Most of us know this scam is going around, but a lot of people are still sharing them. Make sure you teach your friends and family to avoid sharing these type of posts to protect themselves.
The secret meanings behind emojis
Emojis are your digital body language, and just like in real life, one wrong move can send the totally wrong message. 😬 The right emoji adds personality, sarcasm or a playful tone. But some of these tiny icons carry hidden meanings you might not realize.
Use the 🍆 emoji to talk about dinner? Yikes. Definitely don’t send 🐱 thinking it’s just cute. Even something as simple as the 😅 emoji might read way more awkward than you intended.
One bad emoji, and you’ve accidentally turned “Thanks!” into “I’m flirting” or worse, “I’m confused and sweating.”
So before you hit send, read this. 👇 It might just save you from an emoji facepalm.
Most misused emojis
😂 Crying laughing: If this is your go-to, you’re a jokester. There’s a reason I use it with my dad jokes. Heads up, Gen Z definitely thinks it’s for old people. Oh well.
💀 Skull: It means “I’m dead,” as in, laughing so hard it just about killed you. Super popular with Gen Z and now millennials. Use it and your kids or grandkids will think you’re groovy.
🔥 Fire: If you’re constantly dropping the fire emoji, you’re all about hype and enthusiasm. It’s the equivalent of saying, “That’s awesome!”
🙃 Upside-down smiley: The king of sarcasm for those of you with a dry sense of humor. It’s the perfect way to say, “Yeah, sure … whatever.”
👍 Thumbs-up: Sorry, but it usually comes across as passive-aggressive. When you respond to a long text with just a thumbs-up, people see it as dismissive. I’ll share what I use instead below.
🙏 Praying hands: Are you using this emoji to say “thank you” or to actually pray? You’re probably a thoughtful and appreciative person. Some people still confuse it for a high five.
👀 Side-eye: Dropping the 👀 emoji in a message? You’re either curious, gossiping or hinting at something juicy.
Tech tip: Share your ETA on the go
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I hate being late. No one wants to leave friends hangry at a restaurant. Here’s a trick I use: Share your ETA right from your map app. It keeps everyone in the loop.
It’s way better than sharing your location 24/7. Imagine if we’d had this tech back in our 20s. Total concert and party game‑changer!
For your furry friends
🐶 Meet Bella, our new pup. I can’t wait for her to come home! Yes, my Amazon cart is loaded.
- Toys rolling under your couch? A blocker (14% off) will stop them in their tracks.
- Now you can grab your new glow-in-the-dark bouncy ball (29% off) more easily.
- This cat water fountain (27% off) holds enough H2O to last a week.
- Snag a dog trimmer (15% off) that works for pets of all sizes.
- A backseat extender (30% off) keeps your pups comfy and secure on the road.
💰 On a budget? You’d be surprised at the goodies you’ll find for under $10. Check out my list of picks.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👍👎 AI can’t read your mind: Use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts to get the results you want. Say you’re cooking for friends, and some have allergies. Say, “Create a recipe for six people. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables and carbs. Don’t include dairy products, shellfish or nuts.” Easy-peasy.
Share lists easily with friends
Sick of managing who’s bringing what through endless group texts or emails? There’s a simpler way.
About time: If your teen is using the AI chat app Character.AI, turn on Parental Insights to get a weekly report showing how much time they spend on it, which bots they talk to and for how long. This comes after a heartbreaking case where a Florida mom said her 14-year-old son took his own life after forming a bond with a chatbot on the app. Bottom line: These AI friends aren’t always harmless.
40%
Of parents judge other families based on their screen-time rules. About a third stop their kids from hanging out with friends who have different rules. Why? No one wants to be labeled as the parent of an “iPad kid” or blamed for causing “brain rot.”
📍 Friend finder: Meeting up can be tricky if your friends use different phones. If you all have Facebook, use Messenger to share your location. Open the Messenger app, then create a chat group with your crew. Tap the plus sign, then Start Sharing Live Location. You can do this on Google Maps, too.
Haven't logged into LinkedIn lately? 5 reasons you really should be using it
© Arne9001 | Dreamstime.com
How much do you know about LinkedIn? Sure, you probably understand it’s a social network for professionals, but it’s so much more.
Unlike most social networks that are used to share the latest vacation pictures, LinkedIn was designed for more important reasons. It can help you make connections, share work experience and find or post jobs.
Ditch the algorithm junk: Facebook is adding a new Friends tab that only shows posts, stories, Reels and birthdays from people you actually know. No sponsored content, suggested posts or group clutter. Look for it in the navigation bar.
LinkedIn influencers? It’s not just for jobs anymore. People are sharing personal stories mixed with career advice, and it’s making them famous. Take April Little (paywall link). She wrote about layoffs, went viral and now has 260,000 followers and $150,000 in brand deals. A little shameless self-promotion: Share this with your friends on LinkedIn and tell ’em to sign up for my newsletter at GetKim.com. TY!
🐱 Meow you’re talking: Scientists are building the world’s largest cat database to figure out why our feline friends act the way they do. Just send in a fur sample, fill out a survey about your cat’s behavior and give a $150 donation. The team will analyze the DNA and look for links between genetics, personality and health. Want in? Sign up here.
Get the $200/month ChatGPT subscription for free: Just for my Windows friends. Open the Copilot app on Windows or go to copilot.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Make sure Think Deeper is toggled on to use OpenAI’s fancy-schmancy new o1 model. It “thinks” for about 30 seconds before spitting out an answer.
$5
Per fake review. That’s all foreign writers are paid to boost tourist spots. Italy wants to fight back by requiring would-be reviewers to provide ID, proof they visited the place and detailed opinions (paywall link). Speaking of … Did you hear about the Italian chef? He pasta way. We cannoli do so much. His legacy will become a pizza history. Here today, gone tomato, but it was his thyme to go. I am sending olive my love to his friends. His wife is really upset. Cheese crying. (Now, that was a great one!)
🎥 “Endorsement for AI”: That’s what Lisa Kudrow is calling Tom Hanks’ new film, “Here.” The Robert Zemeckis-directed flick uses AI to de-age Hanks and Robin Wright into younger versions of themselves. The “Friends” star thinks bots will replace real actors. It’s like she heard my show last week.
Hurricane Milton and the iPhone’s SOS Feature
Hurricane Milton is barreling toward Florida, and cell service might be the first thing to go. Got friends or family in the path? I’ll share what they need to know to stay connected.
September 7th, 2024
Amazon’s Alexa pulls for Kamala Harris over Trump AI update. The WHO says cellphones don’t cause brain cancer — but I’m not convinced. And your phone is eavesdropping for Big Tech. Plus, a guy’s mom thinks she’s friends with Brad Pitt, but it’s all a scam.
Roblox has a pedophile problem
Kids love playing Roblox online with their friends — it’s crazy popular. But now, adults with bad intentions are targeting children through it.
No. 1 on the App Store
For noplace, a Gen Z social app. It feels like a mix of Twitter and Myspace, with totally customizable profiles (just like back in the day!) and a Top 10 friends area, similar to the old Myspace Top 8.