Any avid Instagram user will use a flurry of heart emojis to illustrate their captions and comments – but not everyone knows what each one means.
According to Mamamia, Instagram engineers analysed the emoji-use of its users to find the meaning behind each heart.
The study brought together hashtags from posts where each different coloured heart had been used.
It found that different colours are typically associated with a variety of topics, moods and causes.
Instagram engineers analysed the emoji-use of its users to find the meaning behind each emoji heart
The green heart
This heart is most used on St Patrick’s Day as people celebrate the luck of the Irish but it’s also used in posts about clean eating, veganism and the environment.
According to the research it is also used by vegetarians who are looking to flirt with others on a plant-based diet.
This is because it’s an easy way for them to narrow down those who would be compatible.
This heart is most used on St Patrick’s Day but it’s also used in posts about clean eating
The blue heart is one of the most adaptable out of the group of colourful symbols thanks to its various uses
The blue heart
The blue heart is one of the most adaptable ones out of the group of colourful symbols thanks to its various uses.
Predominantly, it’s been used to show support for Autism Awareness, love for activities by the ocean and to represent sport teams that wear the colour.
But another one of its uses is for something a lot cheekier as it is often attached to it.
People use the heart to indicate their interest in BDSM and discuss their preferences.
This was initially used by those desperate to expand their following
The pink sparkling heart
This sparkly pink heart has become a favourite amongst emoji users and was initially used by Instagrammers desperate to expand their following.
It was often seen accompanied by tags such as #s4s and #cwd which are also used to gain followers.
The heart is also used regularly on Instagram by celebrities and fashion divas.
The purple heart
This one is usually used by influencers when they want to show off their glam outfits online
This one is usually used by influencers when they want to show off their glam outfits online.
Accompanying hashtags are usually things like ‘sparkle’ and ‘shimmer’.
This makes sense as the colour purple has been used over the years to represent regality and power.
Heart on the envelope
Although people like to assume this emoji symbolises love letters, the main use for it is much less interesting.
It’s usually just used for online payments or orders within dating apps.
This is usually just used for online payments or orders within dating apps
The triple heart
The heart that looks like it has two other hearts about to burst out of it is most often used for posts where people talk about body positivity.
It is normally seen accompanied with tags like #curvy and #peachy.
It essentially means loving yourself three times over and wherever it’s used it shows people looking confident in their own skin.
The heart that looks like it has two other hearts about to burst out of it is most often used for posts where people talk about body positivity