Parents have been urged to look for these code words in their children’s online correspondence.
The long list of codes was found with US technology programme ‘The Kim Komando Show’.
The list, shared by the PSNI, also contains emojis that allude to sexual acts.
The list contains terms like ‘LMIRL’ meaning Let’s Meet in Real Life and ‘IWSN’ meaning I Want Sex Now.
Worryingly, ‘KMS’ and ‘KYS’ stand for Kill Myself and Kill Yourself and feature heavily in conversation around mental health and suicide.
Some commenters have said that the list is Americanised and have attempted to discredit it but the PSNI warns that therein lies the danger.
Margaret Gallagher of the NSPCC told the BBC said it was “impossible to publish a definitive list of texting phrases young people use as they tend to change frequently.”
“Teenagers will always want to create coded language that can’t be understood by their parents – it’s natural and not necessarily something to get overly concerned about,” said Gallagher.
“At the end of the day, you want them to feel comfortable coming to you if they’re worried about something that’s happened online, like an unsolicited approach or someone putting them in a vulnerable position,” she continued.
“They (children) just need reassurance that, if things do go badly wrong, they have someone they can turn to.”
Image via Facebook.com/PSNI.Newry.Mourne
