Teenagers and younger kids are learning coded predator phrases like ‘MAP’ online, long before their parents have even heard of it

MAP, NOMAP and 764 are among the coded terms that all speak to pedophilia. Here’s how families can stay ahead of the risk.

By: Sharlette A. Kellum, Texas Southern University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 6, 2026

Words: 1,293

Last Updated: 3 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Sharlette A. Kellum, Texas Southern University

When I checked my 10-year-old daughter’s TikTok messages in early February 2026, I expected to find the usual mix of dance challenges, school jokes and anime clips. Instead, I saw a stranger ask her, “Do you like children?” She responded to the stranger: “I’m not a MAP.”

I had never heard the term before. When I asked her what “MAP” meant, she simply answered that it stands …

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