Emojis Are for Seniors, Too!

Today is World Emoji Day! World Emoji Day on July 17 is a holiday that validates our obsession over these little digital graphic icons. While sometimes they may seem silly, according to various psychologists and researchers, they may play a vital role in the way we communicate today. In fact, Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2015 was the “emoji” – Light up your friends’ phones with all the emojis you want today – it’s a healthy obsession.

Seniors are now using emojis in record numbers! Today’s seniors have embraced technology, which is very important for staying in touch with family and friends! The fun emojis in text messages, emails, and on social media make for an even better experience that helps express emotions and messages. Emojis help increase the sense of emotion in digital messages, which helps combat loneliness and isolation that can be challenging for seniors.

In fact, in 2016 an older adult was frustrated that she was not being represented in emojis, so she designed her own for senior citizens. In 2018, The Unicode Consortium – a group that helps to standardize text and symbols – has just approved 12 grey haired emojis. Now seniors have one more tool in the toolbox for discussing issues that impact older adults.

The release of the first iPhone by Apple in 2007 had an emoji keyboard embedded into the phone to nab the Japanese market. While not intended for U.S. users to find, they did and quickly figured out how to use it.So go ahead, send as many emojis today as you can!

World Emoji Day encourages us to use emojis to send unique messages. From transportation, food, an assortment of wild and domesticated animals to social platforms, weather, and bodily functions, emojis virtually speak for themselves.