If there's one thing that characterizes Twitter, it's its fast-paced, constant rhythm, where its hundreds of millions of users never stop posting until they're exhausted. Almost half a million tweets are published every minute, so it's common to find you've missed something every time you glance at your screen. No matter how many years you've been on the 280-character network, you'll always have the feeling of having been disconnected for a long time. A controversial tweet, a viral photo, or today's new meme that everyone's sharing and that you still don't quite understand are all part of the daily grind on the bird app.
In the hectic world of Twitter, we can sometimes overlook certain details due to the network's chaotic nature. One very common example is the use of emojis , which many celebrities, influencers, and prominent profiles have begun using and which quickly spread among users.
What does the red triangle on Twitter mean?
On Twitter, trends come and go, and it's very common to use this social network as a platform to take a stand on any controversy that arises naturally or artificially: the latest court ruling, the umpteenth statement from a Minister, the vote one way or the other on a law, or any other news item that sparks some ideological debate. And as you probably know, many confuse social, political, economic, etc., commitment with sharing a post or saying how much the deforestation of the Amazon affects them. Taking a stand and commitment are not the same thing: the former is a kind of aesthetic stance, while the latter has to do with rolling up your sleeves, picking up a shovel, and getting to work.
But what does the red triangle mean? The fact is that in mid-2019, many users began to express their political stances using a peculiar emoji of an inverted red triangle . The first to display it on their profiles were Spanish politicians from progressive parties, and little by little, its use spread to more and more users from, seemingly, other political backgrounds. But… what exactly does it mean?
Well, the thing is, the meaning of that inverted red triangle is a way of expressing rejection of fascism . Today, its use has become standardized, and we can see it as a pin on the jackets of many progressive European political leaders who wear it in their daily lives, in the real world, not just on Twitter.
The dark past of the inverted red triangle
However, the red triangle is not just any emoji. It's a symbol that has been given a slightly controversial twist, as its origins date back to the Nazi era. Specifically, to the 30s and 40s, when Adolf Hitler's National Socialist regime persecuted and purged thousands of opponents in the name of a Reich destined to last for a thousand years. Quite something.
Just as Jews were marked by the Nazis with a yellow Star of David, it is less well known that political prisoners in Germany during that era also received a special identification mark, which, as you can see in the photograph above, was an inverted red triangle. This was commonly seen in the concentration camps where these political prisoners were held, and although initially it was only used for members of the communist parties of the time, over time it was also used for all other opponents of the Nazi Party: anarchists, trade union leaders, Freemasons, liberals, and even former comrades involved in the rise of the movement led by Adolf Hitler.
When all the barbarity ended in May 1945 and World War II came to a close, the inverted red triangle now used on Twitter became a symbol . It commemorates all the prisoners who lost their lives for thinking differently from the regime under which they lived. Today, its connotation goes a little further and expresses opposition to any pro-fascist or pro-Nazi ideology. Therefore, displaying this red triangle logo in their profile picture doesn't mean that a person clearly identifies as left-wing, progressive, or right-wing. It simply shows their rejection of those kinds of ideologies.
Are there other similar cases?
Another similar phenomenon on Twitter is the use of the snake emoji . It again has political symbolism and refers to the defense of constitutionalism, classical liberalism, and libertarianism. Specifically, this emoji symbolizes the rattlesnake that appeared on the Gadsden Flag, flown by colonists from the period leading up to the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century, around 1775, and which was accompanied by the motto "Don't tread on me." You've probably also heard it mentioned in a song by Metallica from 1991 that proclaims that same phrase.
In the real world, the n-word used by descendants of African Americans in the United States to refer to each other has a very similar origin. The word was used pejoratively by slave owners in the cotton fields to refer to their oppressed people. Again, the meaning was reversed to give the symbol greater power.
Are these symbols used correctly on Twitter?
Now you know the origin and meaning of the famous red triangle that went viral on Twitter one day, leaving many people confused. However, not all users use this emoji correctly . It's easy to see the inverted triangle (either out of ignorance or rejection) used by people who don't really understand its significance, both in the case of this red Twitter triangle and the snake emoji we mentioned earlier, or the 'n' used to refer to the African American community.
In any case, whenever you encounter a phenomenon like this red triangle on Twitter, we recommend you look up its meaning by asking the community without fear of what they might answer (there are jokers and haters everywhere). Although, admittedly, a quick Google search might offer temporary relief until someone finally confirms your theory.
In any case, remember that taking a position is very good to believe that you are defending something, but it only makes sense when it is accompanied by a clear commitment. Everything else is posturing.