While one sad emoji might represent genuine despair, the aunt who sends six in the hopes of signaling emotional vulnerability may in fact be using emoji to emotionally distance herself.

The hang loose emoji, also known as the "call me hand," is a perfect response to the existential dread that is 2018. ... in order to live amidst despair.

To Gen Z, that classic smiley face emoji isn’t all sunshine — it’s more of a smug, side-eye smirk that can come off as passive-aggressive in texts like above.

The beauty of the melting face is that it captures the full range of uncomfortable feelings, from despair to annoyance, whether in response to a map showing which bits of London will be underwater ...