Common Internet Terms
Adolescent – a person up to the age of 19 (as defined by the UN)7
Chatroom – a location online that allows multiple users to communicate electronically with each other in real time, as opposed to delayed time with e-mail2
Child sexual exploitation – child coerced to take part in sexual activity in exchange for something (ex: food, drugs, affection, gifts)7
Cyberbullies/cyberbullying – willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic communication.
Deepfake – using artificial intelligence to manufacture realistic (often sexually explicit) videos of someone
Disclosure – when a child informs someone that harassment or abuse has occurred5
Dissociation – symptom of trauma that involves separation from main body of consciousness5
DM/DM’s – A way of describing direct messaging. A private message on a social media platform.
Doxxing – exposing a person’s address, phone, and/or other sensitive information online for purposes of harassment and stalking
Duty to report – anyone with reasonable suspicions that a child is in need of protection must report it to a child protection service4
Flashback – sudden, vivid memory of a traumatic event5
Grooming – when a perpetrator builds rapport or promotes certain behaviours, with the intention of sexually abusing the child in the future5
Harassment – conduct intended to violate the dignity of a person (purpose), or can be interpreted as offensive or intimidating (effect)professional sexual exploitation – sexual actions by professionals and volunteers within a helping relationship7
Intimate violence – violence committed by someone familiar to the victim5
Juvenile sex offender – a person under the age of 18 who under their national law been convicted of sexual offenses7
Minor – every human under the age of eighteen-years unless under applicable law to the person, majority is attained earlier7
Online enticement of children – communicating with someone believed to be a child through the internet, with the intent of online exploitation7
Online Luring – a situation where an individual communicates with a young person through technology (texting, IM, SMS, etc.) to make it easier to commit a specific sexual offence against that young person3
Resilience – ability to recover from trauma. Having just a few healthy relationships greatly increases resilience-building potential5
Sexting – cell phone, computer and other mobile device users – often teens and ‘tweens’ – create and exchange provocative messages and nude, sexual images of themselves using their cell phone’s built-in digital camera and text messaging capabilities2
Catfishing – using a fake profile or pretending to be someone else (or both) to get a target to share personal information or become romantically involved2
Sextortion – using sexual images to blackmail, humiliate, or get revenge on someone2
Sex tourism – sexual exploitation (often involving children) in the context of travel and tourism1
Stranger Danger – a phrase popularized by PSA’s in the 1980s. There has been a conscious shift away from this term to discourage children to blindly trust adults they somewhat know5
Pedophile – person with primary or exclusive sexual preference to prepubescent children, distinguished from child sexual abuser, who have acted on their preferences6
Survivor – a term used instead of victim to promote resilience. Only use this language after an individual self-identifies with this word7
Text bombing – sending a large number of text messages to a person at one time so that they can’t use their device8
Victim – an individual who has experienced violence or trauma. Only use this language after an individual self-identifies with this word. see: survivor7
Victim identification – detailed analysis of images and videos to locate and rescue child sexual abuse victims, particularly relevant in online child abuse7
- “Appropriate Terminology.” Interpol, Accessed 20 March 2021.
- “Glossary of terms.” eSafety Commissioner, Accessed 20 March 2021.
- Moss, Stephanie. “Sexual exploitation and Trafficking of Children and Youth in Canada.” Children of the Street, Accessed 20 March 2021.
- “Reporting child abuse and neglect.” Ontario Ministry of Children, 13 June 2019.
- “Secret Survivors.” Ping Chong and Company, Accessed 20 March 2021.
- “Terminology.” ATSA. Accessed 20 March 2021.
- “Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.” Interagency Working Group on Sexual Exploitation of Children, 28 Jan. 2016.
- “Text Bomb: What Parents Should Know About This Cyberbullying Sidekick.” Visions Treatment Centers, 14 July 2020, visionsteen.com/text-bomb-parents-cyberbullying-sidekick.
