If you thought sending a thumbs-up emoji at the end of your text was a good idea, then think again. You are simply showing your age.
Opt instead for a blue skull, shifty eyes or a cowboy hat emoji if you want to show your finger is on the pulse when it comes to electronically expressing your mood.
A survey has revealed the most cringeworthy and old-fashioned emojis.
The traditional thumbs up has been voted the most uncool emoji by young Brits, closely followed by sending a red heart, an OK hand or a crying face.
The check mark, signifying done, is another to be avoided.
According to the data, by research and insight agency Perspectus Global, the average Brit sends a staggering 76 emojis every week.
The poll of 2000 people found the most popular emoji, across all ages, was the laughing face crying tears of joy.
The least popular symbol was the sinister skull and crossbones emoji.
Of those questioned in the Gen Z age group – those aged from 16 to 29 – 24 per cent said the thumbs-up emoji suggested you were officially over the hill.
Other emojis that indicate you are clueless about modern culture are the poo emoji, the monkey with hands over face emoji, and the clapping hands icon. Johnnie Blue, 22, social media manager at Adeo Group agrees.
He says many emojis that were popular when they first came out now have much more modern substitutes. He also warned others have gained rude or even offensive connotations.
He said: “Context is everything when it comes to emojis. The thumbs up is the ultimate passive aggressive emoji – for those not brave enough to use the middle finger emoji.
“The red heart is an outdated, ancient hieroglyphic from the MSN and Bebo days. A black, or white, heart emoji is much more trendy.
“The OK hand has links to white supremacy and has even become a hate symbol. Woke young people would never use it.
“The check mark is a boring symbol found at the end of the emoji keyboard with no purpose.
“While the picture of a poo is the ultimate old person emoji – the trend for using this died in 2016.”
Johnnie said the loudly crying face is often used by older people inappropriately and is now used by millennials as the new laughing face.
He said the monkey eye cover and clappy hands had left the millennial emojisphere and since being overused by those aged over 40 had become seriously uncool.
He also revealed the kiss mark had smutty vibes.
Scots actor David Tennant, 49, is among those who have been tripped up.
He said: “I had no idea that there’s a whole kind of language – usually based around foodstuffs, like the eggplant or aubergine emoji – that represent other things.”
Evie Porter, of Perspectus Global, said: “It’s clear these symbols are now a vital part of our daily communication – on both a personal and professional level.
“Yet this research indicates the importance of assessing which ones you use.”
