Chat Code

Chat code (also known as chat acronyms and chat abbreviations) is a system of symbols, acronyms, and abbreviations used in online communications such as instant messaging. Chat codes are extremely popular with kids because they allow them to type messages more quickly and, occasionally, hide their meaning from adults (e.g., POS means "parent over shoulder"). Some chat codes (such as leetspeak) also identity the writer as a member of a certain community. It is important to know what these codes mean, so you can know what your child is saying to others online. You can find chat code dictionaries on many Web sites, including NetLingo  and Acronym Finder .