If you want to avoid being considered passive-aggressive by a Gen Zer, think twice before sending that thumbs-up emoji.
Emojis tend to have hidden meanings that have created confusion between generations, according to Keith Broni, the editor-in-chief of emoji reference website, Emojipedia.
Along with the thumbs-up emoji, the crying with laughter emoji and the slight smile face are some that Gen Z wants people to stop using, he explained.
“As with language, we should address who we are speaking to before sending them an emoji,” Broni told Daily Mail. “People from younger generations are trying to avoid the thumbs-up emoji as they see it as passive-aggressive and a low-effort response.”
Another emoji Gen Z finds “slightly passive aggressive” and “highly performative” is the slight smile face, Broni said, and suggests using an overly expressive emoji instead.
Different generations have also used emojis for inside jokes, too, the 32-year-old emoji expert said.
Earlier this year, people on TikTok decided to replace the laughing emoji with a chair for no reason other than that it was a joke.
“It became a viral trend to use the chair as a laughter emoji,” he said. “There was no immediate substance as there is no relation between a chair and laughing.”
Gen Z recently ruled the thumbs-up emoji as “rude” and “hostile” after a Reddit user confessed to being “not adult enough to be comfortable with the thumbs-up emoji reaction” — and others agreed.
“For younger people, the thumbs-up emoji is used to be really passive-aggressive,” a 24-year-old Redditor wrote.
Young people tend to use the thumbs-up emoji ironically, which causes miscommunication between generations, especially in the workplace.
A recent survey suggested that people between the ages of 16 and 29 believe that you are “officially old” if you use certain emojis, including thumbs-up, red heart, “OK hand” and a checkmark.
“Emojis are generally used in a positive emotional context and between peers for a sense of rapport,” said Broni. “Emojis are symbols of emotional intent and are used more often in positive situations.”
Though he cautions to be careful in a workplace setting. If your boss and higher-ups use emojis to communicate, it’s acceptable to use them back, but he suggests mirroring their communication style to be safe.
“In more serious and formal setting, emojis should usually be avoided as it may come across as not appreciating the gravity of a situation,” Broni said.
A recent study conducted by Adobe suggests the emoji blowing a heart kiss, the blushing smiley circled by hearts and the heart-eyed emoji can make you more likable.
Broni advises against replacing words with emojis, like using the dress emoji instead of writing out the word “dress” in texts. He also said emojis are becoming more popular than punctuation marks in texts.
While some emojis can be looked at as passive-aggressive, others have developed sexual innuendos. The eggplant, peach, water droplets and devil smiling face all have sexual connotations and shouldn’t be used out of context.
Broni says it’s proper emoji etiquette to make sure the person you’re texting updated their phone and is able to see the emojis you’re sending them.
“Before 2018, people with Samsung devices ‘rolling eye’ emoji had a smirk and looked slightly suggesting — this was completely different to the iPhone equivalent,” he noted.