Survey Says: Emojis Are Key To Expression and Empathy
In celebration of World Emoji Day yesterday (July 15), Adobe released their 2021 Global Emoji Trend Report, which surveyed 7,000 people in locations around the world (the U.S., UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, and South Korea).
Per their report, participants were most enthusiastic for emojis as a means to express themselves, more specifically the major role emojis have taken over how we communicate digitally. A strong majority of those surveyed state that emojis compel them to feel more empathy towards people who they are communicating with.
Emojis can add a bit of lightness by using imagery into online messages that previously lacked tone. Over half of those surveyed feel more comfortable using emojis than talking on the phone or in-person. Emojis give us the chance to choose an appropriate image to show just how we’re feeling in the moment and be more relatable to others through our screens.
Through text, it can be challenging to know how to respond when somebody asks a direct question that you can’t seem to find the words to respond with. On the other hand, if you want to come across as coy, clever or cheeky, simply responding with emoji imagery can make it so much easier to express ourselves and relay our personality into the conversation.
Adobe’s global emoji study also found that emojis even helps people overcome language barriers and form connections that would otherwise be difficult to do.
This applies to less intense situations like dating, which can be tricky especially when it’s online or via digital apps. It’s almost too easy to dismiss someone who ticks off all our boxes, if you will, because of their lack of emojis. Adversely, using suggestive emojis can be deemed as corny and counted against prospective partners.
Per the global study, the top 3 emojis when it comes to flirting or dating are: 😘🥰😍
While the top 3 that make you less likable in the same category are: 🍆🍑🤪