to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Drug Info
    • Paraphernalia
  • Drugs & Your Family
    • Accidental Exposure: Drugs and Young Children
    • Medications in Your Home
    • Signs of Drug Use
    • Social Media: Understanding a Teen's World
    • Talking to Your Child When You Suspect Drug Use
    • True Stories
    • Using Over-the-Counter Medication Safely
    • What You Should Know About Marijuana Concentrates/ Honey Butane Oil
    • What’s Happening in Your Child’s School
    • Why do Teens Use Drugs?
  • News & Media
    • Latest News
    • Emerging Drug Trends
    • Tracking Drug Use and Other Drug-Related Statistics
  • Consequences
    • Drugged Driving—What You Should Know
    • Federal Student Aid and Consequences of a Drug Conviction
    • How Do Drug Overdoses Happen?
    • How Drugs Alter Brain Development and Affect Teens
    • School Failure
    • State and Federal Drug Laws
    • Treatment and Recovery
    • True Stories
    • VIDEO: Taking Prescription Drugs to Get High—A Bad Idea
  • Get Involved
    • DEA Museum
    • DEA Red Ribbon Week Patch Program
    • Get Involved in a Community Anti-Drug Coalition
    • National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
    • National Recovery Month 2021
    • Operation Prevention
    • Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31
    • Upcoming DEA 360 Events
  • Search
  • Menu
Home
  • English
  • Spanish
  • DEA Publications
  • Get Updates
  • Find Help
  • Menu

Main Menu

  • Drug Info
  • Drugs & Your Family
  • News & Media
  • Consequences
  • Get Involved
  • Search
  • Menu

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Drugs & Your Family
  3. Social Media: Understanding a Teen's World

Social Media: Understanding a Teen's World

Last Updated: Tuesday February 15, 2022


teens using cell phones (social media graphic)

When it comes to teens and drug use, social media can play a huge role.

Through different hashtags (#s) they can be exposed to offers from dealers to buy drugs through various social sites. 

It is never too late for parents to get acquainted with the various social apps (applications), and the slang terms many of them use to communicate while texting and using social media. 

Some popular ones include:

  • Instagram (app where users share photos and videos)
  • Snapchat (app where users can create and share photos, videos. The content is meant to disappear after the person views them)
  • TikTok (a social network where users can create and share videos)
  • Tumblr (users can post photos, videos, gifs and more in a microblogging format)
  • Twitch (app where users can livestream themselves playing video games and interact with viewers)
  • YouTube (users can create and watch videos)

 

Did you know?

  • These apps are free to download from app stores.
  • Kids are often one step ahead of their parents in the latest privacy settings, allowing them to block you from viewing their activity, be on private, and hide their friends lists
  • On average, teens spend more than 7 hours a day in front of a screen (outside of schoolwork)

How do you help a child develop skills to make good choices? Ensure they use their online privileges wisely? Avoid inappropriate behavior or inaccurate information?

1. Talk to your teen about the implications of their actions when using the internet and social media.

2. Monitor what they do online and on the phone by learning about the websites and mobile apps they use.

3. Block inappropriate content by using parental control features to monitor and manage your teen’s computer use. Buy parental control software that allows you to view recorded computer, smartphone and tablet activity from the internet.

4. Learn about the slang and emojis that kids use while texting on their phones, posting on social media, or DMing (direct messaging) other users.

 

Check out a few popular emojis people use when communicating about drugs via text.

cough syrup emojis

Cough syrup

marijuana emojis

Marijuana

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

MDMA/Molly emojis

MDMA/Molly

Cocaine emojis

Cocaine

heroin emoji

Heroin

Meth emojis

Methamphetamine

large batch emoji

Large Batch

maple leaf emoji

Universal emoji for drugs

High Potency

High Potency

Dealer Advertising

Dealer Advertising

Adderall emojis

Adderall

Xanax

Xanax

Percs Oxycodine

Percocet and Oxycodone

Footer

  • About this site
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Useful links
    • DEA Publications
    • Drugs & Paraphernalia
    • Find Help
    • Just Think Twice
    • Campus Drug Prevention
  • About DEA
    • Accessibility
    • DEA: Who We Are
    • FOIA
    • U.S. Department of Justice
    • Legal Policies and Disclaimers
    • USA.gov
Home
This is a United States Government, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website. The inclusion of a link on this website does not constitute an official endorsement, guarantee, or approval by DEA.