no mobile phones
Unicode: 1F4F5
Description
A square icon depicting an antenna emitting radio waves, often with a diagonal line through it.
Group:
Symbols > warning
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically indicates a lost or unavailable signal, a dead zone, or a disconnected state. It conveys a lack of communication or connectivity.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). It represents the common 'no signal' or 'signal off' icon found on electronic devices, particularly mobile phones, to indicate a lack of network connectivity. Its design reflects the technical symbol for radio waves with a prohibition sign.
Usage Examples
- Expressing frustration about poor reception: 'Can't get any signal here! 📵'
- Indicating a phone is off or in airplane mode: 'Sorry, my phone was 📵 all day.'
- Metaphorically about being out of reach: 'I've been so busy, completely 📵 from the world.'
- Showing a lack of communication: 'Our conversation was 📵, we couldn't connect.'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Universally understood as 'no signal' for mobile phones, Wi-Fi, or other wireless devices. Often appears as an error or status indicator.
East Asian culture:
Similar meaning to Western cultures, signifying a lack of network connection or communication. Can also be used metaphorically for being 'out of touch' or 'unreachable'.