People are only just realising the sinister meaning behind popular 'eight ball' emoji as parents sent warning

2025-03-31 10:43:44

From a cheery smiley face to a cheeky wink, emoji are now a regular part of daily communication for many people.

But despite using them almost every day, many people are just realising the sinister meaning behind one popular symbol.

Surrey Police have warned parents to be on the lookout for the 'eight ball' emoji on their children's social media profiles.

Although you could easily mistake this emoji for expressing an interest in pool, police caution that it could be a sign of criminal activity.

The eight ball emoji is used by drug dealers and criminal organisations to refer to an eighth of an ounce (3.5g) of drugs, known as an 'eight ball'.

The slang term is most frequently used to refer to cocaine but can be used as a measurement for other types of illicit substances including cannabis or heroin.

As the gripping Netflix drama Adolescence recently revealed, adults are often unaware of the hidden world of secret emoji.

While many emoji seem innocent, Surrey Police warns that organised criminal gangs frequently use emoji as 'code for drug, violence and sexual activities'.