Kids are way beyond LOL and OMG
BOISE - It's a kind of secret code between teens - acronyms like CD9 or KPC, sent from one cell phone to another with one simple message - keep mom and dad out of the loop.
But did you know that some of the acronyms kids are using these days are sexual in nature?
Stephanie Malone, 19, said she punches in about 2,000 or 3,000 texts in a month, but she doesn't send inappropriate messages, like the ones we showed her in a list of ones commonly used by some teens.
"I think it's really gross," Malone said. "Kids shouldn't be able to experience things like that."
Jim Campbell has a teenage daughter. After he read the list of acronyms, he was surprised at how sexually explicit they were.
"A lot of them do shock me," he said. "I really hope I wouldn't find these on the phone or on the computer."
Dr. Thomas Young, director at Warm Springs Counseling Center, said teens sending sexual texts is something parents need to understand.
"You need to have a talk about sex, sexuality, what's acceptable, and what's not acceptable in terms of ways to communicate about it," Young said.
And parents like Stephanie Klein agree. She said she plans on allowing her now 4-year-old son to have a phone someday. But it's her job to teach him to make good decisions.
"We see it as it's our place to be there for him to help navigate those waters, especially when he does make mistakes," Klein said.
Because not all texting is harmful. Sometimes it's as simple as using it to find a meeting place on a warm, summer afternoon.
The top 50 texting acronyms commonly used by some teens.WARNING: Some of the entries are graphic in nature.
But did you know that some of the acronyms kids are using these days are sexual in nature?
Stephanie Malone, 19, said she punches in about 2,000 or 3,000 texts in a month, but she doesn't send inappropriate messages, like the ones we showed her in a list of ones commonly used by some teens.
"I think it's really gross," Malone said. "Kids shouldn't be able to experience things like that."
Jim Campbell has a teenage daughter. After he read the list of acronyms, he was surprised at how sexually explicit they were.
"A lot of them do shock me," he said. "I really hope I wouldn't find these on the phone or on the computer."
Dr. Thomas Young, director at Warm Springs Counseling Center, said teens sending sexual texts is something parents need to understand.
"You need to have a talk about sex, sexuality, what's acceptable, and what's not acceptable in terms of ways to communicate about it," Young said.
And parents like Stephanie Klein agree. She said she plans on allowing her now 4-year-old son to have a phone someday. But it's her job to teach him to make good decisions.
"We see it as it's our place to be there for him to help navigate those waters, especially when he does make mistakes," Klein said.
Because not all texting is harmful. Sometimes it's as simple as using it to find a meeting place on a warm, summer afternoon.
The top 50 texting acronyms commonly used by some teens.WARNING: Some of the entries are graphic in nature.
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