Teen Slang · Online & texting

What does “IDK / IDC / IDGAF” mean?

'I don't know' / 'I don't care' / 'I don't give a f---.' Escalating shorthand for indifference.

Where “IDK / IDC / IDGAF” comes from

Classic texting acronyms; IDGAF is the most emphatic and crude.

Why teens actually say it

They are fast ways to express not knowing or not caring.

What it means for you as a parent

Common and usually mild. A sudden run of 'IDGAF' about things they used to care about can be worth a gentle check-in.

How it’s used

  • “IDK, ask someone else honestly.” Plain ‘I don’t know,’ wanting out of it. Disengaged.
  • “IDGAF what they think anymore.” Hardened indifference, sometimes hiding real hurt. Defiant and worth a check-in.

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