If you've spotted your kids using these 'self-harm hashtags' it's time to act NOW

8 February 2019, 11:04 | Updated: 8 February 2019, 11:42

Teens use acronyms to discuss self-harm, eating disorders, bullying and drug-taking (stock image)
Teens use acronyms to discuss self-harm, eating disorders, bullying and drug-taking (stock image). Picture: Getty

Police have issued a list of over 200 secret code words teens are using online that parents should be aware of.

Police have released a list of acronyms, secret code words, hashtags and phrases that could be placing teenagers in danger online.

Officers claim youngsters use them to discuss and discover topics related to self-harm, eating disorders, bullying and drug-taking.

The list was first published on Nottingham Live to mark Safer Internet Day, with children's charity NSPCC urging parents to remain vigilant - and keep an eye out for clear 'red flags' when their child is online.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "One of the best ways for parents to keep their children safe online and spot risks is to open up conversations about their online lives.

"It is important for parents to keep up-to-date with the type of content, features and risks, as well as know the minimum age of the sites and games their children are using.

"Particularly, when we know one in four young people have been contacted over social media by an adult they don't know, with a third of these children 13 and under."

Read more: Celebs' #spon posts face industry-wide crackdown

teenager on phone
Secret code words used by teenagers online have been issued by police. Picture: Getty

1. Warning Flags

#ana - anorexia

#deb - depression

#sue - suicide

#svv - self-harming behaviour

#thinsp - thinspiration (photos or messages that inspire an effort to become thin)

9 - a parent is watching

420 - marijuana

ASL - age, sex, location

CD9 - parents are around

Crow - cannabis

CU46 - see you for sex

Daddy - can mean a partner who takes good care of you affectionately  or  someone with great influence and power over you

Down in the DM - short for plans in their social media or texts for an upcoming sexual hook-up

F2F  or  FTF - face to face

FWB - friends with benefits

FYEO - for your eyes only

GNOC - get naked on camera

Hooking up - having sex

"I know a way you can earn money fast" - a possible way of asking for photos/webcam access or a way to get information to blackmail a young person

"I know someone who can get you a modelling job" - a possible way of asking for photos and flattering the young person

IRL - in real life

IWSN - I want sex now

"Let's go private" - leave the public chatroom and create a private chat or move to instant-messaging/texting

LMIRL - let's meet in real life

KPC - keep parents clueless

Merked - really drunk  or  beaten up  or  getting found out  or  getting told off

MIRL - meeting in real life

Molly - ecstasy/MDMA

MOOS - member of the opposite sex

MOS - mum over shoulderMoving to (someone) - approaching, either aggressively or romantically

Netflix 'n Chill - to meet under the pretence of watching Netflix/TV together when actually planning to meet for "making out" or sex

NIFOC - naked in front of computer

NSFL - not safe for life

NSFW - not safe for work

P911  or  P999 - parents are watching

POS - parents over shoulder

Pre-ing - pre-drinking

RU/18 - are you over 18?

Sket - insulting term used towards girls

Smash - to have casual sex

Swipe right - term of approval derived from dating app Tinder

Thirsty - being desperate for something

Trolling - fooling someone - often used when people are commenting nasty abuse online

Wavey - drunk or high

"Where's your computer in your house?" - possibly a way of checking to see if parents might be around

"Who/What's your favourite band/designer/film/gear?" - possibly a way of trying to get to know more so that they can offer gifts

Wired - drug induced paranoia

WYRN - what's your real name?

"You are the love of my life" - possibly a way of flattering a young person and creating an emotional bond with them"

You seem sad. Tell me what's bothering you" - possibly a way of expressing sympathy and inviting them to share personal information

Zerg - to gang up on someone.

2. Terms to keep an eye on

4eae - for ever and ever

ADN - any day now

AF - as f***Aired - ignoring someone

"Are you parring me?" - are you showing me disrespect?

B - babe (can be just a friend)

Bae - short for "baby" and used as a term of endearment for a significant other such as a boyfriend or girlfriend. Short for "before anyone else"

Basic - lacking originality

Begfriend - someone who sucks up to someone else

BFN - bye for now

BOL - be on later

Bookie - weird  or  disgusting

Booted - left behind  or  dumped

Butters - ugly person

Bye Felicia - dismissive term when you want an annoying person to go away

Curve - to reject someone romantically

Dime - someone who is extremely good looking

DM - direct message

Ghost - ghosting someone is to completely ignore someone suddenly, usually as a nasty way of breaking up with someone

GLHF - good luck, have fun

HT  or H/T- heard through

HAK - hugs and kisses

IANAL - I am not a lawyer

ILY  or ILU - I love you

IU2U - it's up to you

IYKWIM - if you know what I mean

J4F - just for fun

JIC - just in case

J/K - just kidding

Kicked - left behind

Low key - a warning that what they're saying isn't something they want everyone to know

NAGI - not a good idea

OH - overheard

PAP - post a picture

Peng  or  tidy - really attractive

Preeing - looking at someone online (also know as "Facebook stalking")

PTB - please text back

QQ - crying

RL - real life

Salty - to be bitter about something or someone

Ship - relationship  or  to admire a couple (such as 'I ship them')

Sip tea - to mind your own business

Skurt - go away or leave

Slept - to knock someone out

Slipping - messing up

Stacked - built, really muscly, toned

Swag - confidence  or  fancy clothes/jewellery

SWAK - sealed with a kiss

SWYP - so what's your problem?

TBR - to be rude

Throw shade - to give someone a nasty look or say something unpleasant about them

TIME - tears in my eyes

TMB - tweet me back

VSF - very sad face

WTH  or WTF - what the heck?

WTPA - where's the party at?

WYCM - will you call me?

WYSIWYG - what you see is what you get

YGM - you've got mail

YOLO - you only live once