Decoding hidden meanings behind some emojis and acronyms

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ( Aging Untold ) — Certain emojis and acronyms beyond LOL and BRB used in text messages carry hidden meanings that parents and grandparents may not know. Jill Story said it is tough to stay on top of the abbreviated language her three daughters use. “They have a whole language that they use that I’m constantly having to, like, figure out,” Story said. Story said some of the acronyms her daughters use are even more difficult to decipher. Chart lists coded emoji meanings A chart from For Working Parents went viral. The group’s founder, a former vice principal, detailed what he described as sinister emojis, symbols that could represent something different from what parents might think. The meanings range from drugs to sex to extremism. Mothers guess at meanings Neither Story nor two of her mom friends knew that Code 9, or CD9, means “parents are around.” Aside from a few good guesses, none of the mothers knew all of the potential secret meanings. One of the mothers said she felt somber and shocked after learning what some of the messages meant. GNOC: Get naked on camera Screen Sanity co-founder offers advice Tracy Foster, co-founder and CEO of Screen Sanity, an organization that helps parents navigate the digital world as parents raise children, said one acronym she feels strongly about is KYS. Foster said it stands for kill yourself. Foster said it is up to parents to help kids understand the weight of their words, whether explicit or coded. “You don’t want them to become desensitized,” Foster said. Foster said parents can start by showing interest in what their children know. “So often, if you just start to show curiosity and an appreciation for their knowledge, they’ll start to open up,” Foster said. Story said every generation has a coded language. “As a mom, I would like to be up on those things,” she said. Read more here. Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.