Parents Alert: Teens Using Secret Code on Social Media – Act Fast!

As a parent, it’s often hard to decipher what’s hidden behind teen conversations. With the rise of social media, communication accelerates. Messages are fleeting, and interactions multiply rapidly. In just seconds, a simple word can take on an unexpected significance. Take, for example, the term “red flag.” At first glance, any parent might think of its literal English translation. However, in some conversations, this term carries a much more nuanced meaning: it signifies a problematic trait in a person, a warning sign. And this is just one of many such examples. An emoji or a hashtag could also represent something darker, like an invitation to dangerous behavior or a cry for help.

There’s a specific code some youths have been using on social media lately, particularly on TikTok, under English-language posts or even in private messages. This term is “kys” or “keys.” These three or four letters, which might seem harmless, are actually a sign of cyberbullying. According to a guide from the website Gabb about teen language, as mentioned by our colleagues at the HuffingtonPost, the word “kys” or “keys” stands for “Kill Yourself”.

This is essentially a command. School psychologist Izzy Kalman, a pioneer in the resilience approach to bullying who often appears in American media, told BeStrong that “youth suicide is one of the most common themes in bullying coverage” and that “in many of these cases, the children took their own lives shortly after others told them to do so.”

If you notice comments containing “kys” on your child’s social media, it’s crucial to act quickly. Initially, try to have a non-judgmental conversation with them to understand where these messages are coming from and who might be behind this form of pressure or harassment. Allow them to open up at their own pace. If they’re hesitant to share, consider disabling comments on their account, or temporarily disconnecting them from their accounts. Another option is to report the issue on social media or to the police. In any case, experts warn against taking this type of message lightly.