What Does the 🚩 Red Flag Emoji Mean?

Co-authored by Kira Jan

Last Updated: March 21, 2022

What are all those 🚩 (red flag) emojis doing on social media? Also known as the “triangular flag,” the 🚩 (red flag) emoji is the internet slang way of saying “yikes”—especially when it comes to relationships and friendships. We’ll dive into the usage of the red flag emoji on TikTok, Twitter, and more. Then, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the infamous 🚩 (red flag) meme that ruled Twitter in 2021 and continues on social media today.

Section 1 of 4:

🚩 (Red Flag) Emoji Meaning and Usage

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The red flag emoji signifies a “deal-breaker” in a romantic partner. People use the red flag emoji on social media and in texts to highlight a particular behavior or trait that they find off-putting or disturbing.^{[1]
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Research source} To use the red flag emoji in a joking way, make a statement about a trivial behavior or preference and label it as a “red flag” using the emoji. You can also pair a 🚩 with a statement about genuinely concerning or problematic behavior.
- “Doesn’t like The Office? 🚩”
- “When he says, ‘I only drink sparkling water.’ 🚩”
- “He was so rude to the waiter… 🚩”
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The red flag emoji can also mean that a situation doesn’t feel right. It’s the equivalent of a “no-go” or potential danger. Use the red flag as a way to say “yikes” and send a warning.^{[2]
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- “The lights are on, but no one’s supposed to be home 🚩”
- “My bank says I spent $200 in Costa Rica, but I’ve been home all weekend…🚩”
- “Hey, Mom’s pretty upset. 🚩🚩 Maybe wait to come home?”

Section 2 of 4:

The 🚩 (Red Flag) Emoji Meme

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The red flag emoji meme was popular in October 2021. On Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, people paired seemingly innocuous phrases with multiple red flags. People usually use the red flag to signal hypothetical warning signs or undesirable traits in other people.^{[3]
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Research source} However, you can also use the red flag trend in a self-deprecating way to point out elements of your personality that you find odd.
- “Drinks decaf coffee 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩”
- “I have Legos all over my floor 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩”
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This meme continues on in a couple of different forms. On Twitter and Instagram, some people will use #redflag instead of the 🚩 emoji. On TikTok, you can find people creating videos in response to the prompts, “Reasons I’m a red flag” or “What’s a red flag you shouldn’t have ignored?” People often use audio from the songs “Creep” and “Antisocial” in the background of their reaction videos.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Respond to a 🚩 (Red Flag) Emoji

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Like and comment on the post if you agree with it. Most of the time, the red flag emoji is used as a joke. If the text or post you see makes you laugh, go ahead and drop a 😂 to let the person know you relate to their post.
- Them: “When a girl says, 'I don’t like dogs' 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩”
- You: “😂 true.”
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Offer support for a friend if you’re concerned about the red flag usage. Sometimes, people use 🚩 to point out serious issues like toxic relationships or abuse. If you’re worried about one of your friends or loved ones, express your concern and let them know you’re there for them.
- Them: “He’s constantly texting me and asking me where I am. 🚩”
- You: “🚩🚩 Huge red flag. I’m here if you want to talk.”

Section 4 of 4:

Alternative 🚩 (Red Flag) Emoji Meanings

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The red flag is less commonly associated with golf. The 🚩 (red flag) emoji looks similar to the ⛳ (flag in hole) emoji symbolizing a hole in a golf course green. As a result, people might use the two emojis interchangeably. You’ll be able to differentiate this usage from the common “warning sign” usage by the context—look out for golf references.^{[4]
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Research source}
- “Ready to hit the driving range? ☀️🏌️🚩”
- “Such a beautiful day. Going to work on my short game 🚩”
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Some people associate the red flag with castles or sandcastles. In this case, you can use the red flag emoji to add decorative flair to messages. Try pairing the red flag with the 🏰 (European castle) emoji for a medieval vibe. Or, surround the red flag with beach-related emojis to let the red flag stand-in for a sandcastle emoji (which doesn’t yet exist).^{[5]
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- “Today we get to tour the oldest castle in Austria! 🏰🚩🇦🇹”
- “Do you want to come to the beach with us? 🐚🌊🚩🏖️”