Emojis have transformed modern communication, becoming a universal language. Let’s look at their history, impact, and significance as we celebrate World Emoji Day 2024.

World Emoji Day, founded by Jeremy Burge of Emojipedia in 2014, has become a major event.

Every year on July 17th, we celebrate World Emoji Day, a global event dedicated to the colourful icons that have revolutionised how we communicate.

This annual celebration highlights the impact of emojis, their evolution, and their significance in bridging cultural and linguistic gaps. From their inception in the late 1990s to becoming an integral part of digital communication, emojis have come a long way.

Fun Fact:
The date for the day was chosen because the calendar emoji depicts July 17th.

The Birth of Emojis

In the late 1990s, Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese interface designer, pioneered the creation of emojis. Combining the Japanese art of pictographs (known as “emojis” in Japanese) with digital communication, Kurita aimed to simplify the conveyance of emotions and context in text-based messages. Initially, emojis were a humble invention, but they soon revolutionised the way we communicate globally.

Emojis Go Global

With the rise of smartphones and instant messaging, emojis quickly gained popularity. Apple’s decision to include emojis in the iPhone’s keyboard was a turning point, making them accessible to millions of users worldwide. This integration allowed emojis to transcend language barriers, enabling people from diverse cultures to express themselves more vividly and authentically in their digital conversations.

Emojis in Modern Communication

Emojis have evolved beyond mere visual embellishments; they are now an essential part of our digital vocabulary. They allow us to convey emotions, thoughts, and ideas concisely and universally. From expressing joy and love ❤️ to sadness and surprise, emojis enrich our conversations, adding nuance and engagement.

A New Era of Expression

In recent years, emojis have evolved to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of our global society. With a growing collection of skin tones, gender options, and representations of various cultures, emojis now offer a broader spectrum of expression. This inclusivity fosters a sense of belonging and empathy among users.

The Business Impact of Emojis

Beyond personal communication, emojis have found their way into marketing campaigns, advertising, and branding strategies. Companies have realised the power of emojis in connecting with their audiences, creating a more relatable and authentic brand image. Emojis add a touch of playfulness, fostering positive customer engagement and enhancing brand loyalty.

Facts and Stats

Here are some intriguing facts and stats about emojis:

• Facebook users send over 900 million emojis every day without text on Messenger
• 65% of people believe that using emojis makes it easier to express emotions than calling on the phone
• Over 10 billion emojis are used every day around the world
• 44% of customers will be more likely to buy something if it’s advertised with emojis
• The most used emoji is the Tears of Laughter face  , then the heart ❤️, and a third is the rolling on the floor laughing emoji
• When creating push notifications, including emojis can increase CTR by 5%
• The Tears of Laughter emoji remains a favourite on X. In fact, it’s the most popular emoji on the platform, with over 2,000,000,000 (two billion) uses, according to Emojitracker
• ‘Smiling Face with Heart Eyes’ , and the ‘Birthday Cake  emoji — for all those birthday greetings Facebook reminds you about, remain firmly in the top 5
• The brain identifies images just in 13 milliseconds, which is why emojis are a useful tool for communication
• 50% of people are more likely to respond to a message if an emoji is included
• Half of Instagram comments have an emoji included
• If emojis are included in an email subject line, people are 56% more likely to open the email
• There are more than 3,600 emojis on iPhones

With all of that said, let’s celebrate World Emoji Day 2024

Let’s celebrate the extraordinary journey of emojis and their impact on modern communication. Reflect on how emojis have enriched your digital conversations, brought a smile to your face, or helped you express yourself in unique ways.

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