Editorial: Phones get too smart

Teenagers today have developed their own text language.

I've always been a bit of a grammar geek so it took me a while to cave in and start using abbreviations in texts.

I do use the odd acronym such as "lol" but for the most part my texts are pretty easily understandable.

I'd like to think I'm still young enough and cool enough to keep up with modern text language but, based on reporter Juliet Rowan's story in the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, it would seem I'm not.

I know the basic ones like TMI (too much information), BRB (be right back), GTG (got to go) and FOMO (fear of missing out).

Others I'd never heard of. I was surprised to read KPC meant keep parents clueless and POS meant parent over shoulder.

Acronyms can be convenient when texting but ones like KPC or POS are concerning - and I don't even have kids yet.

How do you keep tabs on your kids when they have access to computers, tablets and smart phones, all of which can be connected to the internet, from a young age?

It seems to be getting harder and harder for parents to keep their kids from getting up to nogood.

When I was a teenager I couldn't access the internet on my phone and there was no free wireless at restaurants, cafes and fast-food joints.

I hate to think what it will be like by the time I have teenagers.

I guess it comes down to making a point of regularly talking to your kids about the dangers of the internet and what they should and should not be doing - and starting young.

It may mean more awkward conversations with your children but it is worth it.

You can't monitor your child's every move, so hopefully by the time they get to the age where they have access to smart phones you will be able to trustthem.

There is always the option of upskilling yourself to learn how to check the internet history on the computers or checking your kids' phones but ideally parents wouldn't have to.

Hopefully, by trusting your kids to keep on the straight and narrow, they will be motivated to maintain that trust.

I have no doubt parenting is a tough job.

At least I have plenty of time to prepare myself for having to deal with teenagers.