A MARKETER’S GUIDE TO GEN Z’S SECRET EMOJI LANGUAGE
From “yas” to “purr” to “slay,” Gen Z is rewriting the script of how we communicate with one another on social media. As marketers, we know how crucial it is to not only understand how our audiences communicate with one another, but to harness that digital language and communicate it right back with them.
Gen Z is one creative bunch, which makes it tricky to keep up with their evolving online “linguistics.” Across social, Gen Zers are combining a series of disparate emojis to communicate a thought, feeling, or emotion that ends up hitting harder than any collection of words ever could.
We consulted our Gen Z experts here at Movers+Shakers to decode this secret emoji language so you don’t have to:
😳🕶🤏 or 🤨🕶🤏: what did I just see
✋😐🤚 or 🤔🤚: hold up, wait
☝️🤓: well actually
☕🤏: girl lemme sip on this tea
Translation: Oh my goodness, this is such good gossip, I’m savoring it
☝️😮✊😐: nvm
Translation: Nevermind
For the plot: This relates back to how Gen Z likes to view themselves as main characters. Doing something "for the plot" means to do it as character development or for the story to tell later when you look back on the experience
🤣🫵: laughing at someone
🤥👖🔥: liar liar pants on fire
🫵😨: behind u
😐⌚👞: when someone takin’ too long
Translation: Waiting while tapping shoes and checking watch
📃✍️🧐: noted
Translation: I understand, and I’m taking notes
😃👉🚪 or 🚪🚶♀️: imma head out
Translation: I’m going to head out.
🧎♀️🚶♀️🦽🧑🦽: please, i’m begging
Translation: I’m getting down on my knees begging
🤸🕳️ or 🪂🕳️: bye, I’m out
Translation: Removing yourself out of a situation by landing into a hole
🫳🎤: mic drop
Translation: When you make a statement that cannot be topped
🕳️👨🦯: suddenly i cannot see
Translation: Pretending you can’t see when you come across something you don’t want to accept
Example: Me ignoring the red flags 🕳️👨🦯
🎤🪿: got something to say?
Translation: Handing over a microphone
Why the goose? It's just a fun combo because the mic perfectly reaches its beak
🙄🤝😐: forced agreement
When you’re reading through the comments section on TikTok, don’t miss key audience reactions that should impact your future content. Understanding this code language can be a key for deepening your brand’s connection and cool factor with Gen Z in 2024.
📃✍️🧐?
📃✍️🧐.
