Emojis: Sociology Behind Their Use
Language can be a very powerful thing, but there are also many types of languages. In our daily feed and lives, we see multiple examples of types of languages: typed, hash tagged, and emojis. This day and age we are living in is getting more and more digital. The world itself is all the more connected due to things like being able to have friends in India, that you would never otherwise have since you are most likely never going to India and you live in the United States.
But for me, I always wonder why. Me personally, I was surprised to see emoji's pop up as I used them as a teenager and am now an adult-why would an adult use an emoji? Not only do fellow adults use them, but businesses do too. So after I started to think about it, I did some research.
In real life, when someone else smiles-you will most likely smile back at them. Scientists have found that when we look at a smiley face emoji online, it triggers the same response as if we were looking at a fellow smiling person. Online, emojis seem to be injecting emotion that can not be misunderstood in a platform that takes the person out of the thoughts. Our brains are reading it as emotional communication, the same way you would read happiness in someone's voice.
In many instances, where someone would of said ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing), if there is an emoji that better presents the emotion they are trying to say with ROFL, they use the emoji and not ROFL. It would seem businesses are getting into emoji's for their simplifying nature. For example, on CNN if you are watching the debate, you will see an emoji next to each candidate and you can text in with the emoji pertaining to the candidate you like to let the station know which candidate you like.
Before you go about using emojis all over the place, be sure you know what your emoji's mean. These emojis have multiple meanings and you may say something you don't intend to say by posting an emoji you think fits or is cute. Know how your audience speaks, and speak with them. Everyone uses emojis differently based on Gender, Age, Location, and even Social Class. Take some time to think about how emoji's fit your tone, when translating your tone for social media. For more information, read the source here.
P:(657) 246-2298-Email Me - Moxi Zombi Marketing - Blog-Twitter - Instagram - Facebook - Flickr - LinkedIn
But for me, I always wonder why. Me personally, I was surprised to see emoji's pop up as I used them as a teenager and am now an adult-why would an adult use an emoji? Not only do fellow adults use them, but businesses do too. So after I started to think about it, I did some research.
In real life, when someone else smiles-you will most likely smile back at them. Scientists have found that when we look at a smiley face emoji online, it triggers the same response as if we were looking at a fellow smiling person. Online, emojis seem to be injecting emotion that can not be misunderstood in a platform that takes the person out of the thoughts. Our brains are reading it as emotional communication, the same way you would read happiness in someone's voice.In many instances, where someone would of said ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing), if there is an emoji that better presents the emotion they are trying to say with ROFL, they use the emoji and not ROFL. It would seem businesses are getting into emoji's for their simplifying nature. For example, on CNN if you are watching the debate, you will see an emoji next to each candidate and you can text in with the emoji pertaining to the candidate you like to let the station know which candidate you like.
Before you go about using emojis all over the place, be sure you know what your emoji's mean. These emojis have multiple meanings and you may say something you don't intend to say by posting an emoji you think fits or is cute. Know how your audience speaks, and speak with them. Everyone uses emojis differently based on Gender, Age, Location, and even Social Class. Take some time to think about how emoji's fit your tone, when translating your tone for social media. For more information, read the source here.
P:(657) 246-2298-Email Me - Moxi Zombi Marketing - Blog-Twitter - Instagram - Facebook - Flickr - LinkedIn
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