Digital slang guides help parents decode youth internet language

Parents and educators are increasingly turning to specialized guides to navigate the rapidly evolving digital slang used by children and adolescents. In the Spanish-speaking world, SaveFamily has released the first “Diccionario para Padres” (Dictionary for Parents) to help families decode terms like “cringe,” “NPC,” or “farmear aura.” Jorge Álvarez, director general of SaveFamily, notes that while slang has always helped generations build identity and independence, the speed of internet-driven language evolution presents a unique challenge for adults.

Similarly, parenting experts are addressing the phenomenon known as “brainrot”—a collection of Gen Z and Gen Alpha internet terms that often lack a singular, fixed meaning. Terms such as “rizz” (charisma), “delulu” (delusional), and “skibidi” (chaotic or random) are frequently used in ways that depend heavily on context. Experts suggest that rather than struggling to master the vocabulary, parents should use these moments as opportunities for connection by asking their children to explain the terms, allowing the youth to act as the experts.