Emojis are already part of our online communication. However, behind those symbols there is much more than a simple message, they can in fact reveal details of the personality of those who use them. Or at least that's what a study conducted at Edge Hill University and Australian Catholic University claims, which states that emojis are similar to the gestures we use and their use varies from person to person.
These researchers believe that as in a face-to-face conversation, in which we observe details such as body movements, facial expressions and tone of voice, emojis perform the same function in a digital conversation: they serve to help understand the message. and the emotions hidden behind the words.
Emojis are our virtual gestures, they help us to express our emotions, feelings and moods, to leave no doubts. Therefore, they are a kind of virtual extra-verbal language.
The first emojis were meant to avoid the ambiguity of virtual messages
The first emoticon appeared in 1980, when Scott Elliot Fahlman, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, first merged a parenthesis and colon in a discussion forum so that people could tell jokes from topics. serious.
But unlike emoticons, emojis not only include images of faces, but also other figures, such as the Flemish and monkeys. Today these symbols have penetrated so deeply into our culture that it is estimated that 75% of Spaniards use them in chats and instant messaging.
What can emojis say about you?
These psychologists say that if you often use smileys in your messages, you are probably a happier, more creative person, open to new experiences and more authentic in interpersonal relationships.
In fact, these people usually make a good impression on others. Researchers have seen that when using emojis with happy or positive faces, people believe that behind that message is someone who stands out for their kindness, responsibility and open-mindedness. And often they are not wrong.
Generally, the use of emojis is also linked to extroversion and naturalness. In fact, it has been noted that people who in real life have no difficulty expressing their emotions also tend to use emojis more often to convey their emotional states when communicating with others on the net.
The fact that you decide to use emojis also means that you worry about the message being understood correctly and want to avoid misunderstandings. It also indicates that you are making an effort to connect emotionally with your interlocutor, giving a more personal touch to the conversation.
Those who use emojis more often are also aware that others analyze and judge them based on their messages, so they use fewer sad faces or emojis that send messages that can be considered negative.
Furthermore, those who do not just use the classic smileys but resort to more elaborate emojis, can be a more creative person, who wants to surprise others and probably has a greater communication ability.
But it must also be said that using too many emojis can be counterproductive. Many people are bothered by the unnecessary use of these symbols. In fact, in some cases the excessive use of emojis has been linked to emotional instability.
How to use emojis correctly?
Of course, using a smiley emoji doesn't automatically turn you into a nice person, but it will help you present yourself better and send a more positive message. Either way, you shouldn't abuse these symbols because you run the risk of sending a negative message, especially if you're talking to someone you don't know well.
In general, emojis should only be used where they are needed to clarify the ambiguity of the message or reinforce a certain point in the conversation. You can also use them to make a good impression or positively capture the attention of others, especially if you choose the less used symbols.
