“I literally can’t.” The phrase has become a mantra for many teens, and if parents don’t understand their lingo, well, they’re not supposed to.

“I literally can’t.” The phrase has become a mantra for many teens, and if parents don’t understand their lingo, well, they’re not supposed to. Teenage slang is part rebellion and partly a way to protect from “adult scrutiny.” But hiding their meanings has become more difficult as parents today infiltrate their online spaces and conversations, friend them on Facebook, and can look up definitions in seconds. In defense, slang has evolved to include phrases (like “can’t even”) that reveal less. (NYTimes)