Have you been left confused after your child told you they were ‘poggers’ over their ‘drip’ or ‘aura’?
Fear not, because now the 22 most common terms used by youngsters have been decoded – meaning you’ll finally be able to understand your teen.
Topping the list of most baffling words was ‘finsta’, which viewers of TV show Amandaland may be familiar with. The term refers to a fake, ‘parent-friendly’ Instagram account.
Other slang terms which pickle the minds of millennial and Gen X parents include ‘GRWM’, which means Get Ready With Me, and ‘poggers’, which is used to show enthusiasm for something.
Other confusing phrases include ‘moots’, for mutual followers, ‘OOTD’, meaning Outfit Of The Day, ‘CL’, translating to Can’t Lie (or ‘ICL’ for I Can’t Lie), and ‘clappered’, which means worn out.
The survey by Tesco Mobile found that one in four (27 per cent) teens admit to having a ‘finsta’ – meaning many parents could be completely in the dark about the full extent of their children’s online presence.
According to the poll as many as 37 per cent of teens suspect that their parents are trying to spy on them via social media.
A fifth (19 per cent) of respondents said they use a secondary or ‘spam’ account which they allow their parents to follow and where they carefully curate the content.
One in three (34 per cent) go a step further and actively adjust their privacy settings to keep their stories and posts hidden from their parents, while a quarter (26 per cent) have blocked a family member from following them.
Emma Herridge, marketing director at Tesco Mobile, said: ‘Our research shows just how much of children’s online activity goes unnoticed. By fostering open conversations, parents can feel more confident navigating the digital world with their children.’
Sheena Peckham, content lead at Internet Matters, added: ‘As parents navigate the ever-evolving social world with their teens, open and honest conversations are essential. We recommend starting conversations from an early age and maintaining an ongoing dialogue about their online activities.’
Among the slang words decoded for parents were ‘noob’, referring to a new person, ‘rizz’, which refers to someone’s style or attractiveness, and ‘aura’, referring to someone who is cool.
Finsta (a fake Instagram account) – 43 per cent
GRWM (Get Ready with Me) – 39 per cent
Poggers (means enthusiasm) – 39 per cent
Moots (mutual followers) – 39 per cent
OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) – 37 per cent
CL (Can’t Lie) – 37 per cent
Ratioed (referring to a post which has more negative comments than positive ones) – 33 per cent
Touch grass (means spend more time outside and less time online) – 33 per cent
NPC (stands for non-player character which describes someone who lacks independent thought) – 32 per cent
ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response which is the tingling sensation you experience in response to certain sounds or visuals) – 31 per cent
Noob (stands for newbie meaning an inexperienced person) – 31 per cent
Rizz (refers to someone style or attractiveness) – 28 per cent
Aura (someone who is cool or confident) – 28 per cent
Cap/No Cap (refers to telling a lie or not telling a lie) – 28 per cent
Goated (someone considered the Greatest Of All Time) – 27 per cent
BRAT (someone who is confidently rebellious, unapologetically bold and playfully defiant) – 26 per cent
Clout (someone who has power, influence and popularity)- 24 per cent
Bussin’ (means exciting) – 24 per cent
Snatched (someone who is attractive, well-styled or amazing) – 23 per cent
Bet (used to express approval or agreement) – 23 per cent
Mid (something that is mediocre or average) – 22 per cent
Drip (a stylish outfit or accessory) – 22 per cent