Single versus double finger versions
The compact t(-_-t) points just one finger and reads as mild, teasing annoyance, perfect for lighthearted ribbing. The double forms like ╭∩╮(ಠ_ಠ)╭∩╮ and 凸(-_-)凸 raise both hands for a stronger, more theatrical statement. The ∩ arches and 凸 shapes are the two common fist styles. Pick the single version for a wink and the double version when you want to sell the outrage.
Keeping it playful, not hostile
Because it is drawn from harmless punctuation, this art usually reads as joking banter rather than a real attack, especially among friends who trade insults for fun. Tone still matters: pairing 凸(ಠ益ಠ)凸 with a laughing message keeps it clearly comedic. Firing it at a stranger during a heated argument, though, can escalate things fast. Context and your relationship with the recipient decide whether it lands as funny or rude.
Why the text version survives filters the emoji does not
Plenty of platforms flag or blur the 🖕 emoji, because it has a known codepoint that a filter can match in one lookup. The text version is just brackets, a nose and a face, so there is nothing fixed to match on and dozens of spellings besides. That is most of why it persists. It is worth knowing the flip side: moderation increasingly works on meaning rather than characters, so a human reviewer or a model will read ╭∩╮(ಠ_ಠ)╭∩╮ exactly as intended. Treat it as rude text that happens to be hard to regex, not as a loophole.