they have heroin for sale.

😤

Face With Steam From Nose
Has been reported that drug dealers use this to symbolize that they have MDMA for sale.

🍁

Maple Leaf
Can be used to symbolize cannabis or drugs in general.

🚀

Rocket
Has been reported that drug dealers use this to symbolize that their products have a high potency.

💦

Sweat Droplets
Represents an orgasm.

✊

Raised Fist followed by

💦

Sweat Droplets
Represents masturbation.

👀

Eyes
Can be used to request that someone send an explicit picture.

🎪

Circus Tent
Represents an erection.

🎤

Microphone
Represents a male orgasm.

🍇

Grapes
Represents testicles.

🍒

Cherries
Represents breasts.

📬

Open Mailbox With Raised Flag
Can sometimes mean sex.

😵

Dizzy Face
Having just seen something x-rated.

🙆‍♀️

Woman Gesturing OK
Represents a female orgasm.

ಠ_ಠ
An emoticon that means disapproval. Often used sarcastically.

👉
👈

Fingers pointing to each other
The user is feeling shy.

✍️

Hand with a pencil
Reminder to take note or take the advice.

🤤

Drooling Face
Ecstasy (aka Molly).

😮
💨

Face with Open Mouth + Dashing Away
Represents vaping or smoking.

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Adulting
To grow up and act responsibly.

Aesthetic
Vibe.

All the ___
An exaggeration to show strong feelings, usually in a positive way.

A mood
A relatable feeling or situation.

Amped
Very excited.

And I oop
When someone says something unexpected or provocative.

Bae
Short for “baby.” It’s used as a term of endearment for a significant other such as a girlfriend or boyfriend. As an acronym, it stands for “Before Anyone Else."

Basic
A non-complimentary way to say someone is only interested in trendy or popular things.

Beat
To have a full face of makeup.

Bet
Agreeing with someone. A response when someone challenges you.

Big Yikes
A more intense version of the word "yikes."

Bih
Shortened form of the word b*tch.

Blessed
Feeling fortunate.

Body count
The number of people someone has slept with.

Boots
A way to say “very” or “a lot.” It’s added after the verb or adjective.

Boujee
Rich or Acting rich.

Bounce
Leaving suddenly.

Bruh
Casual nickname for “bro.”

Bye Felicia
An expression used to dismiss someone.

Cake
Refers to a person's buttocks or money

Cap or Cappin'
To lie about something.

Chad
A hyper-masculine and overtly sexual young man.

Chill
Calm down, hang out.

Coins

Virtual currency that can be used to buy awards for other users on sites like Reddit.

Cray
Meaning crazy.

Curve
To reject someone romantically.

Clap back
A comeback filled with attitude.

Cringey
Embarrassing.

Dad or Daddy
An older, attractive male.

Dank
Meaning “really good.”

Dead
When someone is euphorically happy.

Ded
Used when something is extremely funny or embarrassing.

Down in the DM
Making plans using social media or texts for an oncoming sexual encounter.

Downvote

A virtual thumbs down which users are encouraged to use if they think the comment or post doesn’t contribute or is off-topic.

eBAE
Relationship with someone you met online.

Eboy or Egirl
Active internet users, emo, punk-rock.

Extra
Describes over the top or dramatic behavior.

Facts
A nice way to acknowledge someone made a true statement.

Fam
Closest friends.

Fandom
Being a fan of something, or a group of fans.

Finesse
To smooth things out.

Finished my shampoo and conditioner at the same time.
The person posting is expressing depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.
(Click here for tips on how to talk with your teen about suicide and depression.)

Finna
Means “going to” or “intend on” doing something.

Finstagram or Finsta
A second Instagram account. Finstagrams are intimate spaces intended for an audience of friends, with the number of followers purposely kept low.

Fire and Straight fire
Something is really good, cool, or amazing.

Fit
The shortened version of outfit.

Flex
To knowingly flaunt and show off.

Gag
A joke.

Gassed
When someone has had one too many compliments and is full of themselves.

Ghost or Ghosted
Ignoring someone on purpose.

Goals
Being inspired, can also be used to express a subtle form of jealousy.

Go Off
To encourage a choice, or to support a rant or ridiculous behavior that's already occurred.

Gucci
Meaning good or cool.

Hangry
When you are angry because you are so hungry.

Heard
A deep understanding of a topic being discussed.

Heart Horny
Desiring a romantic connection.

