Communication in the internet age now goes far beyond simply sending a text message!!
Check your social media feeds or text messages… how many smiley faces, flying hearts, moons and unicorns can you see??
These iconic little Japanese images, known as emojis, are more popular on the internet today than ever before – so they’re more than deserving of their own special day.
This day is celebrated on 17 July! World Emoji Day is a day that celebrates our obsession with these ubiquitous graphic icons.
Although they may sometimes seem silly, according to various psychologists and researchers, they can play a vital role in the way we communicate today. In fact, the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2015 was the “?” emoji.
They convey the expression the person is showing at that moment, giving an idea of how they’re reacting to the conversation!!
Pick up the phone and send your friends as many emojis as you like today – it’s a healthy obsession. ?
HOW TO CELEBRATE WORLD EMOJI DAY
1. Have a conversation using only emojis
Test your knowledge of emojis by sending a message made up entirely of emojis to your best friend. See how well you can understand it all using just these wonderful icons!!!
2. Create your own emojisYou can turn your favourite photos into shareable emojis using various apps and online tools. You can finally turn that favourite photo of your dog or cat into an emoji (since we know you send loads of photos of them anyway)!
3. Use your favourite emoticon
Design your own personalised emoji T-shirt or buy one from an online retailer (have a look on Amazon for some ideas). Your favourite emoji could become your new favourite T-shirt.
WHY DO WE LOVE WORLD EMOJI DAY?
A. They have become a new universal language
Language takes many forms, and one of the oldest types of language is visual symbols. Emojis are unique because they are visual symbols that help to enhance our written language. They can replace words or entire phrases and still be understood.
B. We love receiving ‘emojis’
Emojis were originally created as a way of symbolising emotions through images. Much like punctuation, they express emotion through irony or humour and can even suggest tone of voice or body language in text-based communication. They elicit emotional responses in people, which can lead us to be more empathetic. Basically, as we become better at identifying our own emotions, we also become better at sensing the emotions of others. It seems that ‘emoji-empathy’ is a trend.
C. They help us when words fail us
Emojis help us to better understand things visually when the meaning might get lost in translation through words alone. In the Internet age, emojis help us to communicate better and more quickly. Let’s face it, they’re cute and addictive to use, but they serve a much greater purpose. Emojis improve our ability to communicate effectively with others and make conversation flow more smoothly and be better understood… When in doubt, emojiiiiii.
