Netflix’s hugely popular new series Adolescence has sparked a new debate. The British police have issued a warning list for parents regarding the ‘secret signs and codes’ frequently featured in the series. Following the release of Adolescence, which focuses on the accusation that 13-year-old Jamie Miller murdered his classmate Katie Leonard, Nottinghamshire Police in the UK published warnings about abbreviations used by young people. The police highlighted the fact that commonly used emojis can carry much darker meanings than presumed. They listed words, hashtags, and abbreviations that parents should be concerned about. Moreover, parents should not only watch out for emojis but also specific words and abbreviations. The list published by Nottinghamshire Police is divided into three categories: • Warning signs • Terms to pay attention to • Fun words and abbreviations

According to the shared list, 52 words, hashtags, and abbreviations serve as alarm signals for parents. Some of these are related to drugs and alcohol, such as: • 420 (marijuana) • Crow (marijuana) • Molly (ecstasy/MDMA) • Pre-ing (drinking before drug use) • Wavey (under the influence of alcohol or drugs) • Wired (paranoia due to drugs)

There are also warning signs related to mental health: • #ana (anorexia) • #deb (depression) • #sue (suicide) • #svv (self-harm behavior) • #thinsp (promotes thinness)

However, the most common theme in this group is sexuality. Some abbreviations to be aware of include: • CU46 (let’s meet for sex) • FWB (friends with benefits) • FYEO (for your eyes only) • GNOC (get naked on camera) • IWSN (I want sex now) • NIFOC (naked in front of computer)

Furthermore, some words and phrases related to sexuality are also included in the police warning list: • Down in the DM (planning a sexual encounter via social media or messaging) • Hooking up (engaging in sexual activity) • Smash (casual sex) • Thirsty (sexually eager)

Parents are recommended to keep an eye on these words and abbreviations, although they may not be as concerning as the danger signs. Some of these are well-known abbreviations used by the majority of users: • AF (very extreme) • DM (direct message) • ILY (I love you) • YOLO (you only live once) • JK (just kidding)

In addition, there are some less-known abbreviations: • TMB (tweet me back) • VSF (very sad face) • PAP (post a picture) • WTPA (where’s the party at?)

Some terms related to cyberbullying are also mentioned on the list: • Airing (ignoring someone) • Parring (accusing someone of disrespect)

Other words to watch out for include: • Salty (getting upset with someone or something) • Slipping (making a mistake) • Preeing (following someone online)

Apart from the dangerous abbreviations highlighted by the police, most of the listed words are considered fun or harmless. Some common fun abbreviations include: • AFAIK (as far as I know) • CBA (can’t be bothered) • DWBH (don’t worry, be happy) • FWIW (for what it’s worth) • HAND (have a nice day) • RAK (random act of kindness)

Frequently used fun words include: • Bruh (bro/buddy) • Cray (crazy) • Dench (amazing, perfect) • Gassed (happy, excited) • Safe (trustworthy person) • Swear (are you serious?) • Wagwan (what’s going on?)

WARNING FROM THE EXPERT

Rani Govender, a manager at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children speaking to MailOnline, emphasized that themes in the Adolescence series are “deeply disturbing.” She stated, “The highly disturbing themes portrayed in Netflix’s Adolescence series vividly illustrate the unacceptable risks young people face in today’s online world. This drama powerfully demonstrates how children can be exposed to harmful content without adequate protection.”

WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE ABOUT?

Adolescence is making waves in the social media agenda both with its subject matter and cast. Released on Netflix on March 13, the crime series stars Stephen Graham from Boiling Point, Top Boy star Ashley Walters, and Christine Temarco, who viewers may recognize from The Responder series. The standout figure in the series is Owen Cooper. Particularly, Owen Cooper’s and Stephen Graham’s performances have received high praise from critics. The series delves into the events following the accusation that 13-year-old Jamie Miller murdered his classmate Katie Leonard. While Jamie’s father Eddie believes in his son’s innocence, the police and the community try to unravel the incident. The first episode centers on Jamie’s arrest. The second episode shows detectives visiting Jamie’s school to find answers about the murder weapon and motivation. The third episode depicts a session where Jamie and a child psychologist work on a pre-hearing report about his mental health. The final episode focuses on Jamie’s family as the emotional turmoil from his actions slowly unfolds months after his arrest.

IS ADOLESCENCE BASED ON A TRUE STORY?

Both Thorne and Graham have made it clear that the series is not a reenactment of a specific real crime. However, Graham mentioned that Adolescence was inspired by the worrying increase in real knife attacks in the UK. The Office for National Statistics reported that knife attacks in England and Wales doubled in the last decade. The Ministry of Justice announced in March 2023 that over 18,000 individuals involved in knife-related crimes were prosecuted or cautioned in a year. 17.3% of the offenders in these attacks were young people aged 10 to 17. Graham stated to Tudum, “One of our aims was to ask: What’s happening to our young men these days, and what pressures are they under from their peers, the internet, and social media? And the pressures, as difficult as they are for the children here, are just as daunting for children around the world.”