Do you use the thumbs-up emoji when texting? While older generations may use this emoji thinking it’s friendly, Gen Z has a different feeling. For younger generations, the thumbs-up emoji can signal being rude or dismissive. Is there a right answer?
Emojis are just another way to send messages.
Emojis are an excellent way to express a range of emotions, experiences, and objects. But, the meaning of emojis isn’t always the same for everyone. What could seem like a casual, friendly gesture to one person may come across as rude to another.
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This makes sense, as words and phrases also have different meanings depending on age, culture, and location.
The intended meaning of the thumbs-up emoji seems to follow generational lines.
The debate about the thumbs-up emoji has been going on for a while now in places like Reddit and Facebook. Generally, people older than 40 seem to use the emoji to mean “good” or “message received.” It’s usually seen as a positive or neutral reaction to a message.
Gen Z and some millennials are more likely to avoid using this emoji.
On the other hand, many young adults and teens see the thumbs up as more of a dismissive gesture. In fact, many find it to be rude and passive-aggressive.
Instead of a thumbs up, younger people are more likely to send a heart emoji or a short message such as “great” or “thanks!”
The different perspectives on the emoji probably aren’t anything serious.
Most likely, younger people find the emoji less positive because they grew up using emojis and text messages from childhood.
Because of this, they may realize that it’s harder to read the tone of voice over a message, so they attempt to be extra positive. This way, there’s no miscommunication surrounding if someone is upset.
It also comes down to personal preference.
While there does seem to be a generational trend, it also comes down to the individual. People who aren’t as into texting or don’t use as many emojis may not mind the thumbs up.
While some people may prefer other options. The writer of this article isn’t Gen Z, but she personally finds the thumbs-up emoji a tad unpleasant, although it’s not a big deal if someone else uses it.
We asked our readers what they thought about the debate.
We decided to check in with the Diply community to see how they feel about the thumbs-up emoji. The general consensus was that this emoji has an overall positive meaning.
Others thought that Gen Z was overreacting. But, really, it seems like everyone is getting too worked up over a simple thing. The way people express themselves and communicate will always change over time.
Some people use the emoji both ways.
Bruno Michel had a different approach to the emoji, writing that, “I use it as passive aggressive and as an ok/good job. Depends on my mood and traffic.”
While this response doesn’t do much to end the debate, it’s worth pointing out that the exact meaning of an emoji can vary depending on the context. It’s not always cut and dried.
Others took the generational fighting a bit too seriously.
Some people responded to the debate saying that Gen Z was just too sensitive and took everything the wrong way. While it’s interesting to point out generational differences, it’s also good to take the opportunity to learn more about people, even if they are a lot older or younger than you.
What emojis do you find rude or annoying?
Everyone has their preferred way of communicating over text. Some people like to use lots of emojis and exclamation points, while others don’t like to use any punctuation or emojis at all.
What is your texting style? Do you find the thumbs-up emoji positive or rude? Or do you have a different emoji that you can’t stand?
