The Brief: Similar to the skull emoji 💀 , the skull and crossbones emoji is often used to represent literal or figurative death.

Bluesquiggle
DEEP DIVE

The skull and crossbones emoji ☠️ is typically used online and in texting to connote death. This could be a literal death or a figurative one, like when someone says “I’m dead” because a meme is so funny or relatable. This emoji is often used interchangeably with the skull emoji 💀.

https://twitter.com/usniffglue/status/1357062968119353344

☠️ can also be used to represent pirates or other outlaws.