π§
Older Person
OHL-der PER-suhn
Definitions
1
People Β· Age
Common
Represents an elderly person of unspecified gender, typically depicting someone in their senior years with grey or white hair.
Used to reference older adults, seniors, or the elderly in conversations about aging, family, or generational topics.
My π§ just celebrated their 80th birthday!
Family chat
The retirement community has activities designed specifically for π§ residents.
Community newsletter
Generally viewed positively as representing wisdom and experience, though sometimes used in discussions about aging concerns.
2
People Β· Identity
Common
A gender-neutral alternative to the older man (π΄) or older woman (π΅) emojis, used to represent elderly individuals without specifying gender.
Preferred in contexts where gender-inclusive language is important or when gender is unknown or irrelevant.
The new policy ensures that π§ can access healthcare regardless of their gender identity.
Healthcare communication
Part of the movement toward more inclusive emoji options that represent diverse identities without gender assumptions.
Evolution Timeline
2017
Introduction of gender-neutral older person emoji as part of Unicode 10.0's focus on age representation.
Growing awareness of gender inclusivity in digital communication.
2020
Increased usage during COVID-19 pandemic in discussions about vulnerable populations and eldercare concerns.
Pandemic highlighted health risks to elderly populations and care facility challenges.
Cultural Context
The gender-neutral older person emoji reflects growing awareness of non-binary identities and inclusive representation in digital communication.
While designed to represent the elderly, this emoji is primarily used by younger generations when discussing older people rather than by seniors themselves.
Terms for the elderly vary significantly across English-speaking regions, from 'senior citizen' (US) to 'pensioner' (UK) to 'old folk' (Australia).
The emoji is sometimes used in discussions about digital divide issues and technology adoption challenges among older populations.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Often appears alongside terms like 'pensioner' or 'OAP' (Old Age Pensioner) in British English contexts.
United States
Often used with terms like 'senior citizen' or 'retiree' in contexts related to Medicare, Social Security, and retirement communities.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Frequently used in family contexts when coordinating care for elderly parents or in healthcare discussions.
Gen_Z: Occasionally used ironically to describe feeling old or tired. Often appears in content about generational differences on TikTok.
Older: Less frequently used by seniors themselves, who often prefer the more specific gendered elderly emojis (π΄π΅) when self-representing.
Millennials: Commonly used when discussing aging parents, eldercare responsibilities, or in workplace communications about retirement planning.
Common Combinations
π§β€οΈ
Love for older people or elderly loved ones.
Often used to express affection for grandparents or elderly family members.
π§πͺ
Elderly strength, resilience, or active aging.
Celebrates seniors staying active, healthy, or defying age stereotypes.
π§π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦
Multigenerational family or grandparent with family.
Represents family gatherings, grandparents' role in childcare, or family support systems.
π§π
Senior education, lifelong learning, or elderly graduation.
Used for older adults continuing education or achieving academic goals later in life.
Related Emojis
π΄
Gendered version specifically representing an older man
π΅
Gendered version specifically representing an older woman
π¨βπ¦³
Man with white hair, representing an older but not elderly man
π©βπ¦³
Woman with white hair, representing an older but not elderly woman
π§
Gender-neutral adult counterpart to the older person