Online Glossary

If you think ASL is an acronym for American Sign Language, you're only partly correct. It also means Age, Sex, Location in Internet speak. Your child probably already knows this; you should, too.

Kids use shorthand when chatting online. Some abbreviations are innocent enough, such as those in the following list:

BRB - be right back
BTW - by the way
GTG - got to go
IMHO - in my humble opinion
LOL - laughing out loud

Watch for any reference to going cyber or having a direct connect, especially when used as a verb. It is often shorthand for cybersex. Fortunately, there is assistance online to help decipher kids' lingo.

Urban Dictionary is an online compilation of slang. The words and definitions are contributed by the public, mostly kids. And some of the terminology is offensive. But get used to it. Your kids probably use it, or at least understand it.

For more abbreviations, check Jupiter Parents and Sharpened Glossary.

Or, use the translators at No Slang and Teen Angels.