IM Speak - Cracking the Code of IM Slang Only Part of Problem

In a recent "Special Feature" on News.com, Stefanie Olsen pointed a spotlight on a pretty widespread problem: teen IM slang. Acronyms like PAW and MOS can be cause for concern - and they're definitely enough to make any parent's head swim with both confusion and little warning bells.

To an extent, there's reason for concern. PAW means "Parent(s) are watching" and MOS means "Mom over shoulder" - both of which should give a parent pause to wonder why their child is worried about having what they're typing seen. Research has shown that one in four kids use IM lingo every day to warn their friends of prying eyes.

The problem may be much more than a technology barrier, though. Paradoxically, the problem is both deeper and lighter than Olsen has made it seem.

Cracking the Code

With the problems of technology also come solutions. Parents who are concerned about what their teens might be up to online can install a variety of software that will do everything from block certain types of websites and filter through emails to look up acronyms in an online dictionary. Sites like NoSlang.com, Teenangels.org, and Teenchatdecoder.com have acronym dictionaries that parents are coming to love - and use often.

The only drawback with slang dictionaries is that IM Slang, like spoken slang, can be a fleeting thing. Remember when it was cool to use the word "rad"? Right, feel free to insert cringe, it's perfectly fine. In the same way, IM slang changes quickly. Part of the reason is because some acronyms become a fad, and another part of the reason is those very online dictionaries parents love.

Being a teenager is all about separating from parental control, a little bit at a time. One of the easiest ways to build up a wall between a teen and their parents is by communicating in ways the parents can't understand. So if there's all these websites available to decipher the language, teenagers will quickly invent new variations on the language.