What Does <3 Mean? Social Media & Texting Uses (2024)

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Co-authored byLaura Bilottaand Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: July 26, 2023Fact Checked

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1. The <3 emoticon means love on social media. This cute symbol is most commonly used to discuss romantic relationships, friendships, or passions when texting, tweeting, or posting. Someone may use a <3 to replace the word “love” in a sentence or to convey warm feelings for someone or something.^[1]

   • “I <3 New York City!”
   • “Chocolate chip cookies can make any day better <3”
   • “His red carpet look took my breath away! Can he be any finer? <3”
   • The heart emoticon expresses warmth, fondness, or attraction towards someone.
   • When trying to interpret the meaning behind a symbol "<3" it's important to consider the context and history of your interactions, as well as any other clues or signals that the other person may be giving.
   • If you have been dating, the "<3" may be a signal of romantic interest. It could be a friendly gesture of appreciation or support from a friend or acquaintance.

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1. 1

   Replace the word “love” with a <3 emoticon. Why write out a word when you can use a cute symbol instead? Keep your social media caption or text short and sweet by using a <3 instead of “love.”^[2]

   • “I <3 chocolate!”
   • “Babe, I couldn’t <3 you more.”
2. 2

   Send a single <3 emoticon to someone you like. This simple emoticon represents all things love, including the imperfections. Try sending a <3 instead of a ❤️ emoji to tell your lover or crush you love them so much that you’re willing to type two symbols rather than a single emoji.^[3]

   • “Happy Valentine’s Day <3”
   • “I love you to the moon and back <3”

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3. 3

   Show compassion with a <3 emoticon. A single <3 can let someone know you care about them. If a friend’s going through a tough time, send them a <3 emoticon to say, “I love you.^[4]”

   • “You’re not in this alone <3”
   • “I’ll always be here for you <3”

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1. 1

   A </3 emoticon symbolizes a broken heart. If someone is heartbroken or upset, they may post about their feelings with a </3. This symbol is a variation of the classic <3 with the / representing the splitting of a heart. Basically, it’s a simpler version of the 💔 emoji.^[5]

   • “She dumped me over the phone </3”
   • “My heart aches for those who lost loved ones </3”
2. 2

   A <3 emoticon with extra 3s expresses an extreme love. Rather than typing out <3<3<3<3, someone will use <3333 instead.^[6] This variation is the same as using multiple heart emoticons or the 💗 emoji.

   • “Could you be any cuter? <333”
   • “I think I’m in love! <33333”
3. 3

   A <2 emoticon portrays a love that’s less than <3. If someone uses this <3 emoticon variation, chances are they’re not ready to say “I love you” just yet. Think of it like saying, “I like you.”

   • “You’re pretty great too! <2”
   • “Maybe we could hang out again soon <2”
4. 4

   A <4 emoticon represents a love that’s bigger than <3. In other words, this variation screams, “I love you to the moon and back!” Their love is so big that the typical 3 can’t do it justice.

   • “You’re my world, baby <4”
   • “But really. I’m OBSESSED <4”

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