Decoding The Language of Emojis

The rise of emojis in online dating has led to a new challenge for users; decoding the mystery language. While being seemingly self-explanatory, emojis have evolved to consist of an array of double-meanings and hidden intentions. 

The Emoji Epidemic

Emojis have taken the online communication world by storm, and personally, I am no exception to being victimized by rampant emojis being used as conversational weapons.  Over time, conversation between romantically-interested parties has grown to be casual and light. This has allowed the perfect setting for emoji usage to brew, as topics are often fun or even raunchy. During my era of online dating, I remember multiple occasions of running to my friends asking “What does this mean? Why would he put that?” after receiving texts with questionable emojis, like a tongue or side eye, just to give you an idea. This led to an inability to decode the emojis and ultimately a cease in conversation between myself and that suitor. 

America’s most confusing emojis in 2024

Understanding emojis isn’t just a personal challenge; it varies widely across different regions. According to a recent study by Preply, which surveyed 2,021 Americans, the nail polish emoji 💅 is the most confusing overall. While some interpret it as a symbol of self-care or being classy, others see it as simply indicating nail polish or even a cheeky «don’t mind me.» Other highly confusing emojis include the dashing away emoji 💨 and the upside-down face emoji 🙃, each causing significant misunderstandings. This national variability in emoji interpretation highlights the importance of context and cultural nuances when using these tiny icons in digital communication. Interestingly, the study also revealed that 81% of respondents have experienced confusion over an emoji, and nearly half have witnessed a misinterpreted emoji creating an uncomfortable situation.

Navigating the modern dating world can be tricky with these new developments, so here are 4 tips for using emojis with proper digital etiquette.

• Start Off Slow. Everyone has their own interpretation of emojis so aligning with the vibe of the other user is important in establishing meaningful conversation. Throwing around emojis too early in conversation can intimidate or turn off others. To ensure proper digital etiquette, you should gradually introduce the icons which allows for accurate decoding.
• Read The Room. Not every message needs an emoji. It is important to decipher the intentions of a conversation and then decide if an emoji would add value to the text. Also, making sure your choice matches the tone of the conversation is vital to the other user’s ability to decode the emoji. If you are discussing something more serious, you should leave the emojis out and save them for more light-hearted messages.
• Keep it Simple. When using emojis on their own as opposed to attached to a string of text, keep it clear and understandable. When user’s are decoding emojis without any context clues it is best not to throw any curveballs that could make them question your intentions. 
• Check Your Work. Phone keyboards are small and make it easy for a slip of a finger to result in a misplaced emoji. Like any other form of digital etiquette, it is important to re-read your message before sending. Emojis are powerful little creatures, and including the wrong one can shift the meaning of the entire text. If you are using emojis to render “PG-13” rated content, double check that you have the correct contact as the receiver and save yourself from having a lot of explaining to do! 

If you are still uneasy with decoding the language of emojis, SciMatch’s “Does My Crush Like Me” feature will do the hard work for you. Upload your text messages and our AI technology will reveal the intentions behind your match’s messages.