Hentai
Anime pornography.

High-key
The opposite of "low key" - meaning let everyone know.

Hits different
When different circumstances cause something to be better than it normally is.

Humble brag
When someone complains about their life while sneaking in a brag.

Hundo P
Short for 100% sure or certain.

Hunty
Equivalent of friend but said with attitude.

I had pasta tonight
The person posting is expressing depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.
(Click here for tips on how to talk with your teen about suicide and depression.)

I’m weak
Meaning that was funny.

Internet friend
Used to describe someone on the internet who knows them better than anyone else in their life.

iSAD
Internet separation anxiety.

It’s lit
Meaning it’s cool or awesome.

Karen
Typically used to refer to an entitled mom, who can be a bit irritating with her frequent requests to "talk to the manager."

Key or Major Key
Meaning something that is essential or important.

Kiki
Party.

Left me on read
When someone opens your text or private message and doesn’t respond.

Lewk
A signature physical trait, or a specially and carefully constructed outfit or appearance.

Lit
Describing when something's amazing, exciting, high-energy, or otherwise great. It can alternatively mean intoxicated or drunk.

Low-Key
A warning that what they’re saying isn’t something they want everyone to know.

Meal
Someone who is extremely attractive.

Mom
The responsible friend.

Mod

Moderator. Often volunteers or other users for popular chat sites.

Mood
Used to express something that is relatable.

Mutuals
When two social media users follow each other.

Netflix ‘n Chill
To meet under the pretense of watching Netflix/TV together when actually planning to meet for “making out” or sex.

Netfly
Refers to someone who is "cool" on the internet.

No cap
Telling the truth, the equivalent of saying "no lie."

Okurrr
Something that is said to affirm when someone is being put in their place.

OK, boomer
Old, out of touch, resistant to change. Baby Boomer.

On fleak
On point, nice.

Oof
Popularized by the game Roblox, oof is the sound a character makes when it dies. It is typically used as a response when you don't really care but should say at least something.

Opp
Opposition or someone against you

Out of pocket
Something is out of control.

Parasocial
Describes when social media influencers have or encourage unhealthy relationships with their fans.

Periodt
Adding emphasis to a point that has been made.

Phubbing
Snubbing someone to pay attention to your phone instead.

Pull Up, Pulling Up, Pulled Up, Pullin' Up
Used to invite someone to meet you or that you have arrived to where they are.

Ratchet
Typically used to describe an uncouth individual.

Reality shifting/Lifa
People talk about projecting their consciousness into an alternate reality into fictional plots like Hogwarts or Twilight.

Receipts
Evidence of a person’s hypocrisy often pulled from past social media or text conversations.

Rule 30
What has been seen cannot be unseen.

Rule 34
Any topic can be made into pornographic content.

Salty
To be bitter about something or someone.

Same
A response to things you have in common with someone, genuinely or sarcastically.

Savage
Meaning it’s cool or awesome. To do or say something completely outrageous and not fear the repercussions or consequences of their actions.

Shade or Shading
A sneaky action toward someone or something. When you “throw shade,” you do the sneaky action.

Ship
Short for “relationship.”

Shipping
Wanting two people to date.

Shook
Being confused or in utter disbelief.

Sip tea
To mind your own business.

Sis
If someone asks you what happened and you respond with "Sis," it means there's a whole lot of drama that unfolded and there's a whole lot more to the story. "Sis" can also be used as a term of endearment toward friends.

Skeet
To ejaculate.

Skurt
To leave a place.

Slaps
Strikes you as good.

Slay
Meaning someone is succeeding.

Sleep(ing) on
Ignoring something.

Sliding into DMs
Using direct messaging to invite someone to "hook up".

Smash
To have casual sex.

Snack
A way to describe an attractive individual.

Snatched
Meaning well-styled or attractive.

Sorry to this man
When you don't know who a person is (either because you genuinely don't know who they are or are pretending not to know them in a way to diminish their existence).

Spill the tea
To “spill” the gossip.

Squad
Friend group. Squad is also an app.

Stan
A combination of stalker and fan. The word can also be used to express tame support of a person or a cause.

Suh
A shortened version of what’s up.

Sus
When someone is acting suspicious or shady.

Swerve
To avoid something.

Swole
Extremely buff or physically fit.

Swoop
To be picked up by an automobile.

Tea
Gossip or talking behind someone's back.

That’s a choice
It’s your decision.

