Are you victim of 'emoji bullying'? Inside gen z's hidden language of harm

India Today

4 hours ago

Once playful and innocent, emojis have become the visual shorthand of the digital era, used in billions of online conversations each day. But behind their cheerful colours and cartoon charm lies a troubling trend that's growing rapidly among younger users.On this World Emoji Day, while most celebrate the creativity and connectivity emojis offer, a more uncomfortable reality must be acknowledged: emojis are being used to bully, harass, and isolate, particularly by and against members of Gen Z.advertisementTHE NEW LANGUAGE OF SARCASM AND HARMFor many, a smiley face emoji still conveys friendliness. But in Gen Z's digital vernacular, it often means the opposite.
An academic study 'Benign or Toxic? Differences in Emoji Interpretation by Gender, Generation, and Emoji Type' by Zhukova & Herring (2024) from Indiana University found that emojis like the smiley face and thumbs-up are often perceived as passive-aggressive or sarcastic by younger users, especially in peer group chats.This contrasts sharply with older generations, who typically interpret these emojis as positive or neutral. The loudly crying face is used to show ironic sadness or laughing too hard. The Skull emoji sarcastically used something cringe, dumb or something hilarious."The interpretation of emoji is not fixed," the authors note. "It is highly context-dependent, influenced by age, identity, and platform norms."This creates fertile ground for subtle digital aggression. A bully no longer needs cruel words, just the right combination of emojis sent at the wrong time can deeply undermine someone's self-esteem.WHEN HARMLESS BECOMES HARMFULIn Tik-Tok comments, Instagram DMs, and group chats, emojis are being used as visual code -- covert, cutting, and cruel.What might look like a string of light-hearted symbols could actually signal mockery, toxic bravado, or even threats. Some emojis have taken on especially sinister second lives:The pig-face emoji is often used to insult someone's appearance.The peach emoji may be used flirtatiously or to make jokes about someone's body.The smiling face can be used sarcastically in tense conversations.The devil face suggests playful menace or bullying intent.
World Emoji Day:A single emoji can carry many meanings depending on tone, timing, and the relationship between the sender and receiver.
In certain school-related incidents, students have faced suspension or police enquiry after sending fire, bomb, or gun emojis in ways interpreted as veiled threats even without accompanying text.The visual nature of the message makes it all the more unsettling and, for adults and moderators, harder to decode.Research from the Cyberbullying Research Centre, a reputable organisation focused on online harassment, confirms that emojis like the 'peach' have increasingly been weaponised in digital bullying, underscoring the need to understand the evolving meanings behind these symbols.REAL VOICES: WHAT EMOJIS REALLY MEANadvertisementWhile emoji bullying often hides in plain sight, young users are acutely aware of its impact.'Some random guys would comment on just the peach or eggplant under my photos. Once someone even sent cherries in DMs. They didn't say anything, but it felt creepy -- like they were trying to say something dirty without using words," said Rhea, a 19-year-old girl.First-hand experiences like Rhea's reveal how emojis can be used to send veiled, uncomfortable messages that aren't always caught by moderators - but are definitely felt by recipients.WHY IT'S HARD TO MODERATEOne reason emoji-based bullying often goes unnoticed is because algorithms and adult supervision miss the context. A single emoji can carry many meanings depending on tone, timing, and the relationship between the sender and receiver.Automated systems that scan for hateful words may overlook a sarcastic smile or a teasing peach. Even when flagged, many adults struggle to interpret the underlying tone being communicated.This context-dependence is exactly what makes emojis so potent and so dangerous in digital bullying.
World Emoji Day:Emojis are small, but their meanings and their impact can be huge.
advertisementSOLUTIONS: LITERACY OVER CENSORSHIPRather than banning emojis or policing every post, experts recommend building a better understanding of digital visual language, especially among youth and educators.Teach digital literacy that includes emoji pragmatics, how meaning changes across age groups and contexts.Encourage open dialogue at home and in schools about how emojis are used today, both playfully and harmfully.Update moderation tools on social media platforms to recognise harmful emoji patterns, repetition, or aggression.Empower young users to speak up when subtle harassment occurs. Just because it's wrapped in colourful symbols doesn't mean it's harmless.A CALL TO REFLECT THIS EMOJI DAYEmojis are small, but their meanings and their impact can be huge.As we celebrate the joy and connection emojis can bring, we must also be aware of their evolving use as weapons of exclusion, sarcasm, and harm.On this World Emoji Day, let's reflect not just on how we express ourselves, but on how we make others feel, especially when hurt comes with a smiling face.advertisementArticle by Yashika Pawar- Ends