If Your Kid Messages 'Pir' To Someone, They Probably Don't Want You To See

When you’re raising tweens and teens, it can be a real struggle to keep up with their ever-changing lingo.For the last few (actually, many) weeks everything’s been “six-seven”, this week it’s “let’s get sendy” and, honestly, who knows what will come next?We’ve already tried to decode what popular teen slang means, including when kids say something’s “washed” or “chopped”.You might find your son or daughter is calling everyone and everything “chat” or constantly banging on about their “aura”.And then there are the acronyms – of which there are oh-so-many: PMO (piss me off), SYBAU (shut your b**** ass up), TS (this sh**), ATP (at this point) – the list goes on and on.There are some that should raise alarm bells, too. Like KYS (sometimes written as “keys”) which can mean “kill yourself”.And now I’m here to report there’s another acronym that parents might want to know about – because it might signal that their child doesn’t want them to know what they’re up to... Or who they’re speaking to.According to Internet Matters, the acronym PIR – commonly written lowercase, like “pir” – stands for “parent(s) in room”. So yes, if your child uses it – whether on Whatsapp, social media or in gaming – they’re quickly letting others know that you’re about.Similarly, “pal” might be used to alert others to the fact “parents are listening”, or “paw” can mean “parents are watching”. In some cases, kids might just use “9” or “code 9” to alert others to the fact you’re present. Obviously it’s impossible to keep an eye on everything your tween or teen does online – especially if they’re at a mate’s house. But it’s crucial for us, as parents, to have regular conversations and check-ins with them about what they’re doing, and seeing, online – as well as who they’re speaking to.Internet Matters recommends encouraging your child to talk to you about how they use the internet and to show you what they do. It can also be helpful for you to discuss with them the kinds of things they might come across or who they might speak to.At home, activate parental controls on your broadband, as well as phones and games consoles. You can also put ‘safe search settings’ or set parental controls on search engines and social media sites. “Agree and set boundaries with them or have a family agreement for their internet use, including when and where they can use portable devices and for how long, before they get used to doing their own thing,” adds Internet Matters.The NSPCC also has a helpful online safety quiz which children can take – and which can act as a catalyst for parents to talk to them about staying safe on the internet.When talking to kids about this stuff, it’s best to stay calm and curious. As the NSPCC suggests if you’re too forceful, there is the risk that they will “close down”.For more advice on talking to children about online safety, check out the NSPCC’s guide as well as Internet Matters.Related...'KYS' Is The Concerning Acronym Every Parent Should Know AboutThird Of Boys Say Girls In Revealing Clothes Are ’Asking For Trouble’ – Who Is To Blame?UK Porn Age Verification Is Here – But What If We’re Sending Teens Somewhere Worse?

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