The use of emojis in chatting has transformed our way of communication by filling it with emotions. However, the rise of cursed emoji has even gone one step further. These indeed allow users, especially teens, to express their complex feelings that standard emojis cannot capture.
In this guide, we’ll discuss in detail the meanings of cursed emoji and their origin. We’ll also share with you a list of common cursed emoji that people mostly encounter online. Moreover, we’ll also share tips to ensure a safe and balanced digital experience. Continue reading!
What exactly is a cursed emoji?
“Cursed emojis are a group of strange-looking emojis especially designed to add humour or express complex feelings that normal emojis can’t.”
Unlike the standard emojis that convey simple emotions like anger, happiness, and sadness. These cursed emojis often combine multiple symbols or exaggerate facial features to capture emotional states that feel off. That’s why it’s named Cursed.
Moreover, such emojis are indeed very popular on different social media platforms like Twitter, Tumblr, and Discord. Here, creative users remix or distort standard emojis into bizarre expressions reflecting discomfort or complex emotional tones.
Research published in Academia has surveyed young adults aged 16–35 and found that around 73% use emojis specifically to express their emotions in digital conversations. This highlights how central emojis are to online emotional expression.
It’s worth noting that young people mostly face pressure from school, social media comparison, etc., which can create confusing emotions. This way, using cursed emoji helps them communicate complex emotions like sarcasm, existential humor, awkwardness, or subtle frustration.
Real-time screen sharing gives you a complete view.
The origins of cursed emoji
Now you might be wondering where such cursed emojis have come from. Do remember! They didn’t design officially with the emoji designer or tech companies. Instead, these were created by normal Internet users who intentionally edit or distort the standard emojis to make them look awkward or funny.
These cursed emojis were first spread on the creative platforms like Tumblr and DeviantArt in June 2019, where users experiment with emojis. Later on in the same year, a Twitter user created a full set of emojis and shared it online.
Since then, it has gained immense popularity on different platforms, especially because of the meme trend. Thereby letting users express even their complex emotional states.
Why are cursed emoji popular among teens?
Let’s have a quick look at why teens enjoy using cursed emoji in their digital conversations.
- Expressing complex emotions: As stated, teens at this growing age usually undergo mixed emotions like awkwardness, stress, anxiety, etc. If they didn’t express their emotions, it would heighten their mental state. This way, such cursed emoji help them express their emotions and feel at ease.
- Peer influence and social identity: While using social media platforms, teens often indulge in the trends to fit in with their peers. This way, when they use their friend or influencers using the cursed emojis, they start using the same to show belongings.
- Digital self-expression: Unlike the standard emojis whose whole purpose is express basic feelings, cursed ones allow teens to express their personality. It’s indeed a visual language that lets us convey the subtle emotions without needing words.
Common Sense Media conducted a survey report finding that 90% of teens spend significant time online. You know more than half of the people use social media platforms on a daily basis and rely heavily on emojis to express nuanced emotions. This basically shows why cursed emojis resonate strongly with young users.
Common examples of cursed emoji
Here’s the list of cursed emojis that you mostly encounter while interacting on digital platforms.
Powercry emoji
This cursed emoji is mostly renowned for its cute but extremely sad expression. You can simply share this adorable gloomy face when someone says something concerning. The best thing is that you can also edit the image to look like your favorite characters in their most harrowing moments.
Screen-reaching emoji
It’s indeed a hybrid emoji that depicts a combination of the screen-reaching hands and the stressed emoji. Keep in mind that you can use this emoji only when you want to say “You Think You’re Safe?” or “Hand Them Over.”
Crazy face emoji
Just like above, this emoji also belongs to the group of hybrid cursed emojis. It combines the expression of an extreme close-up shot of a crazed anime meme. Some say it’s also a zoomed-in shot of an angry anime character. These known versions ended up getting edits in emoji form.
Fuckboy emoji or baseball cap lip bite emoji
Compared to other cursed emojis on our list, the Fuckboy emoji seems to annoy most online people. The emoji’s overall design showcases the famous pose of younger guys on social media. The creator edited the left eye to make it wink while applying a lip bite on the mouth. Because of this, you post this emoji while playfully flirting with someone else.
Woozy crying face emoji
It’s also a combination of the crying face (😭) and woozy face (🥴) emojis. You can send it when you’re feeling sad, stressed, or overwhelmed.
Help me emoji
As the name suggests, you can send this icon while asking a friend or family member for help with something. You can also use this emoji in the group chat when your character within the game needs assistance from your teammates.
Open eye crying and laughing emoji
It’s basically an edited version of the tears of joy (😂) emoji with flipped eyes horizontally. This way the eyebrows look crazy and angry. You can use this image to give captions to a funny situation that made you frustrated at the same time.
It’s worth noting that Twitter user @WSHHFANS basically created this original image. He shares this alongwith the caption “When you’re on that level of mad when you turn crazy and start laughing.
