What does the snowflake emoji mean and why is it trending?

Lydia Hawken

Published: 10:32, 12 Oct 2020
Updated: 16:54, 1 Sep 2023

WHAT does it mean when you describe someone as a "snowflake"? Easy. It's a slang term given to a person who is very sensitive or easily offended.

But over the last week, the snowflake emoji has started doing the rounds on social media - and it means something ENTIRELY different.

Gone are the days when the snowflake emoji just referenced the cold temperature

It all started when American rapper Quavo slid into his girlfriend Saweetie's DMs with the emoji back in 2018.

Earlier this month, the star kickstarted the "how it started / how it's going" trend on Twitter when he shared a screenshot of his first message and a photo of the couple now.

What does the snowflake emoji mean?

Rather than agonising over what chat-up lines to use, Quavo showed his interest in Saweetie (otherwise known as Diamanté Quiava Valentin Harper) with a snowflake emoji.

But out of all the hundreds of emojis to pick from, why a snowflake?

Well, Quavo was referencing Saweetie's hit single Icy Girl before calling then calling himself her "glacier boy".

In response to his flirty intro, Saweetie then replied with a noodle bowl emoji to reference Quavo's song Stir Fry.

He told : "I'd seen her on my Explore page. I was like, ‘Damn! Who is this?’ So I did my research and I DM her.

Quavo kickstarted the snowflake emoji after he sent one to his girlfriend SaweetieCredit: Getty Images - Getty

"I was like, ‘How she going to call herself icy and she don’t talk to me?’ So I slid in her DM. I told her, ‘You an icy girl, you need a glacier boy.'"

Quavo's tweet has racked up over half a MILLION "likes" - and people are loving the couple's story so much that they've started adding snowflake emojis to their own usernames.

Basically, if you get a snowflake in your DMs, it means that person is romantically interested in you.

Why is it trending?

Not only has Quavo's tweet kicked off a newfound appreciation for the snowflake emoji - but people are also sharing their own stories of how they got together with their partners with the "how it started, how it's going" trend.

And just like any internet trend, the fad has also been turned into multiple memes.

Where some people have used the format to joke about how poorly their work is going, others are using it as an opportunity to share photos of their pets.

How do you use the snowflake emoji?

Looking to try your luck with the "snowflake emoji"? Then you'd better hope that the person you're messaging is aware of its pop culture relevance.

If you're hoping to start a flirty conversation, then you can make like Quavo and open with the emoji or simply show your support by adding it to your username.

In other words, gone are the days when the snowflake emoji just made reference to the chilly weather...