‘Hidden’ meaning behind popular emojis as Adolescence viewers only just realising they’re ‘too old’ to know

Netflix's new one-take drama Adolescence has left viewers 'feeling old' after discovering that some very similar emojis have vastly different meanings.

Adolescence seems to be taking the world of TV to a whole new level, after it was revealed that each episode of the drama was filmed completely in one take.

Viewers are raving about the drama, which stars Stephen Graham and was released to the platform just last week (13 March).

The story follows a family whose world is turned upside down, when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for murdering his schoolmate.

The synopsis describes the situation as 'every parent's worst nightmare', as they face the charges put in front of their child.

However, some viewers have been left feeling pretty old, as it was revealed in the series that some teenagers are using different coloured heart emojis to communicate different messages.

One fans of the series on X wrote: "Who else watched #Adolescence with the brilliant Stephen Graham & Owen Cooper; that young lad is going to go far.

"Of those who watched it, who knew about the emoji slang? I for one had no idea, I’d hate to be a kid in this day ‘n age."

Another agreed, and added: "The emoji heart colours having different meanings?!?! B***h I hope the kids ain’t really doing this…I’m old?!"

The series describes the story line as every parent's 'worst nightmare' (Netflix)

A third said: "Colleagues talking about emojis and the great #Adolescence show on Netflix. Never knew of the whole sub culture of emojis and meanings.

"The power of this hugely significant and useful art collection continues to blow my mind."

Another posted: "Just watched all 4 episodes of #Adolescence in one night. Brilliantly acted by all throughout and such an emotional end.

"Oh and I got educated on what all the emojis heart colours mean, added bonus."

But what on Earth do the different colours mean?

Viewers weren't aware that different emojis could have specific meanings. (Getty Stock Images)

Well, in Adolescence, DI Luke Bascome's son tells him: "Red means love, purple horny, yellow 'I'm interested, are you interested?', pink 'I'm interested but not in sex', orange 'you're going to be fine', it all has a meaning - everything has a meaning."

But even this doesn't cover all the different meanings heart emoji colours can have.

The classic red heart is known as the ultimate 'love heart' in the emoji world, and is supposedly reserved for use with your closest friends, family, and your partner.

It's advised not to use it during casual relationships, but I'm sure there's worse ways to lead someone on.

The other coloured hearts are a relatively new addition to the emoji keyboard, including orange, which is allegedly use to symbolise a casual hookup.

Yellow is used to represent platonic love, so maybe avoid sending that to someone you wouldn't want in the friend zone.

The green heart is commonly used when talking about the environment, which actually makes a lot more sense than the others.

Orange hearts have a specific meaning (Getty Stock Images)

And bizarrely, the blue heart is said to represent shopping deals and sales.

The purple heart is supposedly used to convey intimacy.

Rapper Ty Dolla $ign even has a song called 'Purple Emoji', which is about hinting towards sex by sending someone the purple heart emoji.

One user in the comments said: "The conversation they have about the double meanings of all the emojis and the colours…I’m so lost since when did they mean all that."

And I think we can all relate to that a bit.