Thumbs-up emoji may hurt Gen Z! Steer clear of these emoticons that can make you look older

Communication has found new dimensions, thanks to technology. Owing to the ever-changing nature of technology, interactions have moved beyond text inputs. And, with the advent of emojis, connecting virtually has gained a new meaning. Emojis have practically eliminated the need to communicate using words and long sentences. Now, an emoticon can convey a lot more with fewer words.

The use of emojis has also triggered a new conversation among people from different generations about the meaning and significance of emojis. For instance, the ‘Thumbs Up’ emoji that was once seen as a means to transmit a broad range of positive emotions is now conveying a radically different meaning.

According to a recent exchange between Reddit users, the thumbs-up emoji is reportedly seen as passive-aggressive and even confrontational by Gen Z (those born between the late 90s and early 2010s). The Reddit post summed up that the use of emoji makes Gen Zs feel attacked.

Be it formal interaction or banter between friends, the emoji seems to have an entirely different meaning for the younger generation. The post went on to term the usage as ‘rude’. According to a report in the Dailymail, a 24-year-old user on Reddit argued that the thumbs up emoji is best ‘never used in any situation as it was ‘hurtful’.

'No one my age in the office does it, but the Gen X people always do it. Took me a bit to adjust and get [it] out of my head that it means they're mad at me,' the user was quoted as saying by the report. Meanwhile, his post witnessed many others chiming in on the use of the popular emoji.

Meanwhile, the UK-based media website also listed 10 emojis that are more likely to make someone ‘old’.

The list of emojis includes - Thumbs up, red love heart, OK hand, tick, PCO, loudly crying face, monkey eye cover, clapping hands, lipstick kiss mark, and grimacing face. This was reportedly based on a poll conducted on some 2000 youngsters between the ages of 16 and 29.

While the genesis of emojis can be traced back to the ‘80s, in 2022 they are everywhere so much that connecting via text message is incomplete without the use of emojis or emoticons.