The secret emojis Gen Zs are using and their meanings
Can you understand the meaning behind the emoji?
Whether you're looking to add emotion to a message or give your captions a little extra flair, nothing does the job quite like an emoji.
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The new iOS 18.4 Beta 2 update brought with it the latest batch of emojis.
The last major emoji update introduced fan favourites like the pink heart and the shaking face, but this time, the "bags under the eyes" emoji was getting the most hype.
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While you might think there is no right or wrong way to use emojis, any Gen Zer will tell you you're are incorrect.
Gen Zs use the most obscure and unpopular emojis to confuse older generations and create their own emoji language.
According to Emojipedia, the younger generation's use of emojis, which ditches more "mainstream" ones, is connected to their desire to create their own identity.
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They explain that for a younger-skewing "chronically online" person, hopping onto emerging trends helps forge their identity and distances them from "out of touch" older generations.
For them, avoiding the mainstream is a badge of honour.
Creating underground memes and micro-viral moments that distinguish an in-the-know in-group from outsiders can be mini-milestones in establishing a generation’s internet identity, leaving others on the outside feeling confused and out of the loop, often intentionally so.
This does seem a little harsh, as many of us enjoy meme culture, and being online is a massive part of many people's lives, even though we know it's not always good for us.
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However, there is no doubt that it is sometimes difficult to understand what the younger generations are trying to say.
Even through emojis.
Here is a look at their most frequently used emojis and the meanings behind them:
The wilted flower/rose - 🥀
This is used instead of a broken heart, as that has become too "mainstream" and "performative".
Instead of using the broken heart to conveyor sadness, Gen Zs use the wilted flower/rose.
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The chair - 🪑
Bet you couldn't guess the meaning of this one.
The chair is now being used in place of the laughing emoji to convey humour and laughter.
Emojipedia reports that the first use of this replacement was in 2021 and has since gained massive popularity while also sparking serious confusion.
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The aerial tramway - 🚡
This emoji is one of the least-used characters, and it's not difficult to understand why.
The aerial tramway is also now used to replace the laughing emoji to convey laughter/humour.
YouTuber John Casterline explained in a video that he wanted to urge people to replace the crying face emoji with this one, "to make this emoji one of the most used emojis".
He also told viewers that if they were asked about it, not to tell anyone.
Now you can fit in with the kids, or at least know what they're trying to say.
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Main image courtesy of iStock/Canva