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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Ten emojis used differently between generations, and what they mean to Gen Z
The 💀 emoji may be more amused than menacing, depending on who sent it Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Studies suggest people's interpretation of emojis can vary based on age, gender, culture and more But there appear to be a big generation gap, with Gen Z having their own emoji-based slang A language expert says older users tend to take the pictures at face-value But their alternate meanings are often a little more ironic Once a simple and playful way to add some feeling to online messages – emojis have evolved into something resembling a language all of their own. Thursday (July 17) is World Emoji Day. But far from being universally understood, language experts say the colourful icons that punctuate our texts and chats can mean very different things to different people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A 2024 University of Nottingham study found that age, gender, and culture all impacted what people understood emojis to mean. It was even a plot point in this year's Netflix smash hit series Adolescence, with teens using emojis to communicate with and even bully each other – with adults none the wiser. To mark the occasion, language learning platform Babbel and online emoji reference site Emojipedia have shared some of the most commonly misunderstood emojis between people of different ages. Babbel linguistic and cultural expert Noël Wolf said that while older users tend to take them at face value, younger generations – especially Gen Z – have crafted an often-ironic emoji language, shaped by internet culture, memes, and platform censorship. 'This evolving emoji code isn't just about playfulness – it's strategic,' she said. 'On platforms where moderation is high, emojis offer a way to communicate emotion, sarcasm, or critique without triggering censorship. In that sense, they've become both creative and adaptive tools – helping users navigate social dynamics while retaining a sense of privacy or belonging within their digital communities. Younger users have created their own emoji-based slang, language experts say | (Image: National World/Adobe Stock) 'The result is that the same symbol can signal warmth to one person, indifference to another, and humour to a third - depending not just on age, but on digital fluency and cultural exposure. That's what makes emojis so fascinating - and so easy to misread,' she continued. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Here are the top 10 emojis Babbel says are often used differently across the generations: 1. 💀 Skull Gen Z: Means 'I'm dead' – used to express laughter and amusement. Older Generations: Used literally to reference death or danger. 2. 👍 Thumbs up Gen Z: Seen as passive-aggressive or dismissive; often used ironically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Older generations: Sincerely used to show approval, agreement, or encouragement. 3. 🙂 Slightly smiling face Gen Z: Seen as passive-aggressive, insincere, or masking discomfort – also often used ironically. Older generations: Used to express friendliness or politeness. 4. 😭 Loudly crying face Gen Z: Used to express laughter or emotional overreaction in a humorous way. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Older generations: Used to convey disappointment or sadness. 5. 👨🦯 Person with white cane Gen Z: Used sarcastically to imply wilful ignorance, such as 'pretending not to see.' Older generations: Rarely used at all, Ms Wolf says, and it's often interpreted as a literal representation of visual impairment or accessibility. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 6. 🗿 Moai Gen Z: Represents emotional detachment or deadpan humour – often used ironically. Older generations: Another one that's rarely used, the linguistics experts says it is often literally interpreted as a statue. 7. 🧍 Person standing Gen Z: Conveys awkwardness, discomfort, or passivity in a situation. Older generations: Yet another less common emoji, Ms Wolf says it tends to be understood literally as a depiction of a standing person. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 8. 🧢 Billed cap Gen Z: Slang symbol for 'cap' , which means to lie, as opposed to 'no cap', which means telling the truth. Older generations: Rarely used, and likely interpreted literally as a hat emoji. 9. 💅 Nail polish Gen Z: Symbolises confidence, sass, indifference, or showing off. Older generations: Used literally to reference beauty, self-care, or even manicure plans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 10. 🥺 Pleading face Gen Z: Conveys cuteness, vulnerability, or 'simp' behaviour in an exaggerated or performative way. Older generations: Viewed more literally as disappointment or sadness. To learn more about emojis with alternate meanings, including some more sinister ones parents should probably know about, check out this story.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Ten emojis used differently between generations, and what they mean to Gen Z
