Teen Slang · Online & texting

What does “IRL” mean?

'In real life' — offline, as opposed to online.

Where “IRL” comes from

Early internet/chatroom abbreviation from the 1990s, still standard.

Why teens actually say it

Distinguishes online friends and personas from in-person ones — a meaningful line for a generation living partly online.

What it means for you as a parent

Useful shorthand to know. If a teen is meeting an online-only contact 'IRL', that's the moment for a safety conversation.

How it’s used

  • “We finally met IRL after texting all year.” Excited that an online friendship became in-person. Happy.
  • “He’s funnier IRL than online, honestly.” Comparing someone’s offline self to their posts. Casual.

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