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Slang / Drug Terms / Emojis
🌿, 🍁, 🎄, 🍃, 🥦, 🍀, 🌴,💨, 🔥— Marijuana
💉,🐉,🐎 ,🎯,🤎— Heroin
❄️, 🥥,🤧, 🔑,⛄,🎱, 🐡 — Cocaine
🍼,🍇 ,💜,🔮 — Cough syrup
🍬, ❤⚡,🤯, ❌, 🍬, ❤️ — MDMA
🍄 — Psilocybin or “magic” mushrooms
🗿 — Stoned
💎, 🏔, 💙, 🧪 — Crystal meth
🚌,🍫, 💊 — Xanax
💊 , 🅿️, 🔵 , 🍌— Can be used to mean prescription pills, drugs in general, or oxycodone
🔌 — A plug, i.e., a drug dealer or someone who can “hook you up” with contraband
🤑, 💰, 💵, 👑 — drug deal advertising
💨, 🚬 — Smoking a joint
⚗️ — Used to indicate a bong
🚀 — Can mean high-quality or being very intoxicated
⛽ — Gassed, i.e., intoxicated. Can also refer to high-quality marijuana
🔥 — To “blaze” a joint or to be “lit,” meaning intoxicated
🥧 , 🍪 — A large amount of drugs
Common Drug Terms
Cart — Cartridge for a vaporizer
Dabbing — A way to inhale concentrated cannabis oil by dropping some on a hot surface and letting it vaporize
Gas — Marijuana
Hulk — A 2-mg generic benzodiazepine bar
Pen — Vape for weed or tobacco; uses cartridges
Plug — Dealer
School bus — A 2-mg Xanax bar
Special K — Ketamine
Snow — Cocaine
Yayo — Cocaine
Zaza or za— Marijuana
Text Slang / Every parent of teen should know these
- AF — As f**k
- A mood — A relatable feeling or situation (often shortened to the single word, “mood”)
- And I oop — Used when something is really surprising or provocative
- And that’s on [something] — Used to indicate that you’ve just shared a truth that needs no further discussion
- ASL — Age/sex/location
- Bae — Significant other or crush
- Basic — Someone who is viewed as boring or a conforming person
- Beige flag — A quality or characteristic of a significant other that is weird or off-putting, but not enough to reject them.
- Bet — A response indicating agreement. Example: “Wanna go to the store?” “Bet.”
- Bestie — “Best friend”; can also be used as a kind of formal address to a stranger.
- Bih — Short form of b*tch
- Body count — The number of people someone has slept with
- Bruh — “Bro”; can be used to address anybody
- BTS — A Korean boy band popular with tweens and teens
- Bussin’ — Awesome. Example: These tacos are bussin’.
- Cake — Used to describe a large bottom
- Canon event — A moment in development that will help shape your life or personality.
- Cappin’ — Lying
- CEO of [something] — To be a representative of some activity or thing. Example: “Taylor is the CEO of sleeping in late.”
- Cheugy — Used to describe someone or something that is basic, out of date, or trying too hard
- Cursed — Used to describe something (usually an online image) that is unsettling or creepy
- Cringe — Causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness
- Daddy — An attractive man, usually older, who conveys a sense of power and dominance
- Ded — Used when something is really funny or embarrassing. Example: OMG that meme has me ded!
- Dope — A way to describe something as cool or awesome
- Drip — Style, great fashion sense, flashy accessories
- DTF — Down to f*ck
- Egirl / Eboy — A young person with emo-inspired, punk-rock style
- Facts — An emphatic way to acknowledge the truth of someone’s statement
- Fam — Friends
- FBOI — F**k boy; a guy just looking for sex
- FINSTA — Fake Instagram account
- FOMO — Fear of missing out
- Fire — Amazing
- FWB — Friends with benefits
- Gas — Can refer to marijuana, be used to describe something that’s cool, or be used as a verb to mean “hype someone up”
- Ghosted — Ending a relationship by completely disappearing with no further communication
- Goals — Something you want or aspire to
- GOAT — Greatest of all time
- GTG — Got to go
- Gucci — Something good or cool
- GYAT — 1. Acronym that stands for “get your act together”. 2. Shortened term for “godd**n” used to express approval or excitement.
- Hentai — Graphic anime pornography
- High key — 1. Very interested in 2. Actively spreading information
- Hits different — When something is better than it normally is because of different circumstances. Example: “A cold soda just hits different when it’s super hot outside.”
