🫡Corpmoji
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Outdated emojis in the workplace

17 emojis carry the “Outdated” tag. Here is what each one means to Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z — and how risky it is to send at work.

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Risk 2/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Rolling on the Floor Laughing

Boomer / Gen X
Hysterical laughter; extremely funny.
Millennial
Reserved for extreme hilarity, slightly aggressive laughter.
Gen Z
Boomer humor marker; actively avoided in peer-to-peer communication.
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Risk 3/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Kissing Face with Smiling Eyes

Boomer / Gen X
Sweet affection, often used toward children or family.
Millennial
Affectionate sign-off to a pleasant conversation.
Gen Z
Largely ignored; occasionally used to feign innocent ignorance.
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Risk 3/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Face with Tongue

Boomer / Gen X
Playfulness, joking, or being silly.
Millennial
Sarcasm or ensuring a message isn't taken too seriously.
Gen Z
Rarely used sincerely; replaced by more chaotic symbols.
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Risk 2/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Squinting Face with Tongue

Boomer / Gen X
Extreme silliness or reacting to a funny joke.
Millennial
Playful teasing or indicating a joke is incredibly funny.
Gen Z
Considered incredibly cringe; reminiscent of 2012 internet culture.
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Risk 2/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Worried Face

Boomer / Gen X
Genuine concern or anxiety about a situation.
Millennial
Nervousness about a deadline or personal issue.
Gen Z
Rarely used; usually replaced by the skull or melting face for anxiety.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Sad but Relieved Face

Boomer / Gen X
Relief after a stressful situation has passed.
Millennial
Phew, avoiding a disaster at the very last second.
Gen Z
Rarely used; considered aesthetically unpleasing by younger cohorts.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Hushed Face

Boomer / Gen X
Surprise, being quiet, or a mild gasp.
Millennial
Mild surprise or an 'oh!' moment.
Gen Z
Rarely used; viewed as an inferior version of the skull or melting face.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Frowning Face with Open Mouth

Boomer / Gen X
Shock, bad news, or dismay.
Millennial
Disappointment combined with surprise.
Gen Z
Ignored in favor of more extreme emojis.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Anguished Face

Boomer / Gen X
Deep anguish, shock, or sorrow.
Millennial
Feeling overwhelmed by a negative turn of events.
Gen Z
Replaced by the crying or skull emojis.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Face with Thermometer

Boomer / Gen X
Having a fever, the flu, or being bedridden.
Millennial
Genuinely ill; calling out of work.
Gen Z
Ignored; replaced by skull.
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Risk 2/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Angry Face with Horns

Boomer / Gen X
The devil, evil, or extreme anger.
Millennial
Genuine rage or demonic anger.
Gen Z
Rarely used; inferior to the smiling version.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Alien Monster

Boomer / Gen X
Video games, arcades, or retro gaming.
Millennial
Nostalgia for 8-bit gaming or expressing a glitchy mood.
Gen Z
Rarely used; associated with older gaming culture.
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Risk 2/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Cat with Tears of Joy

Boomer / Gen X
Finding something funny (cat version).
Millennial
Quirky alternative to the human tears of joy for pet owners.
Gen Z
Cringe; associated with 'Facebook moms.'
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Smiling Cat with Heart-Eyes

Boomer / Gen X
Loving a cat, or a cat loving something.
Millennial
Adores a pet or object.
Gen Z
Obsolete.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Hand with Fingers Splayed

Boomer / Gen X
Waving, the number five, or stop.
Millennial
A rigid wave or showing the palm.
Gen Z
Rarely used.
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Risk 1/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Open Hands

Boomer / Gen X
Openness, a hug, or jazz hands.
Millennial
'Ta-da!' or showing off an accomplishment.
Gen Z
Rarely used; overshadowed by sparkles.
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Risk 2/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Hundred Points

Boomer / Gen X
'Good job!', perfect score, or 100%.
Millennial
Motivation, emphasis, or 'keep it real.'
Gen Z
Cringe; gives off try-hard vibes or toxic hustle culture.