Cops caution parents about the hidden significance of the horse emoji
Being a parent in today’s digital era presents a completely new set of problems.
With children addicted to their devices and social media expanding at a breakneck pace, it’s more difficult than ever to keep up with what they’re actually saying online.
Police are urging parents to be on the watch for a seemingly benign emoji that might indicate something far more sinister.
The Secret Language of Emojis
Social media and messaging applications have become the major means of communication among children, yet many are unaware of the hazards associated with them. Every kid who uses the internet needs a secure experience and simple access to online safety information—sadly, this is not the case in today’s society.
From internet predators to extremist ideologies, children are more vulnerable than ever.
Authorities have uncovered that specific emoticons are being used as secret codewords among young people, with one in particular raising severe concerns—the horse emoji (🐴).
The actual meaning of the horse emoji is unclear.
While most parents believe their child is talking about horses, the horse emoji is really referring to ketamine, a potent tranquilizer medication. Teenagers and young adults widely misuse ketamine, also known as “Special K,” due to its psychedelic properties.
Law enforcement agencies across the United States are intensifying their efforts to uncover hidden drug references in online conversations and text messages, prompting this warning. Police are asking parents to watch their children’s internet activities and be wary of the hidden meanings of popular emojis.
More emojis, parents should look for
The horse emoji isn’t the only one with a secret significance. Police have also produced a list of often-used emojis to suggest narcotics, including:
Alien, skull, or demon mask—MDMA (Ecstasy or “Molly”).
Snowflake or snowman: Cocaine
Marijuana may be found in maple leaves, trees, or four-leaf clovers.
You can find it in cake, ice cream, or specific fruits like grapes, lemons, and cherries. – edibles or cannabis goods.
The list does not end with drug allusions either. The famous Netflix series Adolescence recently revealed that the manosphere and incel movements have their own emoji-based communication system.
Netflix’s Adolescence: The Hidden World of Online Radicalization
The smash Netflix movie Adolescence has highlighted the growth of sexist internet influencers who target young guys.
The story is about a 13-year-old child who becomes radicalized by manosphere content, eventually leading to a deadly act of violence.
Emojis are employed as secret symbols for incel culture throughout the episode, including:
Dynamite emoji—a sign for incels that means “exploding red pill”
The 100 emoji refers to the “80/20 rule,” which states that just 20% of men attract 80% of women.
The kidney bean emoji is used to label someone an incel.
Experts worry that the manosphere, a collection of poisonous internet forums that promote extreme sexism and anti-feminist views, is rapidly attracting young males. Social media channels have facilitated the distribution of these messages, emphasizing the need for parents to stay informed.
In a post for The Conversation, Dr. Robert Lawson, a sociolinguistics expert from Birmingham City University in the UK, describes how the movement has embraced the pill emoji (💊).
In the film, swallowing the red pill helps characters to discover ‘the truth’ and escape the Matrix’s illusions.
“The cyberpunk blockbuster The Matrix is the source of a key symbol in the manosphere—the red pill,” he told me.
Within the manosphere, Dr. Lawson noted that men who identify as’red-pilled’ perceive themselves as more cognizant of the’real’ aspects of women’s behavior and dating choices.
What Parents Can Do:
Children’s communication styles grow alongside digital society. While emojis may appear innocent, they might have hidden implications that parents should be aware of. Here’s what parents can do.
Stay informed—stay current on the newest developments in online lingo and emoji interpretations.
Have frank talks with your children about the risks of internet radicalization and drug use.
Monitor digital activities—Keep a watch on your child’s social media connections while respecting their privacy.
Use parental controls: Many applications have features to help screen hazardous information.
The internet may be a great tool, but it also poses problems.
Staying knowledgeable and proactive is the greatest approach to keep children safe in a rapidly changing internet environment. Share this information with other parents!