Some Secret Text Codes Teenagers Use

This article has received a great deal of attention and I have received some very inappropriate comments and emails. The list below is not a list that every teenagers use, but some teenagers do use these codes. I am reposting it because parents do need to be aware of some of the secrets teenagers use when they text.

As a psychotherapist who primarily treats teenagers, I am very aware how important texting is to teenagers. It is the primary way that many teens communicate with each other. This seems harmless, but it can be very dangerous.

Many of the apps teenager's use involve texting. Many of these sites allow teens to text with teens all over the country and the world. As a result it is done via computer websites, many teens may not know who they are texting to. There are many sexual predators that go on these sites looking for teenagers to prey on.

In addition to adult predators, teenagers use texting as a way to set up drug deals or advertise underground parties and raves. At these underground parties and raves there is usually drugs and alcohol. Many teens accidentally overdose at raves and underground parties because they do not know for sure what drug they are taking or if it is laced with another drug because they are buying the drug from a total stranger. They have no way to know if the person selling is honest or a con.

For these reasons and many others, many parents are worried about what their teens are texting about and to who. There are apps parents can install on their teens' cellphones to monitor their teenager's texting. However, many teens are aware that their parents may be monitoring their texts. Therefore, many teenagers have developed ways to hide their texts in apps on their cellphones and a code language for texting. This code language makes it very difficult for parents to know what their teen is texting about or who they are texting to.

The other day I was reviewing a post by "My Body is My Body." They provided a list of codes many teenagers use to text secretly. Knowing these codes can help parents be more aware about what and who their teenager is texting to. I have included the code list below:

Dr. Michael Rubino has over 20 years experience working with teenagers. For more information regarding Dr. Rubino’s work or private practice visit his website www.RubinoCounseling.com. If you have comments, I ask that you keep them mature and not to send any inappropriate or threatening emails.