Crabtree is owner of Crabtree + Co., a D.C.-based marketing communications firm. Crabtree’s company recently released LRNtheLingo, a cell phone application intended to help parents “decode” the language teens use online and in text messages.
Tell me a little about this program?
LRNtheLingo is an application that helps parents understand the secret language used by kids, and it prepares parents to keep their kids safe. There are some [words or symbols kids use] that are dangerous. This program has a lot of information on things that have to do with drugs, with sexual activity, and with alcohol and guns and violence. We’re not explicit, but we say if your kids are using these words or symbols, you should check it out.
Can you offer some specific examples?
Information like a percent sign [%] means “drunk.” Things like that. The application is broken into three sections. The first section has to do with text codes, texting initials and things. So for instance, one that’s not dangerous is “LOL,” which doesn’t mean “lots of love,” which many people over 25 would think. It means “laugh out loud.” There’s another section that’s more focused on lingo, terms like “that’s the bomb,” which means “awesome” or “cool.” And the last section is emoticons, things like smiley faces and other symbols.
How did you come up with the idea for this application?
We developed this after a personal tragedy involving one of my staff member’s children. We’re in the marketing communications business, and we’ve seen these apps and have been just enamored with them. My whole office got together and put in ideas about apps we could develop, and when this idea came to the table we unanimously said this is a great idea. … We just hope to be able to keep kids safe and give parents the kind of information that helps them do a good job of parenting. – Markham Heid
