Latest news with #Emojipedia
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Gen Z co-opted the smiley face emoji, but beware — it means something totally different to them
Smiling at Gen Z? Better watch your back. What used to be the universal symbol of warmth and joy has taken a sinister turn — at least in the eyes of Gen Z. The classic smiley face emoji now means something completely different to those under 30. Instead of conveying happiness, the grinning yellow face is now seen as dismissive, passive-aggressive, or straight-up sarcastic. And if you're sending it to younger colleagues or friends, it could be rubbing them the wrong way. Hafeezat Bishi, a 21-year-old intern, recently told the Wall Street Journal that she was taken aback when her older coworkers used the smiley emoji in emails and texts. 4 Flashing a smile at Gen Z? Brace yourself. The classic symbol of warmth and friendliness has morphed into something far snarkier — at least to them. Emojipedia 'I had to remember they are older, because I use it sarcastically,' Bishi said, explaining that she often views the emoji as conveying a 'side-eye smile' rather than genuine enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Sara Anderson, a 31-year-old cheerleading coach, told the outlet that she regularly includes the emoji to add 'lightness' to her messages. But that's exactly the disconnect — what seems friendly to older folks can come off as phony or even biting to the younger crowd. According to Erica Dhawan, author of 'Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance,' older generations tend to take emojis at face value, while younger 'digital natives' assign entirely different meanings. 4 Author Erica Dhawan says older folks read emojis by the book — but for Gen Z, those little icons pack a whole new punch. Tada Images – 'People over 30 tend to use emoji according to their dictionary,' Dhawan told the Journal, emphasizing that for Gen Z, emoji meanings have evolved into a whole new lexicon. But the generational gap isn't just about smileys. Back in March, Amit Kalley, founder of mom-and-dad support site For Working Parents, warned that emojis have become a covert language for teens to communicate everything from drug slang to hate speech. 'It's far from an exhaustive list, but it's based on common emojis used to say something very different to what you'd think,' Kalley wrote on Instagram, pointing to a 'periodic table of emojis' that decodes the hidden messages. 4 What looks like a friendly emoji to boomers and millennials? To Gen Z, it could mean a fake smile or a not-so-subtle jab. DisobeyArt – And the emoji evolution doesn't end there. A recent study from Oklahoma State University found that emoji use can reveal a lot more about your personality than you might think. Researchers surveyed 285 undergraduates, mostly 20-year-olds, to see how their emoji habits aligned with personality traits. 4 To Gen Z, that classic smiley face emoji isn't all sunshine — it's more of a smug, side-eye smirk that can come off as passive-aggressive in texts like above. 'Emoji use may be related to strategies to manipulate the perceptions of others and to present a positive impression of oneself,' the study said, suggesting that what you send could say more about you than you realize. So, the next time you slap a smiley face emoji on a message to Gen Z, think twice — it might not come off as cheery as you'd hoped.
Express Tribune
23-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Netflix's 'Adolescence' sparks warnings over hidden criminal meanings of emoji, could be used as evidence in court
Legal experts have issued fresh warnings about the hidden dangers of emoji use, revealing how the popular digital symbols can now play a central role in criminal investigations. The surge of attention follows Netflix's gripping new crime drama Adolescence, in which detectives crack a case by uncovering sinister meanings behind everyday emoji. In real-world cases, emoji have appeared in more than 1,000 legal proceedings in the US since 2010. Symbols such as the knife, gun, crown, and aubergine are increasingly used to communicate threats, harassment, or criminal intent—especially among gang members or in cases of sexual misconduct. 'Courtrooms need to keep up with the contemporary modes of communication as all crime is planned and committed through language,' said Professor Russel Kaschula from the University of the Western Cape. While no emoji is inherently illegal, legal context is key. For example, repeatedly sending gun or knife emoji to someone with whom you've argued may be deemed threatening. In one case, a student was expelled after sending a gun emoji to a classmate. Other symbols, like the crown and high heel, have appeared in sex trafficking trials as code for pimps and prostitution. Photo: Emojipedia The field of 'emoji forensics' is growing. Differences in emoji design across devices have already proved decisive in court. In 2021, a lawsuit was dismissed after it was shown that the heart-eyes emoji allegedly sent in a harassment case could not have appeared on the plaintiff's phone system. Photo: Rossbach v. Montiore Medical/Emojipedia Even high-profile lawsuits have involved emoji. Actor Justin Baldoni sued The New York Times for omitting an upside-down smiley emoji from a quote, arguing it changed the tone from sarcastic to malicious. Photo: Apple With nearly 4,000 emoji in use today, experts are calling for formalised interpretation standards. As Professor Eric Goldman explains, 'Emoji are flooding the legal system,' and their implications can determine guilt or innocence.
