Adolescence lost in translation: The dark side of emojis in teen culture

Emojis Gen Z uses in 2025: Here's how to decode emojis used in Netflix series Adolescence

Growing up has always been tough, but social media has made it even harder. So many new terms, so much unnecessary information to process, and next-level peer pressure. A recent Netflix show, Adolescence, sheds light on the pressure and trauma teenagers face in modern times.
One scene, in particular, uncovers the surprising, and sometimes sinister, meanings behind emojis, symbols many adults assume are harmless.

Decoding emojis:

In the second episode of Adolescence, an investigating officer DI Luke Bascombe (portrayed by Ashley Walters) visits his son’s school while working on a case involving a teenager, Katie, allegedly murdered by her classmate, Jamie. Luke’s son, Adam (portrayed by Amari Bacchus), a teenager and Jamie’s friend, breaks down the meaning of emojis to his dad. Luke is shocked to learn that what appears to be friendly or flirtatious can actually be a form of bullying, revealing a much darker reality behind these seemingly innocent symbols.

Also read | Netflix series Adolescence breaks record as it gets 66.3 million views on the streaming platform in two weeks

Adam tells his dad, “It's not going well because you're not getting it. You're not reading what they're doing, what's happening." He then shows his father Katie’s Instagram comments to Jamie. “Looks like she’s being nice, right?” But as he explains the hidden meanings behind each emoji, it becomes clear that the messages are anything but friendly.

The hidden language of emojis

Adam decodes some commonly used emojis that have evolved into coded messages, often with disturbing connotations:

• Red pill emoji: Borrowed from The Matrix, this symbol has been co-opted by the manosphere, an online space promoting extreme masculinity, misogyny, and anti-feminism. It signifies “seeing the truth” about gender dynamics.

• Dynamite emoji: It represents an "exploding red pill," indicating that someone identifies as an incel(involuntary celibate), a community that blames women for their lack of romantic success.

• 100 emoji: Connected to the controversial "80/20 rule," which claims that 80 percent of women are only attracted to 20 percent of men. Some online circles use it to justify manipulative dating behaviours.

• Kidney bean emoji: It is a subtle but growing symbol used by incels to self-identify.

• Heart emojis: Not just about love: 1. Red: Love 2. Purple: Sexual attraction 3. Yellow: "Are you interested?" 4. Pink: "I like you, but not sexually." 5. Orange: "You’ll be fine."