Definition
An emoticon is a textual representation of various concepts, including feelings and symbols, created using standard keyboard characters.
Emoticons are widely used in many forms of electronic communication, and their visual and logical sizes vary between cell operators.
They have transitioned from social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to enterprise tools like Slack, and the number of available emoticons is virtually unlimited.
Functions of Emoticons
- Enable people to express emotions like sadness, happiness, or excitement.
- They help to avoid misunderstanding by making the sender’s tone explicit. For example, to indicate sarcasm.
- They make conversations more lively and engaging.
- They act as visual shorthand, saving time for lengthy explanations.
- They make messages feel warmer and more approachable.
Benefits of Using Emoticons
- Improve communication: A smartphone message or social media post doesn’t explicitly convey the tone. However, emoticons provide context and indicate a person’s feelings when typing.
- A better way to connect with people: Although emoticons appeal to digital users, companies also use them to make online engagement more ‘human’.
- Drive responses: Emoticons evoke responses from others and enable people to convey emotions without using words.
- Demonstrate personality: Emoticons help businesses add a lighthearted dimension since customers have difficulty trusting impersonal firms.