The 💀 emoji may be more amused than menacing, depending on who sent it Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Studies suggest people's interpretation of emojis can vary based on age, gender, culture and more But there appear to be a big generation gap, with Gen Z having their own emoji-based slang A language expert says older users tend to take the pictures at face-value But their alternate meanings are often a little more ironic Once a simple and playful way to add some feeling to online messages – emojis have evolved into something resembling a language all of their own. Thursday (July 17) is World Emoji Day. But far from being universally understood, language experts say the colourful icons that punctuate our texts and chats can mean very different things to different people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A 2024 University of Nottingham study found that age, gender, and culture all impacted what people understood emojis to mean. It was even a plot point in this year's Netflix smash hit series Adolescence, with teens using emojis to communicate with and even bully each other – with adults none the wiser. To mark the occasion, language learning platform Babbel and online emoji reference site Emojipedia have shared some of the most commonly misunderstood emojis between people of different ages. Babbel linguistic and cultural expert Noël Wolf said that while older users tend to take them at face value, younger generations – especially Gen Z – have crafted an often-ironic emoji language, shaped by internet culture, memes, and platform censorship. 'This evolving emoji code isn't just about playfulness – it's strategic,' she said. 'On platforms where moderation is high, emojis offer a way to communicate emotion, sarcasm, or critique without triggering censorship. In that sense, they've become both creative and adaptive tools – helping users navigate social dynamics while retaining a sense of privacy or belonging within their digital communities. Younger users have created their own emoji-based slang, language experts say | (Image: National World/Adobe Stock) 'The result is that the same symbol can signal warmth to one person, indifference to another, and humour to a third - depending not just on age, but on digital fluency and cultural exposure. That's what makes emojis so fascinating - and so easy to misread,' she continued. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Here are the top 10 emojis Babbel says are often used differently across the generations: 1. 💀 Skull Gen Z: Means 'I'm dead' – used to express laughter and amusement. Older Generations: Used literally to reference death or danger. 2. 👍 Thumbs up Gen Z: Seen as passive-aggressive or dismissive; often used ironically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Older generations: Sincerely used to show approval, agreement, or encouragement. 3. 🙂 Slightly smiling face Gen Z: Seen as passive-aggressive, insincere, or masking discomfort – also often used ironically. Older generations: Used to express friendliness or politeness. 4. 😭 Loudly crying face Gen Z: Used to express laughter or emotional overreaction in a humorous way. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Older generations: Used to convey disappointment or sadness. 5. 👨🦯 Person with white cane Gen Z: Used sarcastically to imply wilful ignorance, such as 'pretending not to see.' Older generations: Rarely used at all, Ms Wolf says, and it's often interpreted as a literal representation of visual impairment or accessibility. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 6. 🗿 Moai Gen Z: Represents emotional detachment or deadpan humour – often used ironically. Older generations: Another one that's rarely used, the linguistics experts says it is often literally interpreted as a statue. 7. 🧍 Person standing Gen Z: Conveys awkwardness, discomfort, or passivity in a situation. Older generations: Yet another less common emoji, Ms Wolf says it tends to be understood literally as a depiction of a standing person. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 8. 🧢 Billed cap Gen Z: Slang symbol for 'cap' , which means to lie, as opposed to 'no cap', which means telling the truth. Older generations: Rarely used, and likely interpreted literally as a hat emoji. 9. 💅 Nail polish Gen Z: Symbolises confidence, sass, indifference, or showing off. Older generations: Used literally to reference beauty, self-care, or even manicure plans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 10. 🥺 Pleading face Gen Z: Conveys cuteness, vulnerability, or 'simp' behaviour in an exaggerated or performative way. Older generations: Viewed more literally as disappointment or sadness.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Why depression increases your risk of dementia and how to deal with it
For the past four decades, my family has grappled with a mystery – can midlife mental health problems actually precipitate the onset of dementia? Back in the early 1960s, my grandfather suffered the sudden, unexpected loss of his twin brother, a deeply traumatic event from which he never fully recovered. Of course, at that time bereavement counselling or therapy did not really exist, and by all accounts, it left a marked change on his personality. He began suffering from mood swings, unable to maintain friendships or working relationships. Having previously held a stable job as an architect for more than 20 years, he moved from company to company in a nomadic fashion before eventually being forced to take early retirement. A decade later, he was diagnosed in his mid 60s with Alzheimer's disease. While I was growing up, my own father described his belief that 'Dad essentially had a nervous breakdown' and would repeatedly wonder aloud as to whether such trauma and the subsequent mental health difficulties had instigated his cognitive decline. Now, according to a growing number of studies, there is a definite connection between midlife mental health disturbances and the development of dementia. In late May, researchers at the University of Nottingham published a paper which found that depressive episodes across the life course can increase dementia risk, while last year, the prestigious Lancet Commission, which publishes scientific reviews into public health issues, released a new report including depression as one of 14 modifiable risk factors which account for half of all dementia cases. When I relayed my family's story to Peter Garrard, a consultant neurologist and a professor at St George's University of London, he said that over the years he had seen many cases of people in their 70s and 80s now displaying symptoms of dementia, who had suffered a serious mental health deterioration at some point in midlife. 