<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze how students express sexual meaning through the use of emojis and stickers on social media and understand the social constructs behind these practices. The research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Data was obtained through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with students who actively use social media at SMAN 10 Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi. Data analysis is carried out through the stages of data reduction, thematic categorization, interpretation of meaning, and drawing conclusions by referring to the perspective of symbolic communication in the digital space. The results show that digital sexual expression does not appear in the form of open communication, but through the use of visual symbols such as emojis and stickers that contain implicit sexual meaning. This practice is only carried out by a small number of students, but it functions as a medium for conveying humor, emotional closeness, and negotiating adolescent identities in private communication spaces. These findings indicate that digital symbols act as an adaptive mechanism that allows adolescents to express their sexuality without directly violating applicable social norms. Theoretically, this study enriches the study of media and sexuality by showing that adolescent sexual expression in the digital space is not always explicit, but can be constructed through communication symbols that have contextual and layered meanings. This study offers a new perspective on the relationship between local culture, symbolic communication, and adolescent digital sexuality practices, while affirming the importance of developing digital literacy and sexuality education that is sensitive to socio-cultural contexts.]]>
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