As emojis -- small images that display cartoon-like icons -- have become increasingly popular, it's another way to quickly communicate.
But for Mike Harris, who works to track sexual predators for the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Denver, Colorado, emojis are used in a "secret language."
“One symbol can mean three or four different things. That's what makes it complicated for those who are not familiar with this," Harris told KDVR.
KDVR reported that Harris uses a special app called Speak Emoji to translate emojis by speaking into his phone.
Although the meaning of some emojis are clear -- like a gun, knife or bomb -- others are not.
"Something as simple as a flower can mean 'drugs,'" Harris said.
Harris said emojis of an eggplant, peach or raindrops could mean something sexual.
Parents can use online emoji dictionaries to learn what these icons may mean.
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