If you read the abbreviation Kys — or Kys as it’s commonly spelled online — you might think it’s harmless. Some TikTok users have even suggested it means “keep your smile.”
But there is a more sinister meaning behind the three letters that parents should know, as it could highlight cyberbullying.
According to Gabb’s Guide to Teen Slang, the abbreviation means “to kill yourself.”
It’s not unheard of for people to receive “kys,” “kys,” or even “Keys” comments on social media platforms, either publicly or through a personal message.
But while some might consider it a joke, the meaning can come across differently to different people. As the young statesmen have previously said : “While many see ‘Kys’ as funny, it can cause real suffering.”
One content creator took to TikTok to call out those people who use the phrase “Kys” in response to others they disagree with online.
“This is truly about how we’ve become so desensitized to the phrase ‘Kys’ here,” user PUKINGPUPPKIN717 said in the video.
“Every comment section I open, someone is saying that to someone who disagrees with them. Like yesterday… people were arguing about whether a song was good or not, another was telling KTS [to kill themselves] and I asked them, ‘Are you really telling someone to die if they don’t like the songs?’ And then [they] told me to calm down and that it wasn’t that deep.”
In the comments section, the TikTok creator added, “I’ve had people randomly DM [direct message] me after I posted a video with an opinion they disagreed with. None of my videos are actually about serious topics, so there shouldn’t have been such an uproar.”
What to do if you notice “Kys” comments on your child’s social media
Writing in Be Strong, Izzy Kalman, a school psychologist, said that “young people taking their own lives is one of the most common topics of bullying in news stories” and “in many of these cases, the children died by suicide shortly after the children told them.”
However, Kalman added that when bullied children choose to end their lives, “it is never a response to their first experience of being treated badly” and is “always the final stage in a history of choice.”
If you have noticed “Kys” comments on your child’s social media, it is important to talk to them—a calm, non-judgmental conversation—and try to explore where and from whom these comments might be coming.
The Child Mind Institute recommends telling children to ignore mean comments made online, turn off their device, and walk away. Experts at Met Police agree, warning that responding to such messages “can embolden the sender and make the situation worse.”
You can also encourage your child to use “block” and “report” tools on social media. Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, social media companies have a duty to protect users from harm – especially children.
If your child knows who is behind the nasty messages, you could talk to their parents about it or contact the child’s school (if the person also attends).
“Encourage your child to ask their friends for support,” adds the Child Mind Institute. “Research shows that children standing up for each other are very effective in stopping terrorists.”
Don’t be afraid to report threatening messages to the police
You can also report threatening comments and messages to the police. If possible, take a screenshot of the message(s) so if it is deleted later, there will still be a record of what was said.
The Met Police’s advice is: “To constitute harassment, there must be a clear ‘course of conduct’. That is, two or more related incidents. The reports do not necessarily have to be violent in nature, but they should cause some degree of distress or anxiety.”
“If there has been only one communication, it is unlikely to qualify as harassment, but it could be considered abusive communication.
“For such an offense to be committed, a message must be sent to another person or transmitted over a public communications network that is indecent, grossly offensive, obscene, threatening, or threatening.”
Signs of cyberbullying
If you’re worried about cyberbullying but aren’t sure if your child is being affected, clinical psychologist Dr. Anna Colton had a common sign to look out for.
She told BBC Bitesize that parents should be aware of any changes to their smartphone, tablet or laptop – whether their children are using it a lot more (which could mean they are tracking social media activity) or using it less (which could mean they are avoiding nasty comments).
If they briefly mention friendship difficulties or being teased online, it’s worth exploring that with them as well.
