An acronym for Parent(s) Watching Over My Shoulder, PWOMS is commonly used in text messaging, SMS, instant messaging, chat rooms and other real time text-based communications, and is a warning sign that the sender’s parents are nearby and others should watch what they type or say.
More Chat/ Text Acronyms Parents Need to Know
Similar acronyms that are sometimes used in place of PWOMS include POS or POTS (Parent Over the Shoulder), PLOS (Parents Looking Over Shoulder), PAW or P@W (Parents Are Watching), PAL (Parents Are Listening), PBM (Parent Behind Me) and PBB (Parent Behind Back). Occasionally, numbers or codes like 9, 99, Code 9 or P911 (Parent Alert) are used to communicate similar messages.
PWOMS and POS are also sometimes followed by the words “on” or “off” to indicate when a parent has entered the room or left the room and can no longer watch over the person’s shoulder. Another related acronym is POF, which stands for Parents on Facebook.
Recommended Reading: Text Messaging Abbreviations.
