An Emoji is a pictogram or smiley used in electronic messages and web pages to express an idea, emotion, or concept. They add emotional context to text and can make communication more engaging and fun. It adds a touch of emotion to our messages and posts on social media platforms. Nowadays, everybody uses emojis on a daily basis. From sending a Hi to responding to messages, we all use emojis.
Emojis originated in Japan in the late 1990s. The word “emoji” comes from the Japanese words “e” (絵, “picture”) and “moji” (文字, “character”). The Unicode Consortium, which standardizes text representation in computers, has been responsible for the inclusion and standardization of emojis since 2010. New emojis are regularly added to reflect cultural trends, technological advancements, and social changes.
Emojis transcend language barriers, making them a universal form of expression. They add context and emotional nuance to text, helping to clarify the sender’s intent. Some of the basic emoji categories in social media platforms or our phone keyboards are –
- Smileys and People: 😊 😍 😂 🙃 😢 👋 💪 👶 👩⚕️
- Animals and Nature: 🐶 🐱 🌸 🌲 🌞 🌈
- Food and Drink: 🍎 🍕 🍔 🍷 🍪 ☕
- Activity: ⚽ 🏀 🎾 🎮 🎨 🎭
- Travel and Places: 🚗 ✈️ 🏝️ 🏰 🏔️ 🗺️
- Objects: 📱 💻 ⏰ 🖍️ 📚 🕶️
- Symbols: ❤️ ✔️ 🔄 💡 ❗
- Flags: 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧
How to use Emojis –
1. In text messages –
- On smartphones, emojis can be accessed from the emoji keyboard.
- On iOS: Tap the globe or smiley face icon on the keyboard to switch to the emoji keyboard.
- On Android: Tap the smiley face icon on the keyboard to access emojis.
2. On social media –
- Facebook: Click the smiley face icon in the comment or post box to choose emojis.
- Twitter: Click the smiley face icon in the tweet composer to add emojis.
- Instagram: Tap the smiley face icon on the keyboard or use shortcuts like “:)” to bring up emojis.
3. On Desktop –
- Windows: Press
Win + .(period) orWin + ;(semicolon) to open the emoji picker. - Mac: Press
Control + Command + Spaceto open the emoji picker.
Tips for using Emojis –
- Context: Use emojis that fit the context of your message.
- Moderation: Avoid overusing emojis, which can make the message hard to read.
- Audience: Consider whether your audience will understand and appreciate the emojis you use.
- Clarity: Use emojis to add clarity and emotion to your text, but ensure the message remains clear.
Difference between Emoji, Emoticon and Stickers –
| Criteria | Emoji | Emoticon | Sticker |
| What they are? | Emojis are small digital images or icons that represent ideas, emotions, objects, and symbols. They are standardized across different platforms by the Unicode Consortium. | Emoticons are combinations of keyboard characters that represent facial expressions. They were used before emojis became widespread. | Stickers are larger, more detailed images or animations used in digital communication. They are typically more elaborate than emojis and can include drawings, cartoons, and even animations. |
| Appearance | Emojis are colourful and detailed, designed to be visually appealing. They cover a wide range of categories such as smileys, animals, food, activities, and flags. | Emoticons are simple and text-based, created using punctuation marks, letters, and numbers. | Stickers can be colorful and highly detailed, often resembling small pieces of artwork. They are usually much larger than emojis. |
| Uses | Emojis are colourful and detailed, designed to be visually appealing. They cover a wide range of categories such as smileys, animals, food, activities, and flags. | Emoticons convey emotions in plain text messages. They are often used when emojis are not available or when a simpler, text-based approach is preferred. | Stickers are used in messaging apps and social media platforms to express emotions, reactions, or specific themes. They can convey more complex messages or emotions than emojis. |
| Example | 😊 🍕 🚗 | 🙂 🙁 😀 | Stickers of popular characters, themed stickers for holidays, and animated stickers with movements. |
