It’s easy to chuck emojis in with computer speak like “BRB” and "LOL". But some researchers argue that emojis can actually be beneficial to relationships.
But how does that work? After all, sending a smiley face that’s laughing so hard it’s crying isn’t exactly the same as writing a heartfelt note to a loved one or looking at someone while you speak to them, right?
According to Vyv Evans, a linguistics expert from the UK, emojis do have one major advantage over acronyms like “LOL”.
Evans explains that, unlike an acronym such as “LOL,” emojis can help us understand each other's facial expressions, which are part of the foundation of our communication. This can be especially helpful when communicating via text or email since it is often hard to interpret the tone of someone’s words without voice inflections and facial expressions.
So including a smiley face or a winking smiley into the same message can make it more clear that the sender is making a light-hearted comment that is not meant to be taken seriously.
Match.com has done some research of its own. They surveyed American single men and women and found out that not only did singles who use emojis more often tend to go on dates than their text-exclusive counterparts, but they also had sex much more often. That should definitely provide more of an incentive to include a winky face now and then.
Emojis may seem lazy, and they certainly don’t take a lot of effort, but they can easily convey emotions without the need for the kind of facial expressions you normally have to see in person.
So next time you make a sarcastic comment online, maybe throw in an emoji so that others will know what you really mean.