There's an interesting element of hyper, extreme classification to all the hearts bullshyt---and social media in general, but to focus on the hearts for a second, it's almost like a form of self protection. Obviously, a lot of signaling goes on in image based communication,
it's largely based in a form of performative gestures/and classification, in terms of very narrow categories to assign people, but it's also more for the image than anything else.
For women/men in relationships, it's a way to express affection without "crossing a line" even if it's all just in a private text thread, the idea that someone sees it, is there. So, in a sense it's a covering of tracks, because all this behavior can be monitored closely. And for people who are active on social media, much of their day to day activity is going to involve, liking, loving, expressing something about others posts, again, without crossing a line of "cheating'/flirting
pretty fascinating. Example: a woman I have known for 10 plus years, and for five has been in a long term relationship, she texts me sometimes, sometimes for legit reasons, but others, are the kind of late night, secretive texts that speak to a secret and unhappiness in a relationship. (something that people tell me about her) she will sometimes use the blue heart, sometimes the empathsized hiiiiiiii, sometimes the red heart, whatever, the point is not:
does she like me or not-- but it's more of how that is applied.
another example:
Man: you sent him hearts!
Woman: the BLUE HEARTS! IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING!