Some might even think of this as a passive-aggressive remark about their thoughts or opinions. However, there’s a certain negative emotion that younger people may attain from the thumbs-up emoji, seeing it as sarcastic or unenthusiastic rather than appreciative and happy. Emojis have been a part of our lives in any social media app or platform as a sign of expression.
© 2024 NYP Holdings, Inc.Most dads often love sending the thumbs-up emoji in response to all types of events ranging own-ups from buying a wedding dress to a pregnancy test that turned out positive.īut what is it with old men and their fascination with the thumbs-up emoji? When asked by the grandfather of a respondent why they love using the emoji, they responded that it conveys a big message using a simple image, and being old, they prefer sending a simple emoji rather than writing a long message.Īs most older men find it harder to communicate using modern technology, writing a text message on a chatting app may be more time-consuming and difficult when compared to communicating using emojis. Several studies regarding emoji have been conducted, including one that suggested that including emojis in work emails actually makes you seem less powerful in your career.Īnother study suggested that using the infamous eggplant emoji is actually a major turnoff when it comes to dating. The official list of “canceled” emojis includes: A survey of 2,000 people conducted by Perspectus Global showed that a majority of people between the ages of 16 and 29 believe that you are “officially old” if you use a thumbs-up or heart emoji. I use heart emojis for things like when someone says ‘I got a new kitten,’ or ‘Susie did a really great job,'” added another.īut the heart too may be falling out of fashion. “I actually find a heart emoji weird for work messages. “To me, the heart is reserved for friends and family, and has a more intimate meaning of love, while thumbs-up is just simple agreeing,” commented one person. On Reddit, some were less offended by the thumbs-up emoji but felt the heart symbol was actually the most inappropriate. Across the board, people want to know they’ve been heard and emojis do not convey that for everybody.” “It can differ from generation to generation. “ can be interpreted as disrespectful,” Swann told The Post. Lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann - who has done corporate training on the matter - advises the avoidance of emojis all around in the professional world, if only to avoid misinterpretation. Several Reddit users agreed with the decision to cancel the emoji, saying that using it in a work environment makes the team members “unaccommodating” and seem “unfriendly.” “If I took the time out to write a thoughtful message, then you shouldn’t be responding with the bare minimum. “We’re people and we have words to use,” Kim Law, a 25-year-old social worker from Massapequa, told The Post. Instead, Gen Zers said they’d prefer a typed-out response. Much-requested pink heart emoji, more symbols coming to smartphones One Reddit user noted that the thumbs-up actually means that “I’ve read your message and have nothing add and I hope and pray … all the bazillion people in this group chat have nothing to say on it too.” Others complained that it comes across as dismissive. “Took me a bit to adjust and get out of my head that it means they’re mad at me.” “Everyone my age in the office doesn’t do it, but the gen X people always do it,” they wrote. One anonymous office worker chalked it up to a “generational communication culture difference.” Several Gen Zers have officially canceled the thumbs-up emoji after it was deemed passive-aggressive. He said he only used it to communicate with boomers like his parents or older colleagues. “I only use it sarcastically, though sometimes I’m not even sure if the irony comes across,” Barry Kennedy, 24, told The Post. Part of the issue is that young people tend to use the thumbs-up in jest. Older workers appeared flummoxed by the reaction, noting they use the thumbs-up in work-related chats to signal “I approve” or “I understood and will obey.” “So I also had a weird time adjusting because my workplace is the same.” “It’s super rude if someone just sends you a thumbs up,” they added.