'A proportion of these people declare absolutely no past history whatsoever of any medical condition,' says Garrard. 'It may have been that they were ashamed of it, they wanted to hide it, and they never went to their doctor in the first place. But if the spouse is there, you can sometimes uncover this past history of five to 10 years of a really deep depression, what they would refer to as a mental or nervous breakdown, typically in their 30s or 40s. I've seen this dozens of times, and I think there must be something biological linking the two.' So how is depression related to dementia? It turns out that it's a complex picture and one that we're only just starting to understand. How depression increases dementia risk As a psychology researcher at the University of Liverpool, and a current research fellow for Alzheimer's Research UK, Amber John has carried out a number of projects in this area. One of her most interesting findings to date has been that the people more likely to develop dementia in later life tend to be those who have suffered from persistent mental health problems. In contrast, people who have experienced the odd isolated episode of depression are less at risk. 'It's more the chronic problems with depression that seem to be detrimental, especially if they aren't managed,' says John. There are several reasons why this might be the case. For example, John points out that people who are severely depressed are more likely to struggle to lead a healthy lifestyle in terms of being physically active, sleeping well and maintaining social networks, things which are all known to be generally protective for brain health. At the same time, the biology of chronic depression itself could also prove toxic to the brain in various ways, with research studies showing for example, that people who suffer from persistent depression tend to have higher levels of neuroinflammation, which can have a toxic effect on brain cells. Another idea relates to the stress hormone cortisol, which is chronically elevated in people with depression, something which John and others say is thought to be driving atrophy or shrinkage of the hippocampus, an area of the brain which is commonly linked with dementia. 'In the long term, high levels of cortisol have been linked to brain shrinkage and cognitive decline,' says Julia Dudley, the head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK. 'But researchers still aren't quite sure and there's more studies going on to look at what's happening, and at what point in our lives this most affects us.' Why depression or anxiety can sometimes be an early warning sign In over 65s with no previous history of mental health problems, the sudden onset of depression and anxiety may actually be an early sign that someone is already developing dementia. Garrard can recall various cases of patients in their 80s, later diagnosed with dementia, who initially presented at his clinic with depressive symptoms. Earlier this year, researchers found that the likelihood of someone experiencing depression steadily increased in the decade prior to a dementia diagnosis, and Jonathan Schott, a neurology professor at University College London, says that in clinics, neurologists now flag sudden-onset cases of anxiety and depression over the age of 65 as a potential warning sign that dementia is brewing. 'It's by no means certain,' he says. 'Clearly there are many reasons for becoming depressed or anxious in later life. But in some cases, it could be related to brain changes occurring in the run-up to dementia. There are two broad causes of dementia – disease of the blood vessels, and then the build-up of abnormal proteins which leads to changes in how brain cells communicate. Basically, the brain is beginning to fail, and one of the manifestations of that is these alterations in mood.' Because of this, John says that there is a need for better tests which can allow doctors to distinguish cases of late-life depression or anxiety which are solely mood disorders, from instances where it's a more sinister reflection of underlying brain damage. If someone is experiencing early symptoms of dementia, they could be potential targets for future clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs such as the Alzheimer's therapies lecanemab and donanemab, or other experimental medications. How to deal with midlife depression/anxiety With mounting evidence linking prolonged midlife mental health problems with later life cognitive decline, experts now feel that addressing these conditions early on might represent a new pathway for reducing dementia risk. So what can you do if you or a family member are concerned about your mental health and the potential long-term impact on your cognition? One possibility is antidepressant medication, although the evidence for this when it comes to dementia is currently mixed, and depends on the type of antidepressants. Some research in lab animals has suggested that SSRI drugs may reduce the build-up of the toxic amyloid protein in the brain, a key factor in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, another study funded by the Alzheimer's Society found that certain anticholinergic drugs – another class of antidepressants which work by blocking the actions of a particular brain chemical called acetylcholine – may worsen dementia risk, although we still need to learn more. 