Roots Renewal Ranch Investigates Teen Text Slang

Argyle, TX – Roots Renewal Ranch, a mental health and substance use rehabilitation ranch in Texas, released a new blog post about teen text slang and how phrases and emojis can have hidden and dangerous meanings. Their program offers specific treatment for teen girls aged 13-17, while their blog provides education and tools for parents to help understand what may be going on with their teen.

“Parents need to understand the dangers of social media, and how slang and emojis are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, in 2021, Texas ranked number 2 for the highest number of human trafficking cases. The same year, the National Sex Trafficking Hotline received 3,534 signals from Texas, with 1,124 being from victims or survivors themselves. Most of these cases were started online or through Snapchat. Our goal at Roots is to help parents protect their daughters and understand the signs of danger, before it is too late,” the article reads.

There are many abbreviations for phrases that are sexual in nature as well as emojis related to body parts or sexual acts. Emojis can also be drug references and phrases alluding to how to get drugs. Some teens may not be up to date on what these phrases and emojis mean and can find themselves in situations of bullying or mistaken feelings.

One phrase that may seem harmless is ASL – which stands for age, sex, and location. It is often seen in chat rooms and via Snapchat, where predators can be found catfishing. Teens think they are speaking with someone their own age or even someone they know, when really it is a complete stranger. Teen girls can get lured into sex trafficking schemes without knowing because the person they are talking to seems real. They send messages to the person and he/she promises money and a life of luxury if they meet.

“Another area of potential risk is called sadfishing. This term refers to social media posts that draw attention and make the reader want to question what is going on. If your daughter posts something like ‘Ugh, another mental breakdown is heading my way,’ you automatically need to see if she is okay. These posts are sometimes a cry for help and could be a sign of serious mental health distress. Other times, they are attention ploys to help her self-esteem. She doesn’t feel like anyone cares for her, which is still just as troubling. In any case, sadfishing warrants a conversation with your teen girl,” the article continues.

There is the argument that as teens speak in slang and abbreviations, their English and grammar will decline. This is not necessarily true as every generation dating back to the beginning of civilization has created slang along the way of progress. This is how the English language developed into what it is today, and every generation that comes next will add its own twist to it. The key is to keep parents informed of potential dangers within the language so they can recognize the problem before it becomes severe.

Roots Renewal Ranch is a leading provider of mental health and substance use disorder treatment among teen girls. The working ranch provides a safe space away from the distractions of school and activities and allows teen girls to focus on themselves and their healing journey. Their staff is trained in conflict resolution as well as trauma-informed therapy to address the past and learn healthy coping skills for the future.

For those wanting to learn more about Roots Renewal Ranch, call 888-399-0489 or visit their website.