That's on ____
Used to say that's the truth and we don't need to talk about it anymore.

Thicc
Looking good in your skin no matter your size or shape.

Thirst trap
A flirtatious photograph or message posted on social media.

Thirsty
Being desperate for attention or something else. Often used in place of "horny."

Throw shade
To give someone a nasty look or say something unpleasant about them.

Trash
Something absolutely unacceptable or terrible.

Turnt
Hype for a party.

Upvote
A virtual thumbs up that users can utilize to show their approval for a post and help it get moved to the top of the site.

V
Shortened form of very.

Vamp
Staying up all night like vampire, usually while using electronic devices such as phones, computers, or video games

Vibing
Relaxing and having a good time.

VSCO girl
Describes a type of picture/video posted through the VSCO app.

Wig
To refer to something that is amazing.

Wig snatched
Exposing someone to reveal the truth.

Woke
Highly aware of social issues.

Yaas
An enthusiastic way of saying yes.

Yeet
A very strong word for yes.

Zaddy
A well-dressed, attractive man.

Zoomer
Gen Z.

14+ Dangerous Hashtags

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#420: Pot/weed/drugs

#ana: Anorexia

#crow: Marijuana

#cu46: "See you for sex"

#deb: Depression

#ednos: "Eating disorder not otherwise specified"

#mia: Bulimia

#molly: MDMA or ecstasy

#pre-ing: Could refer to activities before planned drinking or drugs

#secretsociety123: Non-suicidal self harm

#sue: Suicide

#svv: Self-harming behavior

#thinsp or #thinspo: Thinspiration (content that "inspires" others to be thin)

#wired, #wavey, or #merked: Saying they are high or drunk

122+ Social Media Acronyms

1174: "Nude club"

1337 and L337: "Elite"

143: "I love you"

182: "I hate you"

420: "Marijuana"

459: "I love you"

8: "Oral sex"

ADR: "Address"

AEAP: "As Early As Possible"

AF: "As f***"

ALAP: "As Late As Possible"

AMA: “Ask me anything,” a Q&A style discussion with the author of a post

AMAA: "Ask me almost anything"

ADN: "Any Day Now"

ASLP: "Age/Sex/Location/Picture"

ASMR: "Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response" meaning something gave you chills.

AUS: Ask us anything

Banana: "Penis"

BTO: "Bathroom time off"

CCW: “Comments and criticism welcome”

CD9: "Code 9" meaning parents are around

CMV: “Change my view”

DAE: “Does anybody else or does anyone else”

DM;HS: “Doesn’t matter; had sex”

DPW: "D*** pictures welcome"

DTF: "Down to f***"– which means I want to have sex OR I would like to join you in the plans you suggested. When used in question form it means, do you think he/she would sleep with me or do you think he/she would want to come with us?

DUM: "Do you masturbate?"

DUSL: "Do you scream loud?"

ELI5: "Explain like I'm 5 (years old)"

F2F: "Face-to-Face" meaning FaceTime

FB: "F*** buddy"

FBOI: "F*** boy" meaning a guy looking for sex

FIFY and FTFY: “Fixed It For You” and "Fixed that for you", respectively.

FMLTWIA: "F*** me like the w**** I am"

FOL: "Fond of leather"

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): FOMO is when a student (or adult) experiences anxiety that an exciting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often prompted by posts seen on social media.

FR: "For real"

FWB: “Friends with benefits”

FWP: “First world problems”

GG: "Good game"

GGG: reference to the “Good Guy Greg” or “Good Girl Gina” meme

GIS: "Google Image Search"

GNRN: "Get Naked Right Now"

GOAT: “Greatest of all time!”

GNOC: “Get naked on camera"

GTFO: “Get the f**k out”

GTG: “Got to go”

GYPO: "Get your pants off"

HAK: "Hugs and kisses"

HIFW: “How I feel when”

HMB: “Hold my beer”

IAmA: "I am a.” This is the standard way to begin the title of an AMA (Ask me anything) post

IANAD: "I am not a doctor"

IANAL: "I am not a lawyer"

IAYM: "I am your master"

ICYMI: "In case you missed it"

IDGAF: "I don’t give a f***" – which means I don’t care at all

IF and IB: "In the front" or "In the back", respectively

IYKYK: "If you know you know"

IMO or IMHO: "In my opinion" and "In my humble/honest opinion"

IIRC: "If I recall correctly"

ILY and ILU: "I love you"

IRL: “In real life”

ISO: “In search of”

ITT: "In this thread"

IYKYK: "If you know you know" meaning an inside joke

JOMO: "Joy of missing out"

KMS: "Kill myself"

KPC: "Keeping Parents Clueless"

KYS: "Kill yourself"

LB: "Like back"

LMAO: "Laugh my as* off"

LMD: "Let me die"

LMIRL: "Let’s meet in real life"

LMP: "Like my pic"

LOL: “Laugh out loud”

LoL: “League of Legends”, a popular online game.

