Teen Texting Secrets Decoded

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Texting has become a most popular form of communication—especially so amongst teens.

If you're a guardian, and you've picked up your teens phone, you may have seen what may seem like random letters, or typos, but chances are those letters stand for things parents should know.

CBS4's Rhiannon Ally spoke to some teens to find out what they're saying via text.

"Yeah I use abbreviations so she don't know what I'm saying. She wouldn't like it," said one teen.

CLICK HERE To Watch Rhiannon Ally's Report 

For example, 'LIQ' stands for liquor, 'DTC' is down to chill. There are more, like 'TDTM' which stands for talk dirty to me. The list continues; TDTM, talk dirty to me, GYPO, get your pants off.

One mother, who did not want to be identified, knew little of whatever her 15-year-old daughter was texting and was horrified when she found out.

She, like many other parents, did not know that GNOC means get naked on camera.

"The picture was of herself naked," said the mother. She said she was "embarrassed, horrified and worried."

"There are so many things on our kids' phones and technology that I don't know about and our kids do that they can hide things from us," said the mother.

Mike Harris, an investigator, patrols internet sites working to keep kids safe. He urges parents to be proactive in deciphering the teen texting code.

"Parents can go to a dictionary what seen on phone and find out what they're talking about," said Harris.

He said it's not just teens exchanging x-rated texts, its internet predators looking to solicit children by using acronyms or abbreviations on social media.

"Sometimes it's very graphic, the shortcut but we wouldn't know we don't understand it." He said. "They're very sexually suggestive acronyms, kids know them, predators know them."

Harris said most parents are naïve about what their kids are texting.

Educating kids on the dangers of inappropriately sending messages through text or social media should start early. He takes his message to schools to teach them before it's too late.

Some high schoolers told CBS4 that they learned x-rated acronyms early—to keep their parents in the dark.

"My mom would probably ground me and take my phone."