Emoji fad gets a thumbs down
ONE OF the greatest privileges in life is having the freedom of expression and choice. It is also our greatest indicator, enabling us to chime in on, or discern the pain of another.
However, relationships and life experiences can encourage or hinder our freedom of expression. In some homes and settings, people do not have the opportunity to express themselves. Many of us suppress our feelings in order to shackle the appearance of weakness or to camouflage our social presentation. We’re reminded of this when we come across various types of people and see the emotional roller-coasters some of our co-workers, family and friends are on.
The stress of life’s uncertainties can lead some people to negatively impact family dynamics. Children will be affected the most. Parents often avoid telling their children the truth about family problems. Children will then mask their real emotions. On the other hand, fathers are overworked and come home to a chaotic house, which can compound negative emotions. Most trials and errors of life are brought to social fruition amid the ups and downs of emotions.
But a new era and landscape has evolved the social communication platform – emojis, the New Age expression. The variances and topical stamps attached to communication through texts, emails and social media has cornered the market as the fad of feelings. Technology has inadvertently pushed aside those organic and poised character credos of expression that were once society’s bloom and ambiance. Contemporary platforms invite expressions of hurt or happiness with a “click” of a facial expression; inhibiting, the real gist of emotion.
The interpretation of pictures are subjective and can vary from person to person. True emotions must be expressed through visual or verbal communication, which is where sincerity and the real depth of how a person feels becomes evident.
The inspiration here is that a touch on a friend’s shoulder or a hug for a family member remains our greatest genuine emotional anthem.
Let’s not let emojis be yet another modelled social inhibitor that cripples a healthy right and privilege to elicit true expression.
DR DENNIS WALTER SMITH | New York