MRW and MFW: "My reaction when" and "My face when", respectively.

MOS: "Mom Over Shoulder"

NIFOC: “Naked in front of their computer”

NP: “No problem”

NSFL: "Not safe for life" (explicit and offensive; often gore)

NSFW: "Not safe for work" or inappropriate for minors

OAG: references the “Overly attached girlfriend” meme

OC: “Original content”, meaning the author of the post created the content shown or linked in the post or "Open crib", meaning no parents will be at home or at a gathering or party.

OFC: "Of course"

OG: Meaning “original” or “original gangster”

OMFG: "Oh my f**king god"

OOTL: "Out of the loop"

OP: "Original poster", the author of the post

P911: "Parent Alert"

PIR: "Parent In Room"

PMOYS: "Put me on your Snapchat"

POS: "Parents over shoulder"

PSA: "Public service announcement"

ROTFLMAO: "Rolling on the floor laughing my as* off"

RT: "Retweet"

sksksk: The sound you make when you hit lots of keys at once on your keyboard.

Skrt: "To stop unexpectedly"

SMDH: “Shaking my damn head”

SMH: “Shaking my head” or "that's so dumb"

SO: “Significant other”

STFU: "Shut the f**k up"

Sus: "Suspect" or "Suspicious"

T: Gossip or talking behind someone's back

TBH: “To be honest"

TDTM: “Talk dirty to me"

TFW: "That feeling when"

TIFU: “Today I f**ked up”

TIL: "Today I learned"

TL;DR: "Too long; Didn't read.” Sometimes used as a synonym for "summary"

V: "Very"

WIP: “Work in progress"

WTF: "What the f**k?"

WTH: "What the he**"

WUF: "Where you from?"

WYA: "Where you at?"

WYD: "What you doing?"

WYLL: "What you look like?"

YASS or YEET: A very strong way to say "yes"

YMMV: “Your mileage may vary”

YSK: "You should know"

31+ Social Media Terms

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Brute-force attack
Repetitive successive attempts of trying various password combinations to break into someone else's website or account.

Catfishing
When a person creates a fake identity on a social network, usually with the intention of deceiving a specific victim.

Clickbait
Internet content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page. Click-bait headlines typically aim to exploit the "curiosity gap", providing just enough information to make readers of news websites curious, but not enough to satisfy their curiosity without clicking through to the linked content.

Copypasta
Blocks of text which get copy and pasted across the Internet by individuals through online forums and social networking websites, to the point of becoming spam.

Cramming
The fraudulent practice of adding unauthorized charges to a customer's phone bill.

Cyberbully
Any form of bullying that takes place using electronic devices. Cyberbullying is repeated and intentional harm towards someone online, on social media, or through texting.

Dark web
A collection of websites that exist on an encrypted network and cannot be found by using traditional search engines or visited by using traditional browsers. The dark web is full of criminal activity.

DM or PM
"Direct message" or "private message", respectively.

Doxing or Doxxing
Publishing personal or identifying information about a particular individual online, typically with the intent to do harm.

Facetune
Facetune is a photo editing application used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user’s iPhone, iPad or Android device. The app is often used for portrait and selfie editing. Features allow users to whiten teeth, remove blemishes, smooth skin, reshape, defocus and blur.

Follow
In social media, a follow represents a user who chooses to see all of another user's posts in their content feed.

GIF
A type of computer file that contains a still or moving image. GIF is the abbreviation for "Graphic Interchange Format."

Grooming
The action by a pedophile of preparing a child for a meeting, especially via an Internet chat room, with the intention of committing a sexual offense.

Hashtag
A word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media websites and applications, to identify messages on a specific topic. Typically hashtags are searchable on the platform it was posted on.

Influencer
A person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media.

Lurking
Spying on others online while remaining invisible.