- Ick or Ick Factor — The feeling you get when your attraction to someone is suddenly flipped to a feeling of disgust.
- ISO — In search of
- IYKYK — “If you know you know”; meant to imply that there’s an inside joke
- Juul — Type of e-cigarette that is small and discreet; ‘pods’ are used for smoking
- Karen — Used to refer to an entitled mom
- KMS — Kill myself
- KYS — Kill yourself
- Left no crumbs — A phrase that means you did something perfectly.
- Lit/Turnt/Turnt Up — Something that’s active or popular, can also refer to being stoned or drunk
- LMAO — Laughing my ass off
- LMP — 1. A term that means “like my pic” or 2. Sometimes stands for “lick my p***y”
- LOL — Laugh out loud
- Low key — 1. Somewhat interested in 2. Keeping information secret
- Meal — Someone who looks good enough to eat. See also: “Snack” or “snacc”
- Mid — Insult meaning “low quality” or “average.” Derives from “mid-tier”— not awful, but not great. Example: “The new Jurassic Park was mid.”
- Netflix and chill — Getting together and hooking up
- No cap — Used to indicate that someone is not lying
- NP — No problem
- OFC — Short for “of course”
- OK, Boomer — Calling out an idea that is outdated or resistant to change
- OMFG — Oh my f**king god
- Plug — Term used to refer to someone who can “connect” you with drugs; a drug dealer.
- PMOYS — Acronym that stands for “put me on your Snapchat”
- Rizz — Derived from “charisma.” Someone who has “game” when it comes to romantic pursuits. Example: “Taylor has that rizz, they’re so charming.”
- ROTFLMAO — Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off
- Salty — To be bitter or cranky about something
- Same — “I can relate”
- Shading — Where teens gossip about another party without naming them; also “throw shade” means to talk about someone
- Ship — Short for “relationship”; also used as a verb to indicate a desire to see two people together. Ex.: I ship Taylor and Jamie.
- Simp —Somebody who tries very hard and does a lot for their crush. Ex.: “You got Sarah 3 dozen roses? Stop being such a simp.”
- Sis — Short for “sister” but can be used to address anybody; usually used to express that drama has occurred
- Skeet — To ejaculate
- Slaps— Used to express that something is awesome. Ex.: “This burrito slaps.”
- Smash — Means to have casual sex
- SMDH — Shaking my damn head
- SMH — “Shaking my head,” meaning “I don’t believe it” or “that’s so dumb”
- Snack — Describes an attractive person
- Snapstreak — Created when friends send snaps every day, creating a streak
- Snatched — On point, very good, or well styled
- Spam — A fake social media account
- Squad — Close friend group
- Stan — A teen slang term meaning an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity
- STFU — Short for “shut the f**k up,” can be used as an expression of disbelief or to cyberbully
- Sus — Short for “suspicious.” Popularized by the Among Us game.
- Swoop — To be picked up in an automobile
- TBH — To be honest
- Tea — Gossip or interesting news shared between friends
- Thicc — Having an attractive, curvy body
- TF — The f**k, as in “who TF you think are?”
- Thirsty — Desperate for attention, usually sexual attention
- Thot — Stands for “that ho over there” and is often used instead of “slut”
- Trash — “Terrible,” “unacceptable
- Turnt — Excited and having a good time, often with the help of drugs or alcohol
- V — “Very”
- Vibing — Chilling out, having a good time, or identifying with a certain kind of energy
- VSCO girl — A style characterized by Hydro Flasks, Crocs, and scrunchies
- WAP — Wet ass p*ssy
- Woke — Socially or politically conscious
- WTF — What the f**k?
- WYA — Where you at?
- WYD — What you doing?
- YAAS — A very emphatic yes
- YEET — 1. A very strong word for yes. 2. To throw something.
- Zaddy — A well-dressed, attractive man of any age
- 420 — Marijuana reference
- 11:11 — Popular time to make a wish
- ASB — As balls. Example: I’m high asb.