Double mask emoji
Similarly, when your friend tells you that they got a super contagious illness. You can reply by using this emoji, saying May you get well soon.
Large eyes emoji
2 of the flushed face (😳) emojis indeed create this memeable icon. This simple emoji conveys multiple emotions like surprise, disbelief, excitement, embarrassment, or admiration.
Anguished face emoji
You can comment with this image when you see something playfully horrible online. Moreover, you can also send it to your friend when they refuse to hang out with you.
Sweating woozy emoji
You can create this emoji by yourself by merging the hot face (🥵) emoji with the woozy face (🥴) emoji. Use it when it’s too hot outside, or send it to that person about whom thinking makes you feel flustered.
Cursed praying emoji
Most of the artists online have used this cursed praying emoji, including Tumblr artist @astrelle. You use it when you see something online that makes you stop and reevaluate your entire life.
Zipper eyes emoji
It’s a slightly scary emoji that you can send to your friend when you no longer want to engage with them. You can also use this when you’re keeping a secret or promising not to get involved in other people’s business.
Looking respectfully emoji
Although you may find it similar to Large Eyes Emoji. The reality is that it has 2 eye (👁️) emojis photoshopped on top and includes the caption “I am looking respectfully. You can use this emoji to comment on your favorite celebrity’s post to show that they’re not only gorgeous on the inside but smart and talented on the inside, too.
Is cursed emoji appropriate for kids?
The cursed emojis are inherently harmless to use for teens, letting them express their emotions. Research published in ScienceDirect shows that children can accurately recognize facial emotions from emoticons. Thereby revealing that emojis are a meaningful part of their communication even in early childhood.
However, cursed emojis, owing to their complex nature, make younger kids face difficulty understanding the meanings. These misunderstandings lead to unwanted interactions that exploit younger minds.
That’s why the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is urging parents to understand the double meaning of emojis. This way, they can protect their kids from being targeted by online predators.
Where to find and create cursed emoji?
Now if you’re curious to know where you can get such cursed emojis to make conversions more meaningful or fun. Then no worries at all! Whether you’re a parent or a teen, you can easily find such emojis on social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and Discord. Here, people frequently upload such icons to show their creativity or start a new trend.
Apps to create the cursed emojis
However, to create such emojis by yourself, you can take advantage of apps like Bitmoji, Emoji Maker, or Canva. These are all safer options, letting you customize the emojis based on your preferences without exposing them to unmoderated content. For instance;
- Bitmoji: Create personalized avatars and emojis.
- Emoji Maker: Design custom emojis safely on mobile devices.
- Canva: Edit and combine images to make creative emoji-style graphics.
For parents, we would say that kids may find it very interesting and may spend a lot of time there, ignoring other life essential activities. That’s why you have to closely monitor them and encourage healthy digital habits.
Ensuring a safe digital experience for families
If you’re wondering how you can monitor your kids’ digital activities. Don’t take stress! below I have compiled some practical tips to ensure your kids’ digital safety!
Have an open conversation
The most important thing is that you should stay involved with your kids’ digital activities. Show your teen you wish to listen and be calm; it would help them feel safe to share. This way, if they have confusion about emojis or some trendy logic behind them, they can look to you instead of hiding.
Check out frequently used emojis
Look at the kind of emoji usage on the keyboard with the child’s permission. It’s notable that most of the diev keyboards indeed allow users to record frequently used emojis. Thereby letting you track their communication habits.
Observe chat and messaging patterns
It’s also a good practice to scroll through your kids’ chats together with them. Taking note of what your teens write to their friends to an extent will reveal more than you think.
You can ask them what the meaning of this emoji. This way, you would understand the context behind usage and also guide them deeply that it may also carry different meanings other than this.
Try parental control tools
Moreover, it’s obvious that communication plays a key role in keeping kids aware of online dangers. However, there is a strong need to actively monitor your kids’ digital interactions. In this case, using third-party parental control tools would be a smart move.
However, with so many options available, only the FlashGet Kids parental control app comes in the parents’ priority list. This is because it combines advanced features, allowing you to oversee them and set boundaries, ensuring a safe digital experience. For instance
- Screen mirroring: You can see live by sitting in one place where your kids are chatting, and what kind of cursed emojis they are using.
- Content filtering and keyword detection: Also, FlashGet Kids allows you to set keywords related to emojis in the messaging apps. Thus, if your kids try to use such emojis, you will get an instant alert.
- Screen time: Along with chat monitoring, you should also limit your kids’ screen time. Using FlashGet Kids, you can set time restrictions on the use of different apps. This prevents your kids from being too active online and partaking in real-life activities.
Conclusion
In short, although cursed emojis are the best way to express feelings and emotions without words. However, when it comes to younger kids, they may share the emojis online without fully understanding the context just to fit in with their peers. This may expose them to cyberbullying risks or others. That’s why you have to openly talk with kids, remain updated about trending emojis, and use parental control tools like FlashGet Kids.
