Emoji, an auxiliary means of virtual communication
The widespread development of social media platforms has increased techno-communication that has given a new dimension to emotional communication as well. Today’s world is full of technocrats who communicate through WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram etc. Eventually, the transfer of message through words has become less popular and non-verbal cues in the form of emojis have emerged swiftly. The transmission of messages through emojis of facial expressions has alleviated expressive communication despite the fact that each emoji has a diversified meaning. The emoji adds warmth to the message and one feels as if he/ she is near that person. It has become an auxiliary means of communication as simplicity, convenience and conduciveness of emotional expressions are the main motivations attracting users to use emojis.
The use of emojis can also aid in manipulating emotions as it has many meanings in different contexts. Yet, there are some like who believe in full line answers rather than an emoji of thumbs up and thumbs down etc. One morning my friend asked me, “How are you?” on messenger and I didn’t reply as I was driving. After a few minutes, she sent a message saying that she had met her guide yesterday and her topic of PhD had been finalised. As I was getting late, I thought I would congratulate her after the class. So, I sent her a thumbs up emoji quickly to express my happiness for her success. And there began the tragedy of Othello, who was also quick to respond. The reply read, “You’re not a friend, you can’t even write a word, congratulations, rather you’re sending me a thumbs up.” Lo! By the time my class ended, I realized I was too late for a WhatsApp chat as she had blocked me and couldn’t read the full paragraph message that I had typed congratulating her on her success.
Upset, I sent her a sad emoji on Facebook messenger for blocking me on WhatsApp. After a few minutes, a half page message again popped up from her side and she blamed me for the use of unnecessary emojis. Meanwhile, while I was reading her message, she had blocked me from there, too. Her message, “Once you go down into the garden of silence everything is transfixed, the heart aches less and only the light moves” echoes till now.
She thought I was saving my precious time by not typing a message and sending emojis. But by then I realised the ambiguity of emojis, it was too late.
It’s true that sometimes we aim to put in additional emotional or contextual meaning to communication by using effective emojis. Emojis such as a big red heart and a variety of smileys enhance the attractiveness of the message. However, today, my best friend, an avid hater of emojis has affirmed how useless interpersonal communication is without words.
AS I WAS GETTING LATE, I THOUGHT I WOULD CONGRATULATE HER AFTER THE CLASS. SO, I SENT HER A THUMBS UP EMOJI QUICKLY TO EXPRESS MY HAPPINESS FOR HER SUCCESS