Online Safety

As part of Verifymy’s commitment to making the internet safer for children and society, we’ve created this handy guide to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand how emojis are used to facilitate drug sales online. This guide also covers common Emoji Drug Codes, enabling you to better protect your loved ones. Emoji drug codes refer […]

2 min read
March 3, 2023
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As part of Verifymy’s commitment to making the internet safer for children and society, we’ve created this handy guide to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand how emojis are used to facilitate drug sales online. This guide also covers common Emoji Drug Codes, enabling you to better protect your loved ones.

Emoji drug codes refer to the use of emojis as a form of coded language to communicate about drug use and illicit substances, particularly in social media and messaging platforms. This practice has emerged as a way for individuals to discuss drugs while avoiding detection by authorities or parental figures.

Common Emoji drug codes and Their Meanings

Here are some commonly used emojis and their associated meanings in the context of emoji drug codes:

  1. ???? (Pill) – Often used to represent prescription drugs or narcotics.
  2. ???? (Leaf Fluttering in the Wind) – Frequently symbolizes cannabis or marijuana.
  3. ???? (Herb) – Another representation of cannabis or other natural drugs.
  4. ???? (Mushroom) – Generally refers to psychedelic mushrooms or hallucinogens.
  5. ???? (Rainbow) – Can signify ecstasy or other party drugs that are colourful and associated with rave culture.
  6. ???? (Syringe) – Used to refer to intravenous drug use, often communicating about heroin or other injectable substances.
  7. ???? (Fire) – Sometimes represents smoking drugs, particularly substances that are smoked or heated for consumption.
  8. ???? (Party Popper) – Often indicates partying or drug use in a social context.

Context and Interpretation

The interpretation of these emojis can vary widely based on context, and it is important to note that not everyone may use or understand these codes in the same way. The use of emoji drug codes to represent drugs can serve multiple purposes, including:

  • Discretion: Users aim to keep conversations less obvious, especially in public or monitored forums.
  • Jargon: Among certain social groups, emoji codes create a sense of belonging and insider knowledge.
  • Creativity: Embracing a playful or artistic method to discuss serious subjects may appeal to some users.

Risks

Despite the seemingly innocuous nature of emojis, the use of emoji drug codes can raise concerns due to potential misunderstandings and the illegal status of many substances involved. Law enforcement agencies have noted this trend and may monitor online communications for coded language, which could lead to increased surveillance or intervention.

Conclusion

While emoji drug codes might provide a layer of privacy for users discussing substances, they also highlight the challenges of communication around sensitive topics such as drug use. Awareness and education about the implications and risks of these discussions are essential to ensure safety and understanding within communities.

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Verifymy

Verifymy is a safety technology provider on a mission to safeguard children and society online.

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