Do you know what 'kys' means?

If you read the acronym KYS – or kys, as it’s usually written online – you might think it’s harmless. Some TikTok users have even suggested it means “keep your smile”.

But there’s a more sinister meaning behind those three letters that parents should be aware of because it could highlight cyberbullying.

According to Gabb’s guide to teen slang, the acronym stands for “kill yourself”.

It’s not unheard of for people to receive ‘KYS’, ‘kys’ or even ‘keys’ comments on social media platforms, whether publicly or via personal message.

But while some might mean it in a jokey way, the meaning can land differently from person to person. As the New Statesmen previously said: “Though many view ‘kys’ as funny, it can cause genuine distress.”

In the past week, one content creator took to TikTok to call out those people who use the phrase ‘kys’ in response to others they disagree with online.

“It’s truly concerning how we’ve become so desensitised to the phrase ‘kys’ on here,” said user PukingPumpkin717 in a video.

“Every comment section I open, someone is saying that........

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