What your kids are really saying with emojis

Updated March 19, 2025, 6:16 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

Discover the hidden meanings behind your kid’s favourite emojis – from secret codes to sneaky slang, we’ve got the ultimate guide to decoding Gen Z’s digital language.

Netflix’s latest series 'Adolescence' has raised a few red flags about what our kids are up to when we’re not looking. In one eyebrow-raising scene, DI Luke Bascome’s son gives a crash course on the hidden meanings of everyday emojis.

Who knew kidney beans and love hearts were part of a secret code? And don’t even get us started on what’s lurking in those innocuous symbols.

Turns out, Gen Z has developed a whole new language – from weird slang like "Skibidi Ohio" to emojis that leave adults scratching their heads. We’ve all been there, right?

Our kids text us an 🙃, and we’re left wondering if we accidentally offended them or if they’re just trying to make us feel ancient.

So fear not, dear grown-ups! Thanks to the internet and a whole lot of kid experts, we’ve put together a nifty guide to help you decode what your kid is really saying when they text.

Spoiler alert: if they send you a 🙃, chances are you’ve done something to annoy them. You just won’t know what.

ALSO READ: Netflix’s 'Adolescence': Everyone’s new TV obsession

Incel emojis

Let’s start with something a little darker: the world of incels (involuntary celibates). These are the guys who believe they’re entitled to romantic or sexual relationships but struggle to make it happen. You know, the ones with no rizz but think they’ve got all the answers.

In the “manosphere” (yes, it’s a thing), emojis like "100", "kidney beans", and "red pill" have meanings that’ll make your head spin.

For example, in 'Adolescence' the 100 emoji refers to the 80–20 rule – meaning 80% of women are attracted to 20% of men, so the only way to win is by “tricking” them. 💯

Kidney beans? A sneaky way to identify as an incel. 🫘

Dr Robert Lawson pointed out that the “red pill” means “we see the truth” (like in 'The Matrix'). 💊

Essentially, they think they’ve figured out the “real” nature of women’s behaviour, which sounds like a whole lot of red flags. 🚩

Drug emojis

We all know that some emojis are used for fun, but some have a whole different purpose: to signal the presence of drugs.

You may have noticed these little icons on your kid’s phone and thought nothing of it. But now? You might want to think again.

For instance, a plug emoji? 🔌 That’s your drug dealer.

Snowflakes, snowmen, and blowfish represent cocaine. ❄️⛄️🐡

Cannabis? Your kid could be sending you images of dogs, cake, or fruit (probably to justify that trip to the fridge for snacks). 🐶🍋🍉🍎

And yes, those tree emojis are pretty self-explanatory. 🪴🌿🌳

Sexting

Let’s get a little spicy now – because, yes, some emojis are used for sexting.

Aubergines 🍆, peaches 🍑, and bananas 🍌 (sometimes even water droplets 💦) are not just innocent fruit and veggies. Teens use these to, uh, spice things up.

Sometimes they come in a combo, like 🍆🍑💦. We're sure you can figure that one out.

Coloured hearts

Now, let’s talk hearts – and no, we're not talking about your grandma’s cute little Valentine’s Day card.

Apparently, different-coloured hearts mean different things, and if you think someone sent you a purple heart because it’s pretty… well, it’s time to rethink that.

❤️ – love

💜 – horny

💛 – “I’m interested, are you?”

🩷 – “I’m interested, just not in the sexy way.”

🧡 – you’ve been friend-zoned

Keep in mind, that these interpretations are very Gen Z/Alpha.

If your grandma sends you a purple heart, well, it’s probably not about her late-night desires.

Facial expressions

Then there are the faces. Because sometimes a smile isn’t really a smile, and that “thumbs up” emoji? Yeah, it’s not always positive.

🥴 – could mean drunkenness, sexual arousal, or just plain discomfort

🥵 – hot, and not in the warm sun sense; think crush alert

🙃 – annoyance

🤡 – feeling like a total fraud

🥶– used after a savage comment (that was cold!)

😈 – you guessed it, feeling naughty

🤤 – desiring someone sexually (yep, often after receiving nudes)

👀 – well, you get the picture

Maybe we'll stop there before the kids come after us for exposing them! Snitches get stitches – still.

ALSO READ: The great Rhode scam: The pop-up store that popped off

While emojis are usually fun and harmless, 'Adolescence' has shown us their darker side, and it’s a good idea to be aware of what your kids are actually saying when they text.

Kids don’t always share the juicy details of their lives, and sometimes, their actions or moods don’t make sense. Staying in the loop with their emoji lingo could save you from some very awkward situations.

And hey, understanding what those little images mean might even save you from a 6 am police raid.