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Internet Lingo

© Cheryl Lewis

Everyone knows that kids have their own language, it's usually called slang or a lingo. Then again if you ask the kids they usually have their own term and depending on the year that term may change. Well the Internet has developed it's own lingo as well.

The Internet lingo is relatively easy to figure out. It's usually a set of abbreviations or symbols used together to create some form of picture. Like, :o) <-that is a smiley face. If you can't recognize it turn your head to the left and take a look at it. Do you see it now?

With our kids we want to protect them and keep them from harm's way and while there are many Internet abbreviations that are rather vulgar there are some good ones too. If you want your kids to feel more comfortable surfing through the Internet consider teaching them some of the lingo. Here are a few things to get you started.

Abbreviated terms

BBL/bbl = be back later

BFN/bfn/b4n = bye for now

BRB/brb = be right back

BTW/btw = by the way

BTDT/btdt = been there, done that

BSG/bsg = big silly grin

IOW/iow = in other words

FYI/fyi = for your information

IMHO/imho = in my humble opinion

IRL/irl = in real life (I would strongly caution you about this term, it's not something you want your kids to be using with total strangers on the net.)

LOL/lol = laugh out loud

LMBO/lmbo = laughing my butt off

OIC/oic = oh I see

ROFL/rofl = rolling on the floor laughing

ROFLMBO/roflmybo = rolling on the floor laughing my butt off

TTFN/ttfn = ta ta for now (Most everyone knows that loveable Tigger expression and kids love to use it.)

TY/ty = thank you

WB/wb = welcome back

WYSIWYG/wysiwyg = what you see is what you get

Faces

:) :o) 8-) =) = smiley faces

:( :o( 8-) =( = sad frowning faces

<:o) smiley face with a hat

>:o( ;( angry face

:D big grin

;o) ;) ;-) winking faces

:O Shocked

:)~ :P :-)~ :(~ sticking out your tongue

Symbols

<-- / --> pointing to something

c(_) c[] = cup

[] = glass

*g* = grin

*G* = big grin

((hugs)) {{hugs}} {{name of a person}} = giving someone a hug

xoxox = hugs and kisses

Now there are dozens and dozens of different abbreviations and symbols and each one can be varied depending only on one's creativity. However, I think this list is sufficient enough to get any kid surfing comfortably. Until I got the hang of all the little shorts and lingo's I printed them out cut the paper down to size and taped it to my computer.

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