Gen Z Feel That Thumbs-Up Emoji Needs To Go, They Interpret It As Rude
If you belong to the age group older than Zoomers, chances are you've used the thumbs-up emoji to indicate approval in texts and instant messages. But, for Gen Z-ers?
They don't like it. In fact, some peeps from this generation feel that the thumbs-up emoji is seen as sarcastic, passive-aggressive, or even hostile.
They've already targeted the Millennial pause and Boomer ellipses, and now, they're coming for the thumbs-up emoji. It all started with a Reddit thread, where a user started a topic about it.
Gen Z peeps feel that the emoji is rude rather than a sign to communicate "okay," "yes," or "good." In studies about the most popular emojis among younger users, the thumbs-up is now seen as old-fashioned and best avoided.
A 2021 consumer study and news outlets claim that the thumbs-up emoji is the top emoji that makes you look old. But it isn't just a matter of preference.
Some reports show that the meanings of emojis have shifted. For millennials or Gen Y (born in the 1980s), the thinking-face emoji means exactly that: thinking.
But for Zoomers, it seems to convey being worried or anxious. Let's take a look at some views by Zoomers on the Reddit thread.
A Redditor feels that the thumbs-up emoji isn't a sign of approval. They wouldn't use it as an affirmation toward a message.
I started an ‘adult’ job where we use Microsoft Teams to connect with each other for work.
Currently, there are only a few emojis you can use to react to a message (unless of course, you respond, and can use any emoji).
Most people at work use the ‘thumbs-up’ reaction all the time.
I don’t use it much. I either ‘heart’ reactions or reply even if it’s a short ‘Great!’ or ‘Thanks!’ (I also feel like I use too many exclamation marks, but that’s a different story).
Anyway, I think it’s normal to ‘thumbs up’ messages, but I still feel like it’s such an unsettling response.
Does anyone else feel this way?
This emoji would even offend some people.
Apparently, there are other Zoomers who have the same feelings toward the said emoji.
I feel the same way! We even have a sort of social platform/yammer and I can't only like a post. I lead by feelings though so it may be because of that... I get mad seeing thumbs ups lol it's pretty bad.
Another user said:
For younger people (I’m 24 for reference) the thumbs up emoji is used to be really passive-aggressive.
It’s super rude if someone just sends you a thumbs up. So I also had a weird time adjusting because my workplace is the same.
So yeah, it’s a generational communication culture difference
Some people disagrees with the previous sentiments.
It's just a way to say 'I've read your message and have nothing add and I hope and pray to all the god all the bazillion people in this group chat have nothing to say on it too.
Another user also disagrees, saying:
What in the world can possibly be passive-aggressive in that? Newsflash, not everything is a micro-aggression.
People shouldn't easily assume the meaning of emojis, especially if they're used by an older generation or even social media users in the same age group. Context is important when it comes to understanding how emojis react to a message.
Users shouldn't instantly think that a thumbs-up is an expression of something negative.
