Can You Decode These Emojis? It Could Save Your Child’s Life

It’s tough keeping up with kids.  I know…it feels old for me to say it, but it’s true.  And it’s never been more important to speak their language than it is these days.

Remember when parents had to figure out what ‘brb’ and ‘omw’ meant when their kids texted it to them?  People are always joking about how they can’t understand what their teenagers are saying to them.  It’s not easy to keep up with slang words or phrases that they use.  90% of the time it feels like they’re making it up on the spot.  And if your kid is into using emojis, it’s even harder.  Not only do you have to de-code what it is they’re saying, but you have to decode what the emoji stands for in the first place.

Sadly, they aren’t always what they seem, and their meaning isn’t always good.

I was reading this story about a doctor whose 16-year-old son accidentally overdosed after experimenting with a drug that was laced with fentanyl and it really opened my eyes to what we really don’t see from our kids.  Her son found the drug dealer through Snapchat.

The doctor then shared a picture on Instagram of some of the emojis that kids use to get what they want without getting caught.

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A post shared by Laura Berman (@drlauraberman)

Would you have known what those emojis stood for if you had found it on your child’s story?

As a parent, it’s a scary world that we live in, and these things can and probably will change.   If you’re a parent or a teacher, or really anyone who interacts with kids on a daily basis, you might want to keep up on these things.  It’s not just something to do to act cool with your kids…it could save their life.