728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Communication › The ABCs of Cyber Lingo

The ABCs of Cyber Lingo

A Guide to Internet Acronyms

By Tammy Ruggles, BSW, MA

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  

If ASL, BRB, LOL or ROFL seem 2 hard 4 U 2 underst&, don't worry. Adults and teens who visit chat rooms and communicate via instant messengers (IMs) can give U the 411, including children who seem 2 young 2 even know much about computers. Does that sound g%d 2 U? B4 U get 2 frustrated with this shorthand and say CUL8R to this article, read a little further and U 2 will become versed in the foreign language of cyber land.

This isn't an exhaustive list. New cyber slang comes out every day, and some of these terms will be outdated tomorrow. It's just an overview for parents, grandparents, teachers, babysitters, newbie computer users, adults interested in learning more about cyber dating or anyone with a curiosity or concern for today's Internet culture and phraseology:

A

AAK: Alive and kicking

AAR: At any rate

AAS: Alive and smiling

Addy: Abbreviation for e-mail address

ADN: Any day now

AFAIK: As far as I know

AFK: Away from the keyboard

AFN: All for now

AOTA: All of the above

ASL: Age/Sex/Location (used to ask a chatter their personal information)

AV: Avatar (a graphic or icon often used by chatters to express looks, personality or mood)

B

B4: Before

BAK: Back at keyboard (ex.: I'm back at the keyboard.)

BBL: Be back later

BBS: Be back soon


Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6