The language of teenagers is TikTok | BBC Radio Solent's Alun Newman

I come from a large family and it seemed that there was always someone returning or leaving.

Even with all that in mind it was still appropriate to claim that a sibling was in ‘my room’ even though I hadn’t been in it for years.

I often look back at the day I left home. I announced to my mum that I was moving out to live with some friends. She asked when. I said next week, and that was it.

I can’t imagine what that moment was like for her.

Being a parent I think that would be a tough change. As an adult, you’d talk it through. As a 19-year-old it was dissociated brutality. It was communication in its most self-centred form and almost certainly age-appropriate (age-inappropriate).

Why would I worry about my parents, their life is all sorted and boring.

Now, having many, many years of life behind me, I can see how communication is a constantly changing process.

Even a constantly changing technique. Sure, it always comes down to quality time and listening but life does throw new challenges.

My dad would take just one child camping for quality time. It was great fun, however, as a post-war parent, it was often a rather factual and sensible trip.

No secrets and no American-style box-set wisdom constantly being dished out.

When I talk to my dad now, it’s completely different. It’s far more relaxed, more connected.

Could that be a case of both parties changing?

I realised something this week that has brought about this reflection. My teenage daughter and I had a general chit-chat. We have a good relationship when we’re out and about.

However, I have noticed something. I text her saying ‘Hey, I’ll see you at 5pm and we’ll pop down to the shops to get those things you need. Nearly Friday. Hope you’re having a good day…’

What I get back is often just ‘K’. Yes, the letter ‘K’. Which is the shortened version of the already short enough word ‘okay’, shortened from ‘A-okay’, shortened from ‘All-okay’.

At least it’s a letter, not just an emoji thumb. Then it occurred to me that communication has changed.

Young people are so connected that they don’t need or use words all the time. They don’t need to constantly message a question.

They’re online so much that they’ve discovered other ways to say ‘I’m thinking of you’. One of them is TikTok short videos.

Four million people in the UK use the app – mostly children.

I realised that often the sharing of a funny video without any text is an almost hourly occurrence for my daughter. This is a way of saying ‘Hi, thinking of you, thought this might make you smile, hope you’re having a nice day’.

However, instead of all that, here’s a video of someone unsuccessfully stacking cushions in a supermarket.

Since I said to my daughter ‘let’s share some funny stuff’, I’ve had 16 short, nearly hilarious videos. Straight off the Tick Tock shelf.

Do I need them? No. Do I watch them? Yes. Do I return the video nonsense? Yes of course. Why? Well we’re communicating and I’ll take anything I can get.

Very expensive school PE kit

Do you think this is crazy? The fashion house Dior has teamed up with sneaker (trainer) manufacturer Jordan to create a limited edition pair of Dior Air Jordans.

There was only a limited supply.

A bit like when you’re at the market and the butcher with the microphone says that he only has a few of these sirloin steaks remaining so you’ll have to be quick.

Millions of people signed up online for a pair but only a few thousand in the UK were ‘lucky’ enough to be picked. The collection date in London was released. The cost of these trainers – get ready for this – is £1,800. I know. You’d be furious if these didn’t come back in the end-of-term PE bag.

They interviewed a man in the queue waiting to get his allotted pair. He was thrilled. He couldn’t care less about the cost. He was going to buy a jumper at the same time for £1,080. Here’s the thing though, the potential resale value is already pegged at £10,000.

The vintage trainer market is booming and has been for the past five years. If you had some original Air Jordans worn by the man himself (Michael), then Sotheby’s would be auctioning those for £446,698.

The reality is, simply by signing up and getting lucky you can achieve a 900 per cent mark up.

Now that is crazy.