In today’s digital age, the use of online communication and social media has fostered a culture of slang or abbreviations that have rapidly become an integral part of our everyday language, particularly among the younger generation. As a parent, one of these slang words that you may have stumbled upon is ‘IRL’. In this post, we will dive into its meaning, usage and some practical examples to better understand its application in your child’s digital life.
Slang Meaning: What does 'IRL' mean?
Contrary to puzzling out an unknown word, 'IRL' is an abbreviation that stands for 'In Real Life.' The phrase serves as an internet slang initialism employed to distinguish between reality and the virtual world portrayed on social media, movies, video games, etc.
Slang Use Cases & Examples: When is 'IRL' used?
The slang term is widely embraced by teenagers to underline the difference between life online and in reality. By utilizing ‘IRL’, a young person is acknowledging that there may be discrepancies between life depicted online and life as is. Parents should be particularly alert for any unusual messages that talk about meeting ‘IRL.’Here are a few examples of how the term ‘IRL’ might be used by your teen:
- ‘Emily’s profile picture is adorable; wonder if her cat is that cute IRL.’
- ‘Jake has been talking about joining a band. I can’t believe he’d do it IRL.’
- ‘My brother is a complete mess IRL, but his social media presence is immaculate.’
- ‘Are you serious about moving to New York, IRL?’
How to Talk With Your Child About the Use of 'IRL' Slang
Launch a conversation around the use of IRL as a gateway to discuss digital media vs. reality. Studies have shown that consuming certain types of social media content can exacerbate feelings of depression in teenagers. It is, therefore, crucial to guide your youngsters in critically analyzing the content they encounter online. Here are some helpful conversation starters:
- ‘Do you believe people always portray their true selves online, or is it different IRL?’
- ‘Have you come across instances where someone’s digital life seemed perfectly happy, but their IRL was the opposite?’
- ‘How different do you believe things are on social media compared to IRL?’
Stay Ahead with Parentaler's Slang Alert Feature
Keeping up with the latest slang in online communication can be challenging, especially for parents. That's why we've introduced Slang Alert in our Parentaler app – a tool to help you stay aware. With it, customize keywords, receive real-time warnings, and gain contextual understanding. Parentaler's Slang Alert feature sends alerts to parents' phones when their child uses specific monitored slang words.Parenting in a connected world can feel like sailing unknown waters, but with Parentaler, you'll be ahead. Don’t just monitor – understand and participate. Utilize Slang Alert and become the proactive parent your child desires. Join the conversation and enhance your digital parenting with Parentaler.