Malware
Software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

Meme
An activity, concept, catchphrase, or piece of media that spreads, often as mimicry or for humorous purposes, from person to person via the Internet. A meme usually takes the form of an image, GIF, or video. It can also be just a word or phrase.

Phishing
The act of sending emails pretending to be from reputable companies in order to get individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

Private Groups
A separate area of social networks where only designated users can communicate with one another. Private groups are popular on Facebook.

Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that holds your personal digital data for ransom. Those affected by ransomware cannot gain access to their personal data without paying a fine. Most ransomware is disguised as a valid file to be downloaded or opened in an email.

Scareware
Malicious computer programs designed to trick a user into buying and downloading unnecessary and potentially dangerous software, such as fake antivirus protection.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
A marketing discipline focused on growing visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results.

Selfie
A self-portrait type image, typically taken with a smartphone which may be held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick.

Snapstreak
When Snapchat friends send a message or photo to each other every day, they create a "snapstreak" or "streak."

Spam
Using electronic messaging systems to send an unsolicited message, email is the most common platform for spam but it can also be sent via text or on social media.

Spoofing
When a person or program successfully masquerades as another by falsifying data, to gain an illegitimate advantage.

Spyware
A form of malware that hides on your device, monitors your activity, and steals sensitive information like bank details and passwords.

Subscribe
Typically used to describe a user who chooses to see all of another user's posts in their content feed on YouTube. Subscribe can be used on other social media networks but it's most commonly used when referring to YouTube.

Swatting
When someone makes a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to dispatch armed police officers to a particular address.

Troll or Trolling
Deliberately using the internet to provoke others. Trolling isn't necessarily focused on insulting others or being rude, it's more about tricking people into believing you or playing pranks.

33+ Video Game Slang Terms

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Arena Mode
A player-controlled character is placed in a closed-off area and must attempt to defeat other players using their unique skills in the video game

Assault Mode
One team tries to attack (or capture) areas that are defended by the other team in the video game

Avatar
The player’s character in the game world

Battle Pass
An in-game, tiered reward system to give players more options and extra items after playing the game or completing certain challenges.  There are usually both free and paid video game options

Battle Royale
Individual players or teams enter a shrinking playing field and must search for weapons/shelter while battling until there is one player/team left in the video game. Currently one of the best video games in popularity

BM - Bad Manners
Player input that is disrespectful or unsportsmanlike in the video game

Boss
A computer-operated character in a video game that is harder to beat, often at the end of a level or a game

Campaign mode (Story mode)
A mode that tells a story and the player’s actions can affect which path the story takes from the original game

Challenge mode
A level of play that requires the player to repeat a certain section or battle but with limited resources

Cooperative gameplay (co-op)
The gamers work together as a team to face computer-operated challenges

CPU
A computer-operated player in the video game

Cranking 90’s
A Fortnite term that refers to building a tower full of 90-degree turns

Deathmatch
A gamer must try to kill as many other gamers as possible in a given time period of gameplay

E-Sports (Electronic Sports)
Organized, competitive gaming where gamers are usually rewarded with monetary prizes and recognition

Expansion Pack
A free or paid add-on or new content to a game that usually offers new characters, worlds, weapons, etc. where a game already takes place

FPS - First Person Shooter
A genre where the player experiences play from the view of their character, often down the scope of their weapon

F2P or FtP
Games that are Free To Play

Game Launcher
An application program for a PC that is used to launch games (example: Battle.net, Steam, or Epic Games Store)

Health
The amount of damage a player can take before being defeated

IAP
In-App Purchase

Kill-death Ratio (K/D ratio)
The number of times that you killed an opponent vs the number of times they killed you

Loot box
Rewards to gamers for completing certain levels or tasks usually given on a random basis - may cost money

MOBA - Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
Teams of players have to defend their home base from enemies

Microtransaction
In-game purchases where players can purchase virtual goods

Mod
Third part addition or change to a game

NPC - Non-player Character
A character that is controlled by the computer (also, CPU)

PC - Player Character
The character in the game that is controlled by the player

PvE
Player vs Environment

PvP
Player vs Player

PUG - Pick-up Group
A group of players that spontaneously join together to beat a common goal and then disband after completion

RPG
Role-Playing Game

RTS
Real-Time Strategy

Sandbox
A game where there is no true objective or goal, players have the ability to create, modify, or destroy their environment (Minecraft Creative Mode)

Skin
An add-on to a player’s avatar to change its appearance or weapons

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