THE ALIEN emoji is widely used online and via text messaging.
Like many other smartphone icons, the alien emoji has multiple meanings and can be used in various ways.
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What does the alien emoji mean?
The alien emoji can be used in both a literal and non-literal context.
According to Emojipedia, it can "represent extraterrestrial life or topics concerning outer space, but commonly conveys a playful sense of weirdness or strangeness, as if someone or something is out there or from another planet."
Dictionary.com states: "The use of alien emoji has become an informal way in digital communication to denote that something or someone is strange, unusual, or out of place."
It continues: "This can be positive in nature (e.g., seeming preternaturally talented), or can express feelings of social, well, alienation."
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As the outlet also notes, this emoji is frequently used on social media to talk about extraterrestrials, as well as on TV programs about the topic.
Emojipedia also discusses how, in the past, Apple used an alien in a box as a symbol for an unknown emoji.
Users would often see this icon if they were sent an emoji that they did not have access to on their phone due to not having an update installed.
However, the tech giant has switched to using a question mark in a box for these scenarios.
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How can the alien emoji be used?
Due to its multiple meanings, this emoticon can be utilized in various ways, including in a futuristic sense.
It is often used on Twitter.
On January 2, 2023, rapper Missy Elliot tweeted one of her old music videos.
She added: "26 years ago we were new coming in this industry so way ahead of our time! We didn't even realize we were different we just felt like we had a connection with the FUTURE."
She accompanied the tweet with an alien emoji.
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In the past, some Twitter users have expressed their confusion about how to use this emoji.
On January 16, 2016, user Thebe Kgositsile said: "can someone please explain to me what the f*** emotion or phrase the alien emoji is supposed to convey."
What is the origin of the alien emoji?
The history of this emoji goes back over a decade.
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According to Emojipedia, in 2010, the alien was accepted under the name "Extraterrestrial Alien" and was added to Unicode 6.0.
The outlet states that it became part of Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
