The Generation of Cell Phone Users – Tips and Rules For Teens

The three oldest kids in our home were issued cell phones in middle school for a variety of reasons, The number one reason being safety and the mom wanting to have the ability to contact them at anytime. If you have a tween or a teen and are considering making them a cell phone carrying teen we have a six tips for you.

1. Learn the foreign language of texting - teens use acronyms when texting to shorten their words however they also might be using them to keep adults from knowing what they are really texting about. Here is a list of of some common acronyms that your teem might use to keep you from really knowing what the conversation is about.

Text Messaging Acronyms

ADR — Address

AFK — Away from Keyboard

ASL — Age/Sex/Location

BRB — Be Right Back

GTG — Got to Go

GYPO — Get Your Pants off

IWSN — I Want Sex Now

JK — Just Kidding

KFY — Kiss for You

KPC — Keeping Parents Clueless

LMIRL — Let’s Meet in Real Life

LMAO—Laughing My Ass off

LOL — Laugh out Loud

MorF — Male or Female

NIFOC — Nude in Front Of Computer

P911 – Parent Alert

PAL — Parents Are Listening

PAW — Parents Are Watching

PIR — Parent in Room

POS — Parents over Shoulder

SorG — Straight or Gay

TDTM — Talk Dirty to Me

WYCM — Will You Call Me?

2.

Talk to your kids about the dangers of sexting - Be in the know as to who your kids are texting. You can also check your bill to see what times of the day your kids are texting.

3. Family cell phone rules - Establish rules

- What time at night do they need to turn off their phones

- Where they are to keep their cell phones at night in or out of their bedrooms.

- Turn cell phones off at meal times

- Driving and cell use

- Cell phone etiquette ( when and where talking is allowed)

- Use at school

4. To answer or not answer - discuss with your kids that they are to only answer calls or view text messages from people they know just Like the Internet, cell phones are used not only for bullying, but also for sexual predators and for scams.

5. Pictures and video – Teach your kids about that privacy and ethics are important. And you or your teen may be liable if a privacy law is broken. Do not invade others privacy using your cell phone camera abilities.

6. The bill- Determine who will pay and what types of services you will purchase for their phones. Unlimited vs. limited, texting, internet etc.