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TXT2CONNECT with Teens – A Parent’s TXT Tutorial

Cell phones, and text messaging in particular, have become a central force in the way that teens connect with one another and with their parents. Kids want to communicate – but on their terms. By using the same tools, parents can connect with their kids in very meaningful ways. Technology can help you connect with your kids at a different level while also increasing frequency of contact. (NOT SURE YOU NEED THIS LEAD IN PARAGRAPH, YOU MAY WANT TO CUT)

What is Text Messaging and Instant Messaging?
Ever wonder why your child is always typing feverishly on their cell phone keypad? Well, they are probably chatting with their friends using instant messaging (IM) or text messaging.  Teens today like to communicate using short messages on their cell phones because it’s a quick, simple and private way to stay in touch. In fact, for many parents, texting seems to be the only way to get their teens to respond.

How Do You Text with Other Mobile Phones and E-mail Addresses?
You can send and receive messages with other mobile and e-mail addresses. Sending a text message is simple. Follow these three easy steps:

1. Type your message up to 160 characters using the keypad on your cell phone. Most phones have a built-in dictionary that predicts the word you're typing and templates of common messages, which can help you send messages even faster.
2. Enter the 10-digit wireless phone number or e-mail address of the recipient
3. Hit the send button

It’s that easy!
 
The ABCs of Text Lingo
With the popularity and rise in use of text messaging, instant messaging and Internet chat rooms also came the emergence of a whole new language tailored to the immediacy and compactness of these forms of communication.  Since each text message can only contain up to 160 characters, people have learned ways to shorten words so they can say more in one message. One outcome of this practice is that punctuation is widely disregarded.  So don’t worry about those apostrophes, commas, dashes or proper capitalization!  Below are more basic text lingo tips to help you get started on connecting with your teen using their language.

• Take Out Vowels – A simple method of shortening words is to eliminate some of the vowels.  For example, shorten ‘TEXT’ to ‘TXT’
• Replace Words with Symbols and Numbers – For example, instead of writing the word ‘FOR’, use the number ‘4’.  Also, whenever the letters ‘FOR’ appear as part of another word like ‘FORGIVE’, substitute the number for the word and write ‘4GIVE’. Other examples include:
• And = &
• AT = @
• ATE = 8
• ONE = 1
• TO/TOO = 2
• Percent = %
• Remove the End ‘E’ and Change ‘O’ to ‘U’ – Another method of shortening words is to remove the ‘E’ from the end of the word.  In this instance, the word ‘GIVE’ would be written as ‘GIV’.  You can also remove the ‘E’ from words like ‘SOME’ and ‘LOVE’ and to make the words sound right, change the ‘O’ to ‘U’ to make ‘SUM’ and ‘LUV’.
• Replace ‘I’ with ‘Y’ – For many words, it is possible to replace and ‘I’ with a ‘Y’ and remove some characters from the word. With the word ‘RIGHT’, replace the ‘I’ with ‘Y’ and remove the ‘G’ and ‘H’ to make ‘RYT’.
• Use Sounds to Represent Words – For example, instead of writing ‘YOU’, replace it with the letter which creates the same sound, ‘U’.  For the word ‘WHY’, replace it with ‘Y’ and for the word ‘ANY’ replace it with ‘NE’.
• Use Known Abbreviations and Common Words – There are some words that do not use the regular methods above but have become popular abbreviations or acronyms over time.  Many of these have spread to text messages from being used mainly in shat rooms over the Internet.  Some examples include:
• PEOPLE = PPL
• BY THE WAY = BTW
• SEE YOU LATER = CUL8R
• THANK YOU = TY
• PLEASE = PLZ
• BECAUSE
• IN MY OPINION = IMO
• Combine all the Methods Above – Combining methods is an important part of text messages.  An example of combining words is the word ‘ANYONE’. By using the method of sounds and the method of replacing words with symbols and numbers, the word ‘ANYONE’ becomes ‘NE1’.
• Don’t Use All Caps, Unless You are Truly Mad -- If you ever see someone TYPING AN ENTIRE SENTENCE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS that means SHOUTING! It is not proper ‘netiquette’ to TYPE IN ALL CAPS. Turn off the CAPS unless you're using an acronym or shorthand.

Popular Text Messaging Lingo
If you have ever been in a chat room or received an instant message or text message from your teen that seemed to be in its own foreign language, this list will help you decipher the lingo and better reach out to your teen.

• AWGTHTGTTA - Are we going to have to go through this again
• AEAP - As early as possible
• CYR MA – Call your mother
• CYR PA – Call your father
• CYT or SYT - See you tomorrow
• DBL84DNR – Don’t be late for dinner
• EM? - Excuse me?
• GUDLUK – Good luck
• H&K - Hugs and kisses
• HAND – Have a nice day
• HF – Have fun
• IMNSHO - In My Not So Humble Opinion
• ILU or ILY - I Love You
• JstCllMe – Just call me
• KIT – Keep in touch
• MU – Miss you
• PTB – Please text back
• RINGL8 – Running late
• TTYL – Talk to you later

Teens often use text language to keep parents in the dark about their conversations by making their comments indecipherable to texting novices. Some text terms parents need to know to keep their kids safe include:

• POS - Parent over shoulder
• PIR - Parent in room
• P911 - Parent alert
• PAW - Parents are watching
• LMIRL - Let's meet in real life
• KPC - Keeping parents clueless

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