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If you went through the last 10 emails you received, chances are at least two or three of them have one of those cute smileys embedded in the correspondence. Why is that? From smileys to emoticons, these items have been around for about 20 years and have been growing at a constant pace since their inception. So, what makes them so popular? It may be a few things: |
Peer Popularity – In the same way that kids want the same toy all the other kids have, once one person starts using smileys in their emails and blogs, those who see them think they're cute and want to use them too. Besides, if everyone else has them in their emails, shouldn’t you? That’s why many people started adding them to their messages, and the contagious peer pressure world continues to move them to more people day by day.
Ease Of Communication – Instead of taking a number of words to write that you are in a good mood or think something is funny, you can sum it up with just a few characters put together in a smiley formation. The person getting the smiley will know just how you feel. This is especially popular for those who are using text messaging, as it’s a slower typing process and some carriers charge by the character sent.
Take You Back To Your Childhood – When you were little, one of the first things you probably learned how to draw was a smiley face. There is something about cute smileys that takes you to a time of childhood and innocence. It just feels good to draw smileys. It also feels good to type them and pass that happy feeling on to someone else.
Add A Little Color And Creativity – Since we are not a world that sends hand written letters to one another anymore, there is less personal touch to messages you will send through a computer. In the old days you could add cute little drawings, stickers, or other fun add-ons to your letters. Smileys are a way to reclaim a little bit of this.
Clear Communication – Many a smiley has been the difference between a person who thought they were being insulted and realized a message was a joke. Placing a smiley at the end of a sentence that could be interpreted either way will clarify what it really means. Smileys are a way to add a little inflection to the monotony of text to offer a voice to your typed words.
Fun - With the advent of varieties of smileys in new themes and characters, and even animated smileys; they have become a fun way to be creative in your written messages.
The world of communication has changed in the past few decades to completely reinvent the way we keep in touch. While in many cases that has taken away the personal effect of messages that are being sent and received, adding cute smileys is a way to recapture a little fun and personal touch.
