What Does <3 Mean on Social Media?

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: September 20, 2022

Curious about the <3 emoticon? Well, you’ve come to the right place! This heart can appear just about anywhere—on Facebook, Instagram, and even when texting a friend. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything there is to know about the <3 (heart) emoticon, from what it means to how you can use it.

Section 1 of 3:

What does the <3 (heart) emoticon mean?

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]
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- “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”

Section 2 of 3:

How to Use the <3 (Heart) on Social Media

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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.”
- “I <3 chocolate!”
- “Babe, I couldn’t <3 you more.”
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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.^{[2]
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- “Happy Valentine’s Day <3”
- “I love you to the moon and back <3”
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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.”
- “You’re not in this alone <3”
- “I’ll always be here for you <3”

Section 3 of 3:

Variations of the <3 (Heart) Emoticon

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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.^{[3]
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- “She dumped me over the phone </3”
- “My heart aches for those who lost loved ones </3”
2
A <3 emoticon with extra 3s expresses an extreme love. Rather than typing out <3<3<3<3, someone will use <3333 instead. 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”
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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”
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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”