The Real Meaning of "IRL"
IRL is an acronym used quite often in online communication, particularly in social networks, text messages, and chats. It stands for In Real Life, referencing the difference between online and offline or physical world.
Examples
- Sam: I had the weirdest dream last night about a giant pink unicorn.
- Ana: Did it talk?
- Sam: Yes, and it was telling me to eat more vegetables and exercise regularly.
- Ana: That’s a reminder you must be ignoring in your day to day, right?
- Sam: Maybe, but I promised the unicorn to follow its advice, at least in my dream.
- Ana: That's a start! How about we make it IRL, let's catch up for a morning run and a healthy breakfast?
- Person 1: Hey, can we chat about our project after school?
- Person 2: I can't after school, maybe we can use Skype instead?
- Person 1: No, it won't work for me. Let's discuss IRL tomorrow during lunch break, okay?
- Person 2: Great idea, see you IRL tomorrow.
- A: I heard you met Tom online. Is he as funny as he seems on social media?
- B: Hard to say, we've only interacted in chat rooms. We're planning to meet IRL next week.
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How to Effectively Communicate with Children About IRL meaning
- Empathize Your Teen’s World
- Understand that slang is a vital part of your teen’s social life and it helps them connect with their peers.
- Be Open to Learn
- Don’t hesitate to ask your teen to explain the meaning of a slang word to you.
- Speak Their Language
- Try to use their slang occasionally in conversation to demonstrate your willingness to connect with them on their level.
- Stay Current
- Slang changes rapidly. Stay updated by referring to reliable online resources.
- Respect Their Space
- While it’s great to understand their language, avoid overdoing it as it can be seen as invasive.
- Maintain a Balance
- Teach your teen the importance of context and appropriate language use, including the difference between slang and formal language.
- Safe Online Behavior
Summary
The abbreviation IRL is increasingly used to express the distinction between online interactions and encounters in the physical world. Its usage hence aids in differentiating between someone’s online persona and their actual, offline existence. This creates a need for parents to understand and keep up with such teen slang to better communicate and understand their children’s experiences.
Test How Well You Understand Teen Slang
What to do if you recognize your child's dangerous slang
Keyword alert is a feature in parental control apps designed to notify parents or guardians when specific words or phrases are detected in their child's online activity.
When triggered, the parental control app sends an alert to the parent's device, allowing them to promptly address any potential issues and ensure their child's online safety and well-being. We recommend adding slang related to drugs and sext to your keywords alert.