- Chad — A hyper-sexual young man
- Chill — Relaxed or laid back
- Coney — Slang for “penis”
- CYA — “Cover your ass” or “see ya”
- Dabbing — Refers to concentrated doses of cannabis; also a dance craze
- Dongle — Slang for “penis”
- HEAF — An acronym for “High Expectations Asian Father”
- Hulk — A 2mg generic benzodiazepine bar, which is green
- ILY — I love you
- IRL — In real life
- JK — Just kidding
- OKURRR — Variation of “OKAY” made popular by rapper Cardi B who defines it as something that is said to affirm when someone is being put in their place
- School Bus — A 2mg Xanax bar, which is yellow
- SH — Sh** happens
- SUFF — An acronym meaning “Shut up, f**k face”
- Spam — A fake social media account
- TDTM — Talk dirty to me
- WUF — Where you from?
Popular slang Emojis
- 🍆 — Penis
- 🥴 — Used to express drunkenness, sexual arousal, or a grimace
- 🍑 — Butt
- 🥵 — Means “hot” in a sexual sense; a kid might comment this on their crush’s Instagram selfie, for example
- 🚛 — “Dump truck,” which refers to a large and/or shapely bottom
- 🌮 — Vagina
- 🙃 — Used to express annoyance about something
- 🤡 — Used when getting caught in a mistake or when feeling like a fraud
- 👻 — Indicates being “ghosted” (dumped with no explanation)
- 🧢 — Symbolizes a lie, which could also be called a “cap”
- 👉👈 — Shy, nervous (usually in the context of flirting)
- 🧿 — Represents warding off the “evil eye”
- 🧠 — Oral sex
- 💦 — Ejaculation
- 👅 — May indicate sexual activity, especially oral sex
- ⏳ — Used when someone has an “hourglass” body shape
- 🥶 — Often used in response to a snarky or “savage” comment (as in, “That was cold”
- 😈 — Feeling frisky or naughty
- 👁️ 👄 👁️ — A response that means, “It is what it is”
- 🧚♀️✨— Can be used in comments to denote a sarcastic, mean-spirited tone
- 🍃 — Emoji slang for Marijuana/weed
- 🤤 — Desiring someone sexually (often used in response to nudes)
- 🍒 — Breasts/testicles/virginity
- 🍝 — Represents nudes, which are often called “noods”
- 👀 — Used when sending or receiving nudes
- 💳 — Often used on TikTok to express wanting something portrayed in the video
- 💯 — A stamp of approval; “I agree”
- 🔨 — Used to refer to sexual activity
- 🌶️ — Indicates “spiciness,” i.e., inappropriate or risque content
- 🌽 — Represents “porn,” especially on TikTok
- Smash — Means to have casual sex
- Thirsty — Desperate for sexual attention; horny
- Sneaky link — Term for someone you’re hooking up with on the sly
- Clapping cheeks — Having sex
- GYAT — A shortened term for “godd**n” used
to express approval or excitement. Often it’s used in response to
seeing a girl that one finds attractive (particularly with a curvy
body). - 🍝 — Represents nudes, which are often called “noods”
- 👀 — Used when sending or receiving nudes
- 🥵 — Means “hot” in a sexual sense; a teen might comment this on a crush’s TikTok, for example
- 🤤 — Desiring someone sexually (often used in response to nudes)
- 👉👈 — Shy, nervous (usually in the context of flirting)
- 😈 — Feeling naughty or frisky
- 🍑 — Butt
- 🍆 — Penis
- 🍌 — Penis
- 🌮 — Vagina
- 😼 — Vagina
- 🚛 — “Dump truck,” which refers to a large and/or shapely bottom
- 💦 — To ejaculate
- 🥜 — To ejaculate
- 🧠 — Oral sex
- ⭕ 💢 — Oral sex
- 🌽 — Means “porn” and is used because porn rhymes with corn. It may also be simply spelled out as “corn.” See also: corn star, corn industry.
- ⬛️ 🟧 — Refers to Pornhub
- P ⭐️ — Represents “porn star”
- S 🥚 s — “Sex”
- Seggs — Alternate spelling of “sex”
- Leg booty — Refers to LGTBQ
- Nip nops — Nipples
- Spicy eggplant — Vibrator
- Accountant
— Code word for being a sex worker or OnlyFans creator. Originates from
the fact that people don’t ask follow-up questions when you say you
have a steady, boring job like an accountant.
