Here’s why we like to use emojis so much
There were times when using emojis was considered unprofessional and perhaps unnecessary. Now, they’ve become an integral part of our online communication. Researchers say they can tell us as much as an image can.
Researchers may have found the reason why we’re so prone to using emojis by looking at what happens in our brains.
According to the study, emojis elicit a response very similar to that of seeing a real human face, so they are treated as social signals.
The study by Bournemouth University researchers involved two groups of volunteers: one was shown images of real people's faces, and the other was shown emojis.
One group looked at images of real people with different facial expressions (angry, sad, happy, neutral). Meanwhile, the other group was shown emojis from six different online platforms.
Both groups had to choose what emotion each image represented.
We express our emotions through facial expressions, using our eyes, lips, and brows. These are also the elements that help us quickly understand how other people feel.
Tracking how quickly people are capable of reading other people’s emotions can be done through electroencephalography (EEG).
EEG measures electrical activity in the brain using electrodes that are attached to the scalp. EEG is often used to detect brain injuries, epilepsy, and sleep disorders.
The experiment revealed that there wasn’t much difference in people's responses when they chose between an emoji and an image of an actual human face. The participants were able to identify both types of visuals within 145-160 milliseconds.
This means our brain can decode emotions without needing to see a real human face. All it needs is a face with a mouth, eyes, and some other emotional “clues.”
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This explains why emojis have become such an important part of our online communication, as they help to understand how others behind the screen are actually feeling.
Especially in this engagement-driven society, where people are often expressing their thoughts and views publicly, making comment culture a content in itself.
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