Adding emotion to text

Some people might find it odd that a tiny yellow face or a fire symbol gets its own holiday. But in today’s world of online chatting, World Emoji Day on July 17 makes total sense. These little pictures used to be silly add-ons, but now they’re a key part of how we show our feelings online. Why July 17? Well, the calendar emoji on Apple devices just happens to show that date. So, kind of by accident, a digital holiday was born to celebrate these symbols that spice up our language.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a conversation that doesn’t have a heart, fire, or that tired-looking face emoji. There are a ton of emojis out there, and billions get sent every day. They’re not just decorations anymore; they’re part of how we talk online. In a way, we’ve gone back to using pictures like the ancient Egyptians, but instead of papyrus, we’re using our phones. The 😂 Face with Tears of Joy is still super popular, but some newer emojis are catching on like the Face Holding Back Tears, or the Heart Hands, that shows love in a more inclusive way than just the heart. And don’t forget that Face with Bags Under Eyes, that so many can relate to these days that it could be on company badges. Like slang, emojis can become old news too.

Emojis like the 😜 Winking Face or the 🙌 Raising Hands are considered outdated now. World Emoji Day isn’t just about these little faces, it’s about how our culture is changing. When we don’t have many characters to express ourselves, or when it’s hard to understand someone’s tone online, emojis are like adding emotion to text. They can soften a mean comment, make a joke funnier, or add feelings to a simple okay. Companies are using emojis to get people interested. It turns out that even computers respond better if you add some emojis. But, emojis let everyone speak the same language.

A smiley face means the same thing everywhere. They’re simple, and that’s what makes them great. So on July 17, think about how we communicate. From Shakespeare to emojis, we’ve always found ways to show what we think and feel. Emojis are just the latest way we do it.

 Dr. Mehak Jonjua Author and  Media Mentor