The grey heart is the chill, unbothered cousin of the colorful heart squad—affection, but make it neutral. People drop it when they want to show care without fireworks: quiet support, condolences, or a “love you, but I’m not doing confetti today” vibe. It’s popular for minimalist aesthetics, grayscale outfit pics, and that deadpan, emotionally-stoic humor (“my feelings are at 20% battery, but I’m here”). You’ll also see it in techy or corporate contexts—think “love, but in enterprise mode”—and in posts where a bright red heart would feel too loud or flirty.
On Apple’s iOS, the grey heart is a smooth, front-facing heart with a cool medium-gray gradient and a subtle glossy highlight near the top, giving it a soft 3D, almost metallic feel—sleek, like a freshly unboxed gadget. Online, it can read as respectful and subdued (sympathy, calm reassurance), or “I care, but I’m not being dramatic” energy. It gets used sarcastically for emotionally unavailable jokes, as a “soft launch” affection signal, or as the perfect reaction when your friend says something tragic-but-true and you’re supportive without going full Hallmark. Bonus: fans of monochrome feeds, sneakerheads, and silver-jewelry stans love it for matching the grid. Spelled gray or grey, the meaning stays the same—low-key love with overcast skies and good taste.
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Emoji History The emoji code/ image log of changes.
