This blogpost was originally published April 22, 2021, and has since been expanded to include new teen texting abbreviations and acronyms as of 2025, further broken down into categories, and the inclusion of a printable .pdf download of the Teen Texting Abbreviations Cheat Sheet.
We first published this article in honor of February’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month back in 2021, and in just four short years, teen cell phone usage has boomed. According to PEW Research, nearly all US teens, aged 13-17, have access to a smart phone, and tablet access has gone up 12% since 2014-2015. With more kids having access to mobile devices, we thought there was no better time than now to update our list of teenage texting abbreviations to help parents keep their teenagers safe.
Many parents know the dangers of texting – a lot of romantic relationships between teenagers begin and flourish online (dating apps, social media) or via text message/direct messages. Red flags about an unhealthy, unsafe, or inappropriate relationship are likely to be traceable on their cell phone or computer. Kids these days are also exposed to cyber-bullying, possible access to the dark web, increased risk of being exposed to adult content, and even online predators. It’s important for parents to be knowledgeable about teen texting culture and to monitor their teens’ cell phone usage, and part of that is understanding the codes, abbreviations, and acronyms of teenage texting.
We have compiled a list of text abbreviations that every parent should know if they want to be informed and educated about their child’s online texting activity. This post is not about snooping on your teen, but rather knowing what you’re looking at if there is ever a question of safety.
Teenage Texting Acronyms (Categorized, 2025)
Parent Alerts & Safety Codes
- 9: Parent watching
- 99: Parent gone
- CD9: Parents around / Code 9
- KPC: Keeping parents clueless
- P911: Parent alert
- PAL: Parents are listening
- PAW: Parents are watching
- PBB: Parent behind back
- PIR: Parent in room
- POS: Parent over shoulder
- SOS: Someone over shoulder
- 303: Mom
General Conversation
- ATM: At the moment
- BFN: Bye for now
- BOL: Be on later
- BYOB: Bring your own booze/beer
- CTN: Can’t talk now
- GTG: Got to go
- IDC: I don’t care
- IDK: I don’t know
- IRL: In real life
- KK: Okay
- KWIM: Know what I mean?
- NBD: No big deal
- NMP: Not my problem
- NMU: Not much, you?
- NP: No problem
- NTIM: Not that it matters
- P&C;: Private and confidential
- PCM: Please call me
- PTB: Please text back
- WFM: Works for me
- WTF: What the F***
- WTH: What the hell
- WUF: Where you from?
- WYCM: Will you call me?
- WYRN: What’s your real name?
Romantic / Flirty / Sexual
- 1174: Meet at a party spot
- 143: I love you
- 1432: I love you too
- 182: I hate you
- 53X: Sex
- CUNS: See you in school
- DOC: Drug of choice
- F2F: Face to face
- FWP: Friends with benefits
- GNOC: Get naked on camera
- GYPO: Get your pants off
- IWSN: I want sex now
- KFY: Kiss for you
- LH6: Let’s have sex
- LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life
- MIRL: Meet in real life
- MPFB: My personal F*** buddy
- RUMORF: Are you male or female?
- SUGARPIC: Suggestive or erotic photo
- TDTM: Talk dirty to me
- WTTP: Want to trade pictures
Drugs / Substances
- 420: Marijuana
- ADR: Address
- CID: Acid (drug)
- DOC: Drug of choice
Miscellaneous / Other
- 4YEO: For your eyes only
- FYEO: For your eyes only
- GTFO: Get the F* out
- NSFW: Not safe for work
- TWD: Texting while driving
- KYS: K*ll yourself
- KMS: K*ll myself
Download a printable version of the teen texting abbreviations here.
Becoming acquainted with text abbreviations is just one of the many tools you can equip yourself with when raising a teenager. It’s challenging being the parent of a teen, and the truth is, we don’t always know what to do. The good news is, you’re not alone. Consider reaching out to Jessica Yaffa for relationship coaching to learn more about how to keep your teen safe in today’s dating world. Jessica also offers expert-led group workshops if you’d like to learn with a community that gets you and your teen. The best way to protect your teen is to stay in the know and to be able to recognize the warning signs if they do occur.
