52 INSIGHTS: Adolescence 🔴💥💜🍑

It’s a Saturday evening and you’ve just put the kettle on, plonked yourself on the couch and spent half an hour looking for something to watch (we’ve all been there). But more recently, you’ve probably heard everyone talking about the show Adolescence.

A drama recently released on Netflix, revolving around the story of a family who go through an unthinkable trauma. As the story unfolds, it is revealed throughout, that the use of emojis play a key factor to the storyline and how it evolves.

The show has unveiled the meaning behind the use of emojis and how young people are communicating with each other online today. Something which most adults could completely miss or misinterpret.

This week's 52INSIGHTS dives into the hidden “Innocent” language that every parent, educator and mentor needs to grasp. Emojis.

P.S. Spoilers alert🫣

Manosphere, The Matrix and the 80/20 rule.

A pivotal point in the plot reveals that suspected murderer Jamie Miller has been radicalised by online misogynist content.

The "Manosphere" referred throughout the show, is a network of influencers and content creators—such as accused rapist and human trafficker Andrew Tate—who promote sexist ideologies to young men online. Among the most extreme factions are self-identified "Incels" (involuntary celibates), men who define themselves by their inability to form sexual relationships with women. As a largely digital movement, incels have adopted certain emojis as coded symbols for their beliefs, while critics use the same symbols to label others as incels. One of the most significant is the pill emoji 💊, often used to signal alignment with incel ideology.

Dr. Robert Lawson, a sociolinguistics expert from Birmingham City University, explains in The Conversation that The Matrix film is the origin of a key manosphere symbol—the red pill 🔴. Just as the film depicts taking the red pill as waking up to reality, manosphere influencers describe embracing misogynistic beliefs as "red-pilling," claiming it reveals the "truth" about women's behaviour and dating dynamics.

In Adolescence, lead investigator DI Bascome (played by Ashley Walters), is warned that the dynamite emoji 🧨 signifies an “exploding red pill,” marking someone as an incel. Similarly, Adam (DI Bascome’s son) explains to his father that the "100" emoji 💯is another incel symbol, tied to the so-called "80/20 rule"— a well-respected theory in economics based on the Pareto principle which states that for many outcomes, 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes Asana. Adapted by Incels as the belief that 80% of women are only attracted to 20% of men.

“This underscores the dynamic nature of emoji usage and the need for awareness about their evolving meanings, especially among educators and parents seeking to understand the digital lives of young people”. - Lauren Robinson Daily Telegraph​

Evolving Meanings

(Photo cred - A Voz De sera)

It’s no secret emojis are used in online conversation, whether it's between gen x, gen z or millennials. But it’s the evolution and adaptation of their meanings that have flown under the radar of the likes of parents and teachers.

They have evolved from simple pictographs to a complex, nuanced form of digital communication, profoundly influencing how young people interact online. They capture our emotions, expressions, and activities in a compact, visual form. Originating in Japan in the late 1990s, emojis were initially designed to convey basic emotions and concepts - Today Translations: Emoji Language History. Their integration into global digital platforms has transformed them into a universal language amongst young people.

Over 10 billion emojis are used every day around the world, with 70% of people stating that images convey their feelings on a subject better than words do. Additionally, a study by Adobe found that 91% of global emoji users believe emojis help them express themselves more easily, and younger users are more likely to assign alternative meanings to certain symbols, such as the skull emoji 💀 being used to indicate laughter rather than death - Adobe Emoji Trend Report.

The cultural impact of emojis on youth communication is multifaceted. On one hand, they enrich online interactions by providing a means to convey emotions and social cues, fostering a sense of urgency and intimacy in digital conversations. For example, a well-placed emoji can soften criticism 🤭, express solidarity 🫡, or inject humor 🍆, thereby reducing the potential for misunderstandings often found in text-based conversations. However, the interpretation of emojis can vary across different cultures and age groups, sometimes leading to miscommunication. Studies have shown that the same emoji can be perceived differently depending on cultural context, highlighting the importance of understanding these nuances in a globalised digital landscape.

​A study by The University of Pennsylvania comparing emoji usage between Eastern countries (China and Japan) and Western countries (United States, United Kingdom, and Canada) found notable differences in frequency, context, and associations of specific emojis. They found that, when discussing health-related topics, Western cultures tend to use emojis with negative facial expressions 🤬, while Eastern cultures more frequently use emojis representing healthcare-related objects, such as pills or hypodermic needles 💉.

Beyond humour and sarcasm, young people's use of emojis will likely remain difficult for adults to decipher. The peach 🍑 and eggplant 🍆 emojis for example, have long been recognised for their suggestive meanings, but newer emoji trends are more subtle. The pushpin emoji 📌 has been adopted on platforms like TikTok to indicate obsession or attachment, while the chair emoji 🪑 briefly became a stand-in for laughter due to a viral inside joke.

As emojis continue to spread across digital dialogues among younger demographics, they not only facilitate expression but also reflect evolving communication norms influenced by cultural and emotional factors. As we have seen throughout the show Adolescence, how emojis are being used is shifting, with younger generations developing their own nuanced interpretations that may differ significantly from their original intent.

A 2021 survey found that 38% of gen z respondents think the thumbs-up emoji 👍 comes across as sarcastic or dismissive, illustrating how communication norms continue to evolve across different age groups - CNN Business.

Emojis have also contributed to the growing trend of informal and fluid communication that prioritises relatability over strict grammar. Platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, where younger users dominate, have embraced this shift, leading to an increase in emoji-only responses and visual storytelling through reaction-based symbols.

Additionally, some emojis have been repurposed as markers of identity—such as the use of the fairy emoji 🧚 to convey a whimsical or sarcastic tone, often paired with overly sweet or exaggerated text for comedic effect. Young users also avoid certain emojis they associate with older generations, such as the red heart ❤️, which they may see as outdated or overly formal, preferring alternatives like the sparkling heart 💖 or colored hearts 💜💙 to express affection in a more nuanced way. This evolving emoji vocabulary reflects the dynamic nature of digital communication, where meaning is constantly being redefined within younger social circles. For example, the cherry 🍒emoji can represent breasts or virginity, while the snowflake ❄️emoji may indicate cocaine use.

So where do we go from here?

Adolescence serves as a poignant example, highlighting how seemingly harmless emojis can harbour deeper, sometimes troubling connotations. Their appropriation by groups such as incels emphasises the necessity to delve deeper into the understanding of evolving youth codes in online communication, not accepting everything at its surface level.

Staying educated, using online resources, and promoting healthy discussions about emoji trends will help bridge the generational gap and create a more informed and secure digital environment for young users.

It’s important for brands to consider how they will navigate the same shifting digital language that parents and older generations are trying to understand. Just as Adolescence highlights the hidden meanings behind emojis, businesses must be aware of how their audiences interpret digital symbols to ensure effective and culturally relevant communication.

This means recognising how emojis can enhance engagement while also being mindful of potential misinterpretations across different demographics. Whether it’s a coffee brand using playful emojis to connect with a younger audience or a corporate client ensuring their digital messaging remains inclusive and brand-safe, understanding the evolving emoji landscape is essential.