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The clown emoji online does not refer to circus clowns. It is used to call yourself, or someone else, a fool. 'I thought he was going to call me back — clown emoji' means 'I'm an idiot for believing that'. It often appears in self-deprecating posts about being naïve in love, falling for a scam, or trusting the wrong person. Sent to someone else it is mocking, sometimes harshly so. If your teen tags themselves with a clown emoji they are usually joking about a personal misjudgement. Generally harmless, occasionally biting when aimed at others.

The clown emoji is used metaphorically to mark someone — often the writer — as foolish, gullible or self-deluded. 'I really thought I'd get the job ?' means 'I was naïve to think that'. Register: informal, internet only. In formal writing say 'I was foolish to think...' or 'how naïve of me'. A common learner mistake is to associate it with humour or entertainment — in current usage it almost always implies misplaced trust or self-deception. Aimed at others it is mocking and can be hostile; aimed at the self it is rueful and humorous.