'It's unclear at the moment whether that's due to the changes in the brain that have already happened before the treatment or the treatment itself,' says Dudley. John is particularly interested in the potential benefits of midlife psychological therapies for reducing the risk of dementia in the long run. She points to one study she carried out using NHS data from across the country which found that improving symptoms of depression and anxiety in midlifers through psychological therapies seemed to be linked with lower rates of future dementia. 'It provides really encouraging early evidence to suggest that seeking help for mental health symptoms could potentially be a powerful step in terms of protecting our future cognitive health,' she says. It's impossible to know if modern psychotherapies, had they existed 50 years ago, would have helped my grandfather, and prevented him from ultimately developing Alzheimer's, but there's a chance that they may well have made a difference. Overall, Dudley says the message is that if anyone is worried they have had depression for a sustained period of time, it's never too late to take action. 'Some people still think that dementia is an inevitable consequence of ageing,' she says. 'But we're learning more and more that's not the case, and it's possible to intervene and reduce your risk.'
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels
LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer purged his ruling Labour party of four lawmakers on Wednesday as tries to reassert his authority following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Rachael Maskell, and Chris Hinchliff were suspended, weeks after voting against a watered-down version of the controversial reforms on 1 July. Another three Labour MPs were stripped Wednesday of their roles as trade envoys over the rebellion, which spotlighted the tensions between the party's left and its more centrist leader. Starmer had made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament, even though he should be able to force through any legislation he wants to as he still holds a massive majority of about 160 seats. Scottish MP Leishman, who will now sit as an independent, said in a statement he believed that "it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer". Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the mini purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate'," Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Spokespeople for Labour declined to comment. NEW PARTY? Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer - a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales - announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister". But as Labour loses votes to the right, it is also giving up supporters to the Greens on the left, surveys have shown, highlighting the tricky balancing act Starmer faces. Earlier this month, MP Zarah Sultana resigned her Labour membership and announced she would be founding a new party with Labour's former left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn tempered expectations a little by stressing instead that "discussions are ongoing".
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UK's Starmer expels four Labour lawmakers after welfare reforms rebellion
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer purged his ruling Labour party of four lawmakers on Wednesday as tries to reassert his authority following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Rachael Maskell, and Chris Hinchliff were suspended, weeks after voting against a watered-down version of the controversial reforms on July 1. Another three Labour MPs were stripped Wednesday of their roles as trade envoys over the rebellion, which spotlighted the tensions between the party's left and its more centrist leader. Starmer had made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament, even though he should be able to force through any legislation he wants to as he still holds a massive majority of about 160 seats. Scottish MP Leishman, who will now sit as an independent, said in a statement he believed that "it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer". Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the mini purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate'," Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Spokespeople for Labour declined to comment. Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer -- a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales -- announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister". But as Labour loses votes to the right, it is also giving up supporters to the Greens on the left, surveys have shown, highlighting the tricky balancing act Starmer faces. Earlier this month, MP Zarah Sultana resigned her Labour membership and announced she would be founding a new party with Labour's former left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn tempered expectations a little by stressing instead that "discussions are ongoing".
