Yes, there are a handful of other emojis that have taken on meanings other than their intended function, which is just to be literal and decorative. Are there other emojis that can be taken out of context? However, many agreed with the original post and doubled down that the thumbs-up emoji can feel indirectly aggressive, particularly in a workplace setting.Ĭlearly, people have strong opinions on both sides of the spectrum on this matter. Do you know how your use of emojis are being perceived? But it is generally pretty clear,' one user replied. It means 'I approve' or 'I understood and will obey' or 'I agree.' If anything, my only objection would be that some days it might be hard to tell which one it means. 'I love it because it means many many things. Others expressed their support for the thumbs-up emoji. You guys changed the meaning for some reason.' It’s not passive-aggressive at all that I’ve seen - it seems to be a younger generational thing. Definitely had to reprogram my gut reaction to seeing the thumbs up react or reply from coworkers,' one user - who didn't reveal their age but said they would ask what their 25-year-old husband thought later on - replied in the thread.Īnother user replied to that comment: 'What the kids do, is not what everyone else adopts. 'The general consensus I see with all my friends and all over the internet is that it’s way rude. The original Reddit post titled, 'Am I not adult enough to be comfortable with the 'thumbs up' emoji reaction?' got a shocking amount of replies from both ends of the spectrum. Can the 'thumbs-up' emoji be seen as passive aggressive? Short answer: Yes, depending on who - or perhaps what generation - you're asking. Are certain emojis perceived in a context that's anything other than literal? This Reddit thread is an example of the rising generational debate that spans far beyond the thumbs-up emoji. Anyway, I think it’s normal to ‘thumbs up’ messages, but I still feel like it’s such an unsettling response. 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). 'Most people at work use the ‘thumbs up’ reaction all the time,' the person wrote.

Several months ago, a Reddit user took to the platform to ask if anyone else felt 'unsettled' by the use of the thumbs-up emoji, sharing an example of workplace messaging conversations. Happy diverse people using digital devices Woman using a mobile phone with emoticons Positive Man Using Smartphone, Flying Emojis, Smileys and Likes Woman Showing Thumbs Up Pillow Cheerful women with emoticons in the park Cheerful young man texting on his phone African Man Using Smartphone, Emoji, Comments and Likes Smile emoji painted on cups of cappuccino next to the laptop on a yellow background.Something that was once thought to be a fun addition to texting or messaging has now become a highly contested topic between generations, and recent debate has spurred from one conversation on the internet pertaining to a commonly used emoji: the thumbs-up. Happy Man Text Messaging on Smartphone, Flying Emojis, Smileys and Likes Young Woman Using Smartphone Isolated on Blue Background, Flying Smileys, Emojis and Likes 3D illustrated THUMBS UP hand emoji tiled over blue background. indoor studio shot blue background Woman Showing Thumbs Up Pillow 3d rendering Thumb up and heart social media icon. Portrait of positive nice preschool boy with curly hair showing thumbs up gesture and holding blue Like icon, appreciates blog comment, trendy children content. studio shot isolated on pink background Smileys background. Portrait of cheerful woman in sweater pointing at thumbs up blue icon, follower notification, recommendation and good feedback in social media. An illustration with like emoji seamless patterns - background or wallpaper Hand Thumb up yellow 3D, Like icons, OK, Yes, Like emoji Like button. Happy Smiley Emoticon Face Diverse people using digital devices 3D illustration thumb up hand gesture isolated.

Thumbs up emoji drawing