Netflix's Adolescence: 'Red Pill, 80/20 Rule,' What Do These Emojis Mean? Explained

In one key scene, Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe, played by Ashley Walters, realises he’s completely misread the emojis exchanged between Jamie and Katie on Instagram. At first, he thinks the messages are flirty, but his teenage son Adam (Amari Bacchus) sets him straight. Adam explains that the emojis have darker meanings tied to toxic online communities.

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Adam shows his dad Katie’s comments to Jamie and asks, “Looks like she’s being nice, right?” When DI Bascombe agrees, Adam breaks it down, “No, she’s not. These emojis mean something else entirely.”

For example, a devil face emoji might hint at online sexual activity, and a bowl with a spoon could mean something entirely different in teen slang. Teens also use coded acronyms like ‘Code 9’ (meaning parents are nearby) or ‘LMIRL’ (suggesting a plan to meet in person). These hidden messages are part of a secret digital language that parents often don’t understand.

Netflix’s Adolescence Emojis Hidden Meanings:

Here’s a breakdown of some of the symbols and terms teens use online, as explained in ‘Adolescence’:

Red Pill Emoji

This symbol comes from the movie ‘The Matrix’, but it’s been twisted by toxic online groups. In these circles, ‘taking the red pill’ means buying into harmful beliefs about gender and relationships.

Kidney Bean Emoji

In teen online culture, this emoji is used to label someone as an ‘incel’ (short for 'involuntary celibate'). In the show, Katie uses this emoji to bully Jamie in Instagram comments.

Alphas, Betas, and Sigmas Emoji

These terms are part of a ranking system used in communities. ‘Alphas’ are seen as dominant men, ‘betas’ are viewed as weak, and ‘sigmas’ are loners who reject social norms.

Coffee Cup Emoji

This everyday symbol has been co-opted by toxic groups to express hatred toward women. It’s often used alone or with the word 'women.'

100 Emoji or 80/20 Rule

The idea behind the 80/20 rule comes from the Pareto Principle but is twisted by toxic groups to claim that 80% of women are only attracted to 20% of men. In Adolescence, Adam explains how this distorted belief is used to justify harmful attitudes. While the '100' emoji typically represents ‘100%’ or agreement, in these toxic circles, it is tied to the 80/20 rule, reinforcing these negative and misguided beliefs about relationships.

Dynamite Emoji

This emoji is used to identify someone as an ‘incel.’ Incels are men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success, often promoting extreme and dangerous views.

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Heart Emojis: A Colour-Coded System

Even heart emojis have specific meanings based on their colour:

• Red heart: Love
• Purple heart: Horny
• Yellow heart: “I’m interested, are you?”
• Pink heart: “I’m interested, but not in sex.”
• Orange heart: “You’re going to be fine.”

As Adam explains, “Everything has a meaning. You just have to know what it is.”

‘Adolescence’ is a wake-up call for parents to stay informed about their kids’ online world. The show highlights how easy it is for teens to get pulled into dangerous online communities, often without parents realising it. By understanding these hidden symbols and slang terms, parents can spot warning signs and start important conversations about online safety and healthy relationships.

The digital world is constantly changing, and teens are always finding new ways to communicate in code. Staying informed and engaged can help parents bridge the gap and protect their kids from the dark side of the internet.

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