A new list explains how 27 emojis are used in dating apps, particularly Grindr, to indicate sexual preferences directly. The symbols facilitate communication among LGBTQIAPN+ users, revealing intentions like active, passive, or versatile. The Metrópoles' Pouca Vergonha column highlights this 'collective intelligence' to optimize interactions.
In dating apps like Grindr, targeted at the LGBTQIAPN+ community, emojis have evolved into a shared code that expresses sexual preferences quickly and discreetly. The Pouca Vergonha column on Metrópoles published a guide featuring 27 common symbols, from the obvious to the more controversial, used in bios and descriptions to clarify intentions and save time in conversations.
Examples include the upward arrow (⬆️) indicating identification as active, the downward arrow (⬇️) for passive, and the double arrow (↕️) for versatility. Others feature the eggplant (🍆) for active or well-endowed, the peach (🍑) for passive, and the bear (🐻) for preference for that body type. Symbols like crossed swords (⚔️) refer to gouine, sex without penetration, and eyes (👁️ or 👀) indicate voyeurism.
The guide also covers style preferences, such as muscles (💪) for 'standards', young ones (👶) for 18+ youth, or daddy (🧔♂️) for the mature type. For identities, the trans flag (🏳️⚧️) and couple (👬) are common, as is the rainbow (🌈) for effeminate men. Controversial aspects include money (💰) for paid sex and the scorpion (🦂) for HIV-positive individuals intending transmission, warning of risks.
Risky practices like bareback are represented by radioactive symbols (☢️ or ☣️), and the guide stresses the importance of condoms to prevent STIs, per the WHO. The column emphasizes that sexual well-being is key to health, recommending regular check-ups. In Brazil, sexual life starts on average at 18, with 10 partners over a lifetime, according to FMUSP research.