Thumbs up emoji is rude, very old, Gen Z says
Emojis are pictographs that express the writer's mood or feeling about something. Commonly used in chats and messages, emojis are now more than just a symbol. They are expressions for many young netizens used to convey a nuanced message.
As technology becomes more accessible nowadays, the interpretation of such small pictures changes over time. While a simple emoji like smiley may portray happiness to many, the meaning may be understood differently, especially by younger viewers. Now it appears that cancel culture is coming for emojis.
In an article by the New York Post, a 24-year-old Reddit poster argued that the thumbs-up emoji reaction is passive-aggressive and younger people feel uncomfortable using it in casual and professional conversations especially on platforms like Microsoft Teams.
While only workers above his age love sending this kind of emoji, he stressed that it is best "never used in any situation."
'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,' he confessed on Reddit.
According to a recent poll of 2,000 young people aged 16-29, emojis used by 'old people' include the thumbs up, the red love heart, the OK hand and the grimacing face
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) October 12, 2022
+ Here are the top 10 emojis that make you look 'old' pic.twitter.com/sP8SIYix3t
Following the confession, other Gen Z users called out the use of thumbs-up emoji, saying that is "hurtful", "hostile", and "inappropriate" to use. Regardless if the chat is informal or in a workplace, the impression it gives appears very rude and attacking according to them.
“It’s super rude if someone just sends you a thumbs up,” one netizen added.
A survey of 2000 respondents between 16 and 29 done by Perspectus Global showed that thumbs-up emoji not only gives a rude expression but users appear "officially old" when used.
They also listed top Gen Z-cancelled emojis which include red heart icon, "ok" hand, checkmark, poo emoji, loud crying face, monkey covering eyes, clapping hands, lipstick kiss mark, and grimacing face.
The Gen X counterpart, meanwhile, reacted to thumbs-up use in a work-related setting that simply conveys approval or understanding and junked misinterpretation from the younger generation.
A recent poll by PR Week US gained a general answer saying thumbs-up emoji is inoffensive and only means "yes" as a response. While the Daily Mail Online concluded on a Twitter survey that people love using the said emoji.
Business consultant Sue Ellson told Daily Mail that it may be time for old ones to fall in line and take the younger generation's lead. In an interview, she said that words are way better used than symbols to tell a more definite meaning or response.
"It feels like people are 'too lazy' to type a written response and it doesn't provide clarity as to next steps" she said.
Noting the impact to work relationships, Ellson stressed the importance of consulting with peers or colleagues to avoid being offended and establish meaningful communication.