PSP has given a warning about the hidden meanings of emojis used by young people on social networks, especially in sexual or drug -related conversations. Police calls for parents to be aware of this phenomenon, warning of grooming and drug trafficking.
A He launched a global debate on the hidden dangers of social networks for children and young people. As shown in the series, emojis used in conversations and online comments can hide hidden meanings. “Parents must be alert,” says PSP in an Instagram post. Apparently innocent symbols may actually be related to drugs or sex.
“Did you know that an emoji can have several meanings?” This is the issue that the Public Security Police launches as a starting point for the warning directed to parents.
In the publication, PSP ‘translates’ some of the emojis that will be used among young people and alert to the risks that may be associated with them: “Especially when these symbols are used in the scope of sexual or drug -related drug conversations.”
Young people can be victims of grooming
🍆🌭🍌🌽: uMA BORINGELA, a hot dog, a banana or a maçaroca are the emojis used to talk about the male sexual organ. 🌷🌮🍣🐱: jThe feminine is ‘represented’ by a flower, a club, a piece of sushi or a cat.
PSP acknowledges that conversations of sexual content among young people are “part of growth”, but appeals to “special care when using this type of language (emojis) in dialogue with strangers in chats, meetings, online gaming platforms, among others”.
The police warn that the younger ones, not knowing who is on the other side of the screen, may be talking to someone older, thus increasing the risk of – A manipulation process that begins with a non-sexual approach to gaining the victim’s confidence in order to encourage her to share intimate content or to set up a face-to-face meeting.
“Parents and young people should be aware of this double meaning of emojis, as they may be in the face of a situation of sexual enticement.”
PSP Attentive to this phenomenon
🌿☘🍁🐎⛄💎🍬❤🤎💙: pLanta, horses, different color hearts, diamonds, candy or snow dolls will be some of the symbols used to describe, in this case, trafficking or drug use.
“Although this reality is (still) uncommon among the school community, PSP is attentive to this phenomenon, acting preventively in educational establishments through awareness actions.”
In the warning publication, PSP ends up appealing to parents to be aware and protecting their children from the dangers who are not only online, but also in real life.
Violence among young people is increasing
According to the provisional data of the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), released by Expresso, violence among young people from 12 to 16 years .
The report points to the Use of the internet and social networks as one of the most “obvious” paths for increasing violence, and there is also more episodes of violence and robberies together to schools.
PSP and GNR’s safe school teams speak of an increase in occurrences. In 2024, more than 7,000 were recorded, a growth that has been constant